Greatest Goal of the Year? Probably!

We almost always have a Philadelphia Flyers story to start the morning, but today is special. (We have Flyers content on the way.)

The greatest goal of the 2023-24 season might have been scored overnight by 19-year-old Logan Cooley of the Arizona Coyotes.

The Coyotes and Kings played in the NHL’s Global Series. The game was played in Australia, the first time the NHL has played in the Southern Hemisphere. And the fans at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne saw an amazing goal.

Cooley is from West Mifflin, Pa., the Pittsburgh area, with moves like Jagger. Arizona selected him with the 2022 third overall pick. He played last season with the University of Minnesota, which went to the Frozen Four in April.

The Coyotes were pleasantly surprised when Cooley decided to leave the Golden Gophers for Arizona.

Cooley took a pass on the right wing at center ice. At the faceoff dot, he did a spin-a-rama around two stunned Los Angeles Kings’ defenders. He took a couple more strides, was tripped as he headed toward the net, and still snapped the puck in.

LOGAN COOLEY HAS ARRIVED ‼️ pic.twitter.com/vHGGzHWZuk

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 23, 2023

“That was one of the best goals I’ve ever seen,” Coyotes forward Clayton Keller told NHL.com. “The spin-o-rama is one thing, but then to have the patience to pull it [to] your forehand and finish it, I think so. That’s definitely one of the best I’ve ever seen.”

Check out the video. The finish to the goal reminds some of the Bobby Orr diving goal in 1970 Stanley Cup Finals.

“It was just a hockey play,” Cooley said. “I thought I had some space. I thought I missed the net, actually, but I saw the guys put their arms up, so definitely felt good to get that one.”

The Coyotes won the Global Series preseason contest over the Kings, 5-3, in a game that will be remembered for the goal not the result.

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