November was an eventful month in the NHL, filled with major storylines.
The Colorado Avalanche are the second team in 45 years to suffer a regulation loss or less before American Thanksgiving. Young Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard are becoming superstars. The struggles of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers have become a frequent topic of discussion.
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However, November was also filled with good play on both ends of the ice. The Avalanche, Leafs and Oilers had some dazzling moments during the month, although only one of these teams had an unforgettable November.
Here are the top 10 NHL plays of the month.
10. Clean pace and puck control lead to Cale Makar’s goal
With the Avalanche trailing 2-1 against the New York Rangers on November 20, Cale Makar stepped up and scored one of the best goals of the month to tie the game late in the second period.
The game started with a 3 on 2 in the Rangers zone. Nathan MacKinnon passed to Martin Necas, who crossed to Makar. Makar ran behind the net and wrapped it behind an Igor Shesterkin who couldn’t get his stack out in time.
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9. Sam Reinhart, what a goal
With just over seven minutes left in the first period of their November 20 game against the New Jersey Devils, Florida Panthers right winger Sam Reinhart scored a beautiful goal, in what would be the only goal of the game.
Reinhart collected the puck at center ice and headed into Devils territory while Luke Hughes defended him. As he approached the marks, Hughes attempted to slide the puck. Reinhart slipped the puck under Hughes’ stick and followed up with a snap shot that beat goaltender Jake Allen to the stick side.
8. Leo Carlsson backhands into the top corner
On November 8 against the Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson extended the team’s lead to 2-1 with one of his best goals to date.
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After a brief battle for the puck along the boards in the offensive zone, Ducks left winger Troy Terry emerged with it and fed Carlsson.
Carlsson made a quick backhand move, lifting the puck past defenseman Noah Hanifin and goaltender Akira Schmid.
Carlsson has stepped up his game this year, but the speed and precision of this goal was on a whole new level.
7. Beck Malenstyn Dekes around Sebastian Aho
Buffalo Sabers left winger Beck Malenstyn isn’t known for putting up points, but he surprised everyone against the Carolina Hurricanes on November 23.
With just over a minute left in the second period, Malenstyn took a pass from Tyler Kozak, sending it into Hurricanes territory with Sebastian Aho to beat. When Aho caught up, Malenstyn pulled off a windmill fake, leaving the Hurricanes center lost. Malenstyn emerged on a mini-breakaway and beat goaltender Frederik Andersen glove side for what was probably the best goal of his career.
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6. William Nylander fakes Jordan Binnington
In a game where the Maple Leafs badly needed a win, John Tavares, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly combined for arguably the team’s best goal of the year thus far.
With just under a minute remaining in overtime against the St. Louis Blues on November 18, a battle for the puck ensued along the boards in offensive territory. Tavares emerged with the puck and backheeled a pass to Rielly, who sent it to Nylander. Coming in, Nylander slipped the puck past Dylan Holloway before beating goaltender Jordan Binnington on a backhand that allowed him to sink it.
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5. Tyler Bertuzzi, Sam Rinzel and Connor Bedard team up for a beauty
The Chicago Blackhawks are in a long rebuild, so it’s fair to say their fans were quite surprised when forwards Connor Bedard, Tyler Bertuzzi and Sam Rinzel combined to score one of the nicest goals the team has scored in years.
The play began with Bédard skating into the offensive zone and leaving the puck to an incoming Bertuzzi, who sent it across the ice to Rinzel. Rinzel made a quick pass to Bédard, who cut in front of the net and tipped it over Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson.
4. Mikko Rantanen scores a spinning backhand goal
There are many reasons why Mikko Rantanen signed an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Dallas Stars last year. His ability to find the back of the net no matter the situation, as he did against the Vancouver Canucks, is certainly part of it.
With just over a minute left in the third period in their November 21 game against the Canucks, Rantanen entered the offensive zone on a 1-on-1 against Brock Boeser. As he approached the hash marks, Rantanen spun and sent a no-look backhand shot past goaltender Kevin Lankinen over his left shoulder.
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3. Andrei Vasilevskiy makes an incredible save to save the game
Anyone who said Andrei Vasilevskiy isn’t the same goaltender he used to be is completely wrong, and this game-saving play against the Oilers couldn’t be better proof.
With just over three minutes left in overtime, the Oilers emerged on a 3-on-2 in Lightning territory, with defenseman Darnell Nurse in control of the puck. Vasilevskiy stopped Nurse’s shot, but the puck was redirected just in front of the net to Oilers right winger Jack Roslovic, who appeared to have an easy chance to score.
As Roslovic went to lift the puck over Vasilevskiy, the goaltender raised his pad and stopped the shot.
As the Oilers defenders struggled to come back, the Tampa Bay Lightning charged down the ice and scored the game-winning goal.
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2. Connor McDavid also scored a turning backhand goal
If you thought Mikko Rantanen’s turning goal was incredible, just prepare yourself for what Oilers superstar Connor McDavid did just a week and a half earlier.
A little less than a minute into the third period of the Nov. 10 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, McDavid entered the offensive zone, trying to make something happen.
Coming down the left boards, he skated down the ice, spun at the top of the right faceoff circle and fired a no-look backhand shot that beat the glove side of goaltender Jet Greaves.
McDavid also sent Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk flying to the ground on his spinning shot, making the play even more impressive.
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1. Jonathan Quick deprives Patrick Kane of a wide-open goal
Yes, there’s one play that beats McDavid’s thrilling goal, and it’s a defensive play from Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick.
With just under 11 minutes left in the second period in the Rangers’ Nov. 7 game against the Detroit Red Wings, Quick came out of his net to play the puck.
However, it deflected off the stick of Patrick Kane, who had an open net.
Just before it looked like Quick’s mistake would be one of the biggest mistakes of the month, he dove toward Kane. Quick took his stick and removed Kane’s twig from the puck.
The Rangers, who led 2-1 at that point, ended up adding two more for the win. Quick’s save was not only incredible, but also prevented a momentum shift, making it the best play of the month.
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Michael Hapanovich is an intern at The Hockey News.
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