The Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings) took on the Charlotte Checkers (Hurricanes’ affiliate) on Tuesday night, and Griffins forward Andreas Athanasiou had one of the better highlight-reel goals to come out of the minor leagues so far this season.
With a little over six minutes to go in the second period, the 20-year old Athanasiou ambushed a Checkers player going for a loose puck in the neutral zone, disarming him with a stick lift that sent the opponent’s lumber sailing towards the rafters. With another defender still between him and the net, Athanasiou broke out a devastating deke and dangled his way through the defenseman’s legs to space.
The deke was so good that it also ethered the Checkers’ goaltender, who was already on his ass as Athanasiou shelfed a backhander into twine.
[r/hockey]
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