Incredible, falling goal of year candidate from KHL (Video)

Wow, this goal is something special. 

Damir Zhafyarov is a 21-year-old winger for Sibir Novosibirsk in the KHL. He had six goals in 56 games in the regular season.

Against Admiral Vladivostok in Game 5 of their Gagarin Cup series, Oleg Gubin sent a pass to a streaking Zhafyarov down the slot. He took on defenseman Geoff Kinrade, who had a cup of coffee with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2008-09. Zhafyarov danced around a stick check from Kinrade, and then was hauled down by the defenseman as he got a shot off on goalie Igor Bobkov.

As he slid on the ice toward the post, Bobkov fought off the puck but left it there for one last desperation play from Zhafyarov: lunging with his stick, and tucking the puck into the net.

Zhafyarov got up and celebrated wildly, and rightfully so: His goal opened the scoring in what would be a 4-0 win that propelled Sibir to the next round of the playoffs.

Oh, and his goal will end up being one of the best ones of 2016. That too.

--

Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

MORE FROM YAHOO HOCKEY