A Russian player scored a shootout goal that needs to be seen to be believed. After scooping the puck on his stick, the KHL pivot threw his stick, with the puck magically attached, like a javelin, past the netminder and into the net.
KHL player scores mind-blowing, javelin-style shootout goalIt may be months before the NHL’s regular season begins, but KHL action is nearly upon us. The primarily Russian league is set to being play before the month ends, and that means rosters are being set and players are starting to round into form. For Ak Bars Kazan’s Vladimir Tkachyov, that seems to mean breaking out unthinkable breakaway dekes.
During a showcase put on the by the club ahead of the season, Tkachyov took part in a breakaway challenge and pulled of an incredible move that saw him scoop the puck up onto his stick, skate in on goal, pull back his arm and literally throw his stick — with the puck still somehow clinging to the blade — like a javelin. Tkachyov’s stick floated over the netminder and into the net.
Of course, for as great as Tkachyov’s shootout goal was, there’s no way it’d count in actual competition. That doesn’t make it any less impressive that he was able to pull it off.
Tkachyov is a relative unknown, but don’t go thinking he’s all style and no substance. The 23-year-old center is about to enter his fourth full campaign in the KHL with Kazan and he had somewhat of a breakout season in 2015-16. In 48 games, he scored 12 goals and 20 points, doubling his previous career highs. He was also the top forward during the first week of the Gagarin Cup playoffs.
Tkachyov has made his mark on international competition before, too. He won bronze at both the 2011 U18 World Juniors and 2013 U20 World Juniors as a member of the Russian squad, scoring a combined three goals and six points in 14 games.
(Video via Instagram/HCAkBars)
