Toronto Maple Leafs: Top 10 Goals of the 2010/2011 Season

If you were to create a Leafs’ Top 10 Goals from the 2008/2009 season, I’m sure it would be borderline embarrassing at what would be coming in at the 9^th and 10^th spots.  Maybe a rebound or a shot from the point? 

I mean, I love Nik Antropov and Alexei Ponikarovsky as much as the next guy, but they weren’t exactly torching up defenses with their blazing speed.  Jason Blake had that blazing speed, but his hands resembled volcanic rock.

Fast forward to this year.  The Leafs finally have some skilled players who can score a highlight reel goal every now and then; Phil Kessel, Mikhail Grabovski, even Tyler Bozak is good for a few pretty ones.

So in celebration of the Leafs’ increased air time in the highlight reels, let’s take a look at the top ten goals for the Leafs so far this season.

10. Grabovski vs. the Capitals (Shootout)

This is a pretty cheeky shootout move if you ask me, there's not much a goalie can do on this one.  Not the most original shootout goal, but it looks good and it works.  And on top of it all, he gets compared to Ovechkin. That alone should at least earn him a place in the top 10.

Also, check out the subtle knee to the head that Neuvirth gets at the end of the goal.  Talk about adding insult to injury.  Not only does he have to watch himself on the wrong end of the highlight reel, but he’ll also be leaving the rink with a mild headache.

9. Kulemin vs. the Blue Jackets

Kulemin is the beneficiary of a pretty nice play by MacArthur.  Actually, I’m not going to try and say that MacArthur meant to slide it over to Kulemin; in fact, I’m pretty sure he was going for the gold himself.  But either way, it worked out and it looked pretty nice.

I’d also like to mention Mike Komisarek and his two clutch blocks at the beginning.  It’s probably the closest he’s ever going to get to a goal scoring highlight reel, so I thought I’d give him some recognition.

8. Kessel vs. the Islanders

This was just one of those plays where you knew that no matter what happened, Phil Kessel just wasn’t going to pass the puck.  Coast-to-coast from his own hash marks, this is just a textbook individual effort.  Now Brian Burke probably isn’t promoting individual efforts, but after all the heat he’s taken about the Kessel deal, I’m sure this one felt pretty good.

I’d also like to give a shout out to the New York Islanders for making this goal possible.  If you give Kessel this much time and space, he’s going to do something with it.  I’m pretty sure the Islanders won’t be making this mistake again.

7. Kadri vs. the Penguins (Shootout)

I know, I know; this was a meaningless preseason game against Pittsburgh and John Curry was in net.  John who?  Exactly.  But Kadri still pulled an unreal move, leaving Curry on the wrong side of the net and his jock strap in the rafters.

This kid has a serious set of hands.  Leafs’ fans can look forward to a few more gems like this in years to come.

6. MacArthur vs. the Canadiens

In his first game as a Maple Leaf, MacArthur made Spacek look like a turnstile and scored what proved to be the game winner.  Not a bad debut if you ask me.

At that point MacArthur was on pace to score 50 in 50 and he even kept that up for a few games.  He’s cooled off a little since then—obviously—but he’s been an offensive beast for the Leafs.  Not to mention that he's quite the bargain with 19 goals and 50 points, at a cap hit of $1.1 million. Nice work, Burke.

5. Crabb vs. the Sabres

A one-on-two, a toe drag and a finale that involves soaring through the air; three essential components of a highlight reel goal.  Joey Crabb went three for three with this beauty, not to mention it was shorthanded too.

I’m also going to have to disagree with Pierre McGuire on this one.  I don’t think Ron Wilson will be getting an assist.  In fact, I'm pretty sure it’s gonna go to Tim Brent for his best impersonation of Ronaldinho.

4. Kessel vs. the Sharks

As a kid, my mother always told me that patience is a virtue. Apparently, Phil Kessel’s mother did the same.  Dan Boyle ends up half way between the corner and net, Niemi was left flopping like a fish out of water and Kessel was all alone with a full six-by-four to slide the puck into.

I’m hoping Kessel has a few more of these left in him.  When he gets going, he can be one of the more dynamic and exciting players in the league.

3. Grabovski vs. the Blues (Shootout)

If you thought Grabovski’s first shootout goal was cheeky, then just sit back and enjoy this beauty.  And unlike the first one, I’ll give him a ten out of ten for creativity. 

It looks like Conklin has him the whole time, but then Grabovski just keeps spinning.  And then all Conklin can do is watch and think about how he’s going to end up co-starring in TSN’s highlight of the night.  Probably not the greatest feeling in the world.

2. Grabovski vs. the Penguins (OT)

Dion Phaneuf was looking a lot like Bobby Orr for about ten seconds there, which is great news for Leafs’ fans…even if it was only for ten seconds.  Anyways, Phaneuf went end-to-end, made a few spin moves and then dished it off to Gunnarsson.  And then from there, it was tic-tac-toe into the back of the net.

Poor Dion doesn’t even get an apple on the play.  But still, that’s a goal that coaches gotta love; everyone on the ice touches the puck for the overtime winner.  Hollywood couldn’t have written that up any better.

1. Grabovski vs. the Bruins

If you haven’t seen the beating that Grabovski took from Chara before he scored this goal, then you definitely need to Youtube that first.  If you’re too lazy, then just understand that Chara abused Grabovski, planting him face-first into the boards.  Twice. 

Ignoring the probable concussion that he just endured, Grabovski came back out on the ice like a champ and scored this beauty.  In case you were wondering, Seidenberg has been in the league for eight years.  Looked more like eight games to me on this play.