A look back on the ninth anniversary of Bobby Ryan's spectacular 2011 Playoffs goal

I’ll get it out of the way now: yes I know the Anaheim Ducks lost the 2011 first round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Nashville Predators. I know this was the beginning of a dark decade against this particular team. But I’m not here to make you re-live bad memories. There’s enough of that going around.

Instead, let’s be happy together. Today is the anniversary of one of the most incredible goals in Ducks history. April 22, 2011. Game five. Tied at one less than a minute into the third period of a 2-1 Nashville series lead.

The Predators quickly won the faceoff and established possession in the Ducks’ zone. Nashville forward David Legwand took the puck back towards the blueline after gaining possession along the boards in the middle of a cycle. Predators captain Shea Weber moved back to get open for a pass, and Legwand attempted to sauce it over.

Bobby Ryan was having none of that.

He immediately intercepted the pass and exploded out of his own zone with the puck. Legwand was able to catch up to Ryan and head him off, but the star Ducks forward pulled it back through his legs as he reached desperately for the puck, knocking his stick away in the process. Legwand, now without a stick, cut back the other direction to try and body Ryan off the puck and stop his forward momentum inside the offensive zone.

Bobby Ryan, again, was having none of that.

A classic windmill deke to the back to the forehand brought it behind Legwand and put Ryan in alone on Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne, with Weber unable to catch the Ducks forward. With one last move, Ryan pulled it to the backhand at the last second to send Rinne to the butterfly position early, exposing the top of the net.

With one flick, Ryan sent the puck to the roof of the net, giving Anaheim the lead and sending the Honda Center crowd, as well as the players on the ice, into an absolute frenzy.

Ducks play-by-play announcer John Ahlers captured the feeling perfectly, screaming with a mix of excitement and effort to make himself heard amongst the deafening noise in the building: “SCORE! SPECTACULAR GOAL!”

On the ninth anniversary of this goal that is still used in highlight reels, it’s a nice break from the chaos of the world and vacuum left by no sports to revisit one of the most exciting moments in franchise history.