Jussi Jokinen sets shootout record
The post-overtime shootout is in its fifth season in the NHL, and the added action certainly has made for a thrill ride for spectators. It’s also been a reputation-maker for one of the League’s unheralded scorers.
Earlier this week, Jussi Jokinen became the first player in NHL history to reach 25 career shootout goals, and boy was his latest goal clutch. The injury-ravaged Hurricanes were in the midst of a 14-game winless streak and had blown a 3-0 lead against Minnesota, which rallied to force the shootout. Jokinen took Carolina’s second shootout attempt and buried the puck past friend and fellow countryman Niklas Backstrom — his second career shootout goal against him. It turned out to be the only goal of the shootout, and the 12,194 fans at RBC Center finally were able to enjoy a victory.
“He’s the guy I practiced the most against in Finland because we’ve been playing on the same team for years and we practice shootouts with each other in the summer time,” Jokinen said of Backstrom. “I didn’t want to shoot against him because he knows me too well. It was a big mental battle.”
Full story here
Always a class act to watch this kid in the shootout. Haven’t seen the one from last night but his “paralyzer” move he used often in Dallas was excellent!