Gotta See It: Johansen curls, drags, scores

Check out this beautiful curl and drag goal by Blue Jackets' Ryan Johansen, as he makes the Caps and Holby look pretty silly.

We feel a bit late to the party, but it’s high time we give our heads a shake, wipe the crust out of eyes, and give Ryan Johansen some shine.

For it was the 21-year-old from Vancouver and not the league’s leading goal scorer (Alex Ovechkin) who put on a show Thursday night, scoring two goals as his Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Washington Capitals 5-2.

“I felt like I had the puck on my stick the whole night,” said Johansen, who has quietly formed one of the NHL’s most dangerous trios alongside a healthy Nathan Horton and rookie Boone Jenner.

Johansen has officially broken out in a big way. After scoring just 14 times in the 117 games he played in his first two seasons in the league, he already has 21 through 54 games in 2012-13. He ranks 23rd overall in goals, and everyone above him on the list is older.

It’s the poise, patience and plush hands Johansen displayed to score his second goal on Braden Holtby Thursday that caught our attention. Watch (above) the guy’s curl-and-drag to the backhand in close. It’s downright tranquil.

“I saw an opportunity to put it on my backhand, and that one happened to squeeze in there,” said Johansen when asked to describe his highlight.

Great, he’s arrogant too.

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