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What NHL player scored a goal on his back?
The two newest NHL players to energize the game and electrify the fans are Nova Scotian Sidney Crosby, playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Russian Alexander Ovechkin, skating for the Washington Capitals. Ovechkin, a left winger, debuted with the Capitals in 2005-06, the same season that Crosby, a centreman, joined the NHL. Crosby, who is barely into his 20s, has already done some incredible things such as winning the Art Ross Trophy in 2006-07 as the league’s top scorer with 120 points (36 goals, 84 assists). The Penguins’ captain is the youngest player ever to win the Art Ross, but he also added the Hart Trophy (most valuable player as picked by the league) and the Lester B. Pearson Award (most outstanding player as selected by the NHL Players’ Association). However, Alexander Ovechkin is no slouch when it comes to matching Crosby’s amazing brand of hockey. In his first year the Capitals’ sniper beat out Crosby for the Calder Trophy as best rookie, scoring 52 goals and 54 assists. Then, in 2007–08, his third campaign, the Russian really broke out, scoring 65 goals and 47 assists for 112 points and winning the Art Ross. That year he also won the Hart and the Lester B. Pearson, not to mention the Maurice Richard Trophy for most goals. No doubt hockey fans have more heroics in store for them from Ovechkin, but one single action already stands out in his blossoming career. On January 16, 2006, the Capitals had built a commanding 5–1 lead over the Phoenix Coyotes when Ovechkin potted a goal that many hockey pundits have dubbed one of the greatest scoring feats of all time. Knocked down by Coyotes defenceman Paul Mara as he was surging toward Phoenix’s net, Ovechkin slid on his back, facing away from the goal. Somehow he was able to hook the puck with one hand on his stick and slip it into the net past goalie Brian Boucher for his second goal of the evening.