Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras broke the internet Tuesday night when he alley-ooped the puck over the net and forward Sonny Milano batted it out of the air for a goal in a game against the Buffalo Sabres.

The trick shot was very impressive and is worthy of all the hype it’s received from fans and media personalities alike. But Oliver Wahlstrom scored a nifty goal on Tuesday too against the Senators, and I think it required far more skill than Milano’s goal.

Oliver Wahlstrom: Still good at hockey pic.twitter.com/wAcOzlLqGg

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) December 8, 2021

Wahlstrom grabbed an airborne pass from Kieffer Bellows and gloved the rolling puck onto the ice. He beat a few defenders with a quick deke, sold a forehand shot, then brought the puck to his backhand and tucked it behind a sprawled-out Filip Gustavsson.

The play required just as much hand-eye coordination as the one Zegras and Milano pulled off, and arguably even more concentration. The Sabres’ defenders who were covering Zegras and Milano essentially just stood back and watched the play unfold.

Trevor Zegras oh my god pic.twitter.com/GZjZNaRTYj

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) December 8, 2021

After the Ducks’ play went viral, NHL social media was already posting people recreating the goal. That’s a great marketing strategy, but plenty of amateur hockey players can flip a puck over the net. I’m sure that even more players are capable of batting it behind a goalie. I can’t find too many amateur hockey players who can pull off the play Wahlstrom did in a live hockey game, though.

Don’t misunderstand me. Zegras and Milano deserve plenty of credit for their incredible hockey sense. Zegras was able to recognize that the Buffalo defenders were backing off and giving him free rein to do whatever he wanted behind the net. He also saw that they were leaving Milano unmarked in front of the net. Buffalo goalie Ukko Pekka Luukkonen, playing in his first game of the season, also sat back and watch the puck fly over his head on its way to Milano’s stick. It was a cool play — and the right one to make — but it only went in because of some awful defending from Buffalo. I think that if the Buffalo defense was more engaged, the puck wouldn’t have gone in.

The two forwards were laughing so hard on the bench afterward, I think they were stunned the puck went in. Wahlstrom on the other hand looked excited and elated. He knew he scored a skillful goal.

A goal worthy of “goal of the year” has to be a combination of elite offensive skill and a bit of luck that results in a beautiful play. Trevor Zegras’ goal was lucky and the byproduct of some good hockey IQ. Wahlstrom, on the other hand used his offensive talents and awareness to score. Zegras’ goal might have been cooler but Wahlstrom’s was worthy of much more praise, in my opinion.

Ben Baruch

Born and raised on Long Island. Isles fan since 2009. Studying journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park.