Boyd "Horse Skin Skates???" Gordon

Everyone loves Dave Steckel. He is a good 4th line center, he wins key faceoffs, is one of the teams better penalty killers, and will be forever immortalized by Caps fans for scoring a goal in game 6 that delayed the inevitability of a caps series loss. If Steckel is so good at these aspects of the game then, why has he watched the past three games from the press box? That would be because Boyd Gordon is doing all of those things and more.

In the past two games Gordon has had two, two on ones, both of which were shorthanded, and both of which led to two goals. In game 3 Boyd came streaking down the right side of the ice, riding the heel of his blades. He had a 30 goal scorer in Mike Knuble coming down the ice opposite to him, instead of passing it to him he fired a shot on net. After Halak stopped the initial shot Gordon continued to whack at the loose puck until it crossed the goal line. The goal broke a scoreless tie and jump started the Caps 4 goal 2nd period.

In Game 4, Montreal had a 2-1 lead late in the 2nd, a powerplay, and all the momentum in the world. With about ten seconds left in the period, Gordon and Knuble came flying down the ice on a 2-1. This time with Knuble on the right and Gordon on the left. The sliding defenseman took away Gordon's most obvious passing lane along the ice to Knuble. This did not deter the gritty 4th line center from getting the puck to Knuble, Gordon quickly whipped up some sauce that was so brilliant that it would have made the town of Musselman, WV blush. The pass found Knuble's blade and he snapped home a quick wrister that evened the score at 2. Similar to his game 3 heroics, Gordon's shorthanded play completely turned the tide of the game and the Caps would go onto win.

I am not insinuating that had Gordon not made these plays, then the Caps would have lost either game. What I am saying is that in both instances the team needed someone to step up and make a play that would change the complexion of the game. In back to back games Gordon was the guy who delivered when it was most needed.

Also if anyone can explain to me why Gordon's nickname is horse skin skates on his wikipedia page, I would really appreciate it.