📸: Ian Oland/RMNB
Beck Malenstyn scored the most impressive goal of his NHL career in the Buffalo Sabres’ 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.
The goal, Malenstyn’s second in 21 games this season, came with 1:24 remaining in the second period to put the Sabres up 3-1.
After receiving a backhanded pass from Tyson Kozak, the former Capitals forward put the puck into space and used a stop-and-start move to sidestep Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho, who was trying to steal the puck away. The shimmy sprung Malenstyn on a breakaway, where he deked once before sending a wrist shot under the arm of Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen.
“Malenstyn has some company coming,” said Sabres play-by-play man Dan Dunleavy. “OH! WHATTA MOVE! Malenstyn SCORRRRRRRRRESSSSSS. Are you kidding me?!?!?”
An overhead view from the NHL focused on Malenstyn shows how the checking-line forward used lateral space to free himself from Aho’s overaggressive defense.
“I don’t think it’s successfully worked for me for about 10 years since juniors,” Malenstyn said laughing postgame “So I’ve kept it in the back pocket just in case.”
“I showed him my card and I said, ‘I’m taking you off as the second penalty killer – I’m bumping you to the first power play,’” joked Sabres coach Lindy Ruff.
Since being traded to the Sabres for a 2024 second-round pick (Cole Hutson), Malenstyn has recorded 14 points (6g, 8a) in 97 games, averaging 10:43 of ice time.