KHL star Max Shalunov goes viral with an extremely creative goal

KHL forward Max Shalunov went viral yesterday after scoring a ridiculous goal for Yaroslavl Lokomotiv.

So, without further ado... let's check out the goal:

Did you see it?

Shalunov intentionally kicks the defender's stick away as a way to protect the puck so he can make a play on the net.

Thoughts?

Honestly, maybe I'm just a bit of a traditionalist, but I'm not a fan of normalizing kicking in the sport of hockey. Need I remind you that the players are wearing sharpened blades on their feet? Kicking is a cardinal sin in hockey and for good reason. I understand that there's currently no rule against kicking an opponent's stick away in the way that Shalunov did yesterday evening, I still don't like it.

Thoughts?