Comments on: Oilers’ Yakupov celebrates in style; Kings lose in overtime

By: jhuck92

jhuck92 — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 01:00:13 +0000

Yes, this is hockey. You’re going to get pummeled anyway. But what separates the NHL from the NBA or NFL is the fact that you can do things like this without being fined for taunting/unsportsmanlike conduct. A beating might come, but I can almost guarantee you his goal and ensuing celebration will be featured in an upcoming NHL highlight reel. Give the kid credit; he tied it with a few seconds left. You’re telling me you wouldn’t be excited as well?

By: malvaren18

malvaren18 — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 22:28:59 +0000

I thought it’s a game and games supposed to be fun.

By: broncosfan29

broncosfan29 — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:57:50 +0000

The NHL needs more guys like this and less whiney cry babies like Stoll

By: jhunter21

jhunter21 — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:16:04 +0000

I liked it. Given the circumstance, after a game tying goal was disallowed, and the kid is playing his 3rd NHL game, his passion is warranted. The people in the building were just as frantic and excited, so to me, Yakupov’s celebration was perfect for how the building must have felt.

By: darksidecowboy

darksidecowboy — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:13:35 +0000

Sorry man, having fun in a “game” is not allowed in the NHL.

By: hockeyflow33

hockeyflow33 — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 18:51:21 +0000

That’s how you ensure that a pummeling is coming your way next game. This isn’t the NFL or the NBA, this is hockey.

By: bhawksrule

bhawksrule — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 18:27:26 +0000

Given the situation with the non-goal call a minute earlier, I can forgive him for leaving his teammates in celebration after this game tying thriller . I mean come on, if you watch the last 2 minutes of regulation with all of the commotion, he was caught up in the moment, and allowed to be.

By: gscheelar

gscheelar — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:54:08 +0000

This was a big goal for a young guy early in his career, especially when you add in that the Oilers had gotten jobbed on the waved off goal only a minute before. If this were a goal in the second period to bring the Oilers within two of their opponents and he did this, it would be an entirely different story. I thought it was great.

Then again, I did not mind the “hot stick” thing by Ovechkin either–that was after a big goal for him.

By: miketoasty

miketoasty — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:18:58 +0000

To further your initial point, look at how all his teammates come over to congratulate him and he literally just leaves them there. It’s exactly as you said, he wanted all the attention on him.

By: ThatGuy

ThatGuy — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:05:25 +0000

Agreed. If this was a 1st or 2nd period goal, it would be slightly out of line. Game tying goal with seconds left? Your allowed to be pumped.

By: valoisvipers

valoisvipers — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 14:56:11 +0000

Once again friend your are spot on with your post. Scoring a the tying goal with 4.6 seconds left is cause for celebration and I rather enjoyed his Theo like slide but no I wouldn’t want him to do it all the time but in certain situations as this was, it is OK.
It’s not like he did the Ovi burning hot stick trick which is never OK.

By: lostpuppysyndrome

lostpuppysyndrome — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:56:57 +0000

^ Heh, yup. As long as this doesn’t become a regular occurrence, I see no problem.

By: valoisjoeybfeld69

valoisjoeybfeld69 — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:43:22 +0000

A little excessive exuberance from a passionate young player who loves the game. No big deal this time. Someone older will have a chat with him in due course. Perhaps the captain or his agent.

By: lordfletcher

lordfletcher — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:11:22 +0000

I see nothing wrong with what the young man did at all. The dude had a very good game, should have got credit for a goal earlier and was robbed once… he tie’s the game up with 10 seconds left (or whatever it was) on a SICK batting of the puck and bolts to a slide.

looks like he was having fun and enjoying the moment. Good for him

-wild fan

By: icelovinbrotha215

icelovinbrotha215 — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:04:00 +0000

Sounds like sour grapes to me.

By: jhuck92

jhuck92 — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:54:27 +0000

I think the game needs more of this. One of the best things in EA Sports’ NHL (FIFA, too) is doing all kinds of goal celebrations. I’m not saying be selfish about it by completely ignoring your teammates, but have some kind of emotion when you score. It gets the crowd even more pumped up.

By: 19to77

19to77 — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:36:16 +0000

I like to call it the Ovechkin Manuever.

By: nothanksimdriving123

nothanksimdriving123 — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 08:40:56 +0000

I’ve long found it interesting how some players celebrate a goal by dashing away from their teammates, as if to ensure, consciously or not, that all attention is on them, while others turn to their teammates to celebrate together. I don’t recall seeing the solo dashes before 1980. Not sure what changed.

By: sergeikremlin

sergeikremlin — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 07:55:03 +0000

Yakupov better keep his head up.

By: kingfooj

kingfooj — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 07:09:51 +0000

the kid needs to settle down