Thomas Vanek nets textbook deflection play on Sergei Bobrovsky

Deflections can be a tricky business in hockey. Sometimes they go where you want them to, other times they ricochet skyward out of play on a missed opportunity. Thomas Vanek's third goal of the year came on a classic example of a deflection gone right, putting the Minnesota Wild up 3-2 over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Vanek buries a power play goal to put the Wild up 3-2 over CBJ pic.twitter.com/BTMmo3c1dn

— Stephanie (@myregularface) October 23, 2015

Vanek was set up perfectly at the side of the net to get the blade of his stick on the shot from teammate Jason Zucker. He deflected the puck high enough on Blue Jacket netminder Sergei Bobrovsky that it nearly hit off the Russian's mask.