Minnesota Wild’s Mats Zuccarello leaves fans in awe with game-winning ‘dirty’ goal in overtime
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‘This is ELITE skill’: Fans lose their minds over Mats Zuccarello’s ‘DIRT’ goal for Minnesota Wild as winger slides puck through Travis Konecny’s legs and launches to beat Philadelphia Flyers in time extra
Minnesota Wild winger Mats Zuccarello produced some sensational skill before converting an overtime winner against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.
Five minutes of overtime were required as Minnesota and Philadelphia couldn’t break away after a fierce 2-2 draw at the Xcel Energy Center that included four fights over the course of regulation.
And with just under three minutes to go, Zuccarello ignited the style to snatch a win from the hosts with a goal that was quickly dubbed “dirty” by fans on social media.
The 35-year-old first left Travis Konecny for dead by sliding the puck through the Flyers forward’s legs, before running to goal and lobbing it home.
Mats Zuccarello scored an incredible winner in overtime for the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night
It was a moment of magic from Zuccarello right at the moment of death in Minnesota, drawing scenes of jubilation from the home crowd.
His sublime winning goal also left fans on Twitter in awe, with one writing: “What a gem of a goal!”
‘I saw this live. Disgusting,” boasted another.
A third chose the same adjective to describe Zuccarello’s goal and put it: ’35 years and still DIRTY!’
The Minnesota winger first slipped the puck through the legs of Philadelphia forward Travis Konecny.
Konecny was left for dead as Zuccarello passed him and ran towards the goal.
He then completed a move fans label ‘dirty’ by throwing the puck home.
A fourth commented: ‘That my friends is what we call the best nutmeg #hatpick ever’
‘This is the ELITE skill,’ said another.
While one admitted, “I’m going to keep watching this one for a while.”
Zuccarello’s winner helped the Wild end a three-game losing streak and move eight points behind the second-place Jets in the Western Conference Central.
“We’ve been struggling lately,” said the Norwegian. ‘Great job [by] boys. [We showed] some fire and got the boys going.
‘I thought we played a very good game, but they played hard. They block shots and make it difficult for us.
The overtime winner ended Minnesota’s three-game losing streak and sparked scenes of jubilation.
“But we could have scored a couple more and closed out the game, but those were two big points for us.”
On his spectacular late goal, Zuccarello admitted: “I honestly don’t know what I was thinking.”
Next up for Zuccarello and Minnesota is the visit of the Buffalo Sabers on Saturday night.