Amateur goal analyzations, by Dr. Turner (CBJ vs. DET).
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Goal 1 - In this situation, we have three of four Blue Jackets (4 on 4 situation) all converging on Robert Lang, leaving two Red Wings open and waiting for the biscuit at the point. Pressure can be a good thing, no doubt, but in more open ice situations such as 4 on 4, this can lead to some serious opportunities for the players who don't have a man on them. That being the reason that Schneider was able to get off such a good shot from the blue line. Cleary's deflection made it nigh impossible for Norrena to save it.
Goal 2 - Norrena makes the original save on a one-timer by Lang from the top of the circle on Freddy's right. An ensuing pile at the net of Jackets and Wings players has Norrena flopping and falling all over, however it seems like he is able to at least partially recover. The problem wasn't Norrena or his ability to reset, though; it was Jason Chimera's blind backhand attempt to clear the puck from the zone. It could have worked, had he not tried to clear where he did; normally if you're going to clear the puck, you're going to either aim for the boards, or go for a pinpoint puck toss right down the middle, in the hopes that both point men on the power play cross their signals about who is going to get the puck and that you get enough air on it to avoid ice level sticks (but even doing that is a desperation move unless you're flawlessly accurate). Instead, Chimmer tried clearing it to the middle right, sending the puck right back to Niklas Lidstrom. Lidstrom shoots, deflection by Cleary, 2-0 Red Wings.
Breakaway by Nash - I'm sure I'll get some guff from Red Wings' fans, but it seems to me that lost in the craziness of Hasek making a great, diving save way outside of the crease by a rushing, breakaway attempt by Rick Nash, he lost his stick in a rather intentional, "whoops-my-grip-on-the-stick-was-limp!" manner. Not that it would have made a difference in the end, sadly ... but I'm calling shenanigans on the fact that was never called, or even reviewed.
Goal 3 - Not much to say here, really; Aaron Johnson catches a floating dump, and before he even has an opportunity to toss it down and clear it, Kirt Maltby is in his face, stripping him faster than a stripper doing a rush job, and five-holes Norrena.
Goal 4 - Bomb by Lidstrom from the point, and Norrena is screened beyond belief during a Wings' power play opportunity. While there's only one Jacket and one Wing in front of Norrena directly, the whole offensive zone is clogged up in general. This goal is more to the Wings' credit than anything else, since there wasn't really much of a problem with the penalty kill coverage.
Goal 5 - Well, now we can see why Foote doesn't like to shoot; Foote gets a pass back to the point from Chimera, and goes for what looks like a half slap-shot. Jason Williams, however, gets right in the line of fire. The blocked shot deflects back and past Foote, who is busy wheeling around as Williams streaks for the puck. Williams gets in all alone on Norrena on the opposite end of the rink, and floats the puck under a haggard looking Norrena, who has stretched out his leg to one side to try and cover the side of the net he hadn't committed to. Easy goal, final goal, 5-0 win.
Labels: Blue Jackets, goals, Red Wings
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Thank you and Happy Holidays!
Matthew