Goals Under Review 3-11-23 Games

A lot of games today that I wanted to watch but the Avalanche game was at a very awkward time. So I’m watching the Dallas Stars & Seattle Kranken and I’m going to check out the goals from games earlier in the day. I want to know how other teams go about scoring their goals and what it looks like when they give up goals. When we get into the playoffs I want to be able to identify when a team is doing well (or poorly).

Detroit Red Wings @ Boston Bruins

Goal Detroit by Copp SHG: This time of year teams have a lot of tape on each other and I’m seeing a lot of “telegraphed passes”. I notice it as a fan, how well prepared must these teams be when they get to game day? This goal was the result of a poor entry zone pass. Detroit got their stick in the passing lane, maintained control, and skated down the ice for a 2-on-1 where they scored. A nice shot. I’t Boston, I would not be worried about anything. bad passes happen and they are chasing history, not a playoff spot. Detroit 1-0

Goal Detroit by Chaisson PPG: This was a beautiful passing goal. A shot from deep blocked in the slot was picked up by Detroit. Two quick passes get the eyes of the penalty killers moving but the puck moves faster. Detroit gets the puck on the open doorstep and scores. I would be excited as a Red Wings fan to see the team moving the puck like that in general. Add in the fact that this was against one of the best penalty-killing units in the league, bonus. Detroit 2-0

Goal Boston by Lindholm: A simple wrist shot that finds its way to the net. This is the kind of goal you can’t give up to Boston. They are very good at scoring on their own. Allowing a seeing-eye flip-wrist shot to get through several bodies and into the net is what gets them going. A team like Detroit is not yet on a close enough talent tier to Boston to pull away and stay away. if I’m Boston I take the goal and press for another immediately. Boston’s ability to grind in the zone is what led to this goal. Very on brand, no surprises here. Detroit 2-1

Goal Boston by Bergeron PPG: Stay out of the box against Boston. They make the zone entry look easy, the run the puck close to the goal line, throw it back to the point. One pass and the puck is in open ice on Debrusk’s stick, a pass and tip into the net is all it takes to tie the game. Boston plays pretty hockey. Stay out of the box, that is the lesson. Tied 2-2

Goal Boston by Hathaway: Put the puck on net and good things happen. In this case, Greer shoots the puck and this leads to a juicy rebound. Boston played the rush into the zone in a textbook manner and they get the goal. This was the exact kind of goal an underdog gives up to the power team. A head-hanging goal that feels like the win that was so close is now miles away. Boston plays well-coached fundamental hockey. Don’t make mistakes against them, how hard could it be? Boston Wins 3-2

Edmonton Oilers @ Toronto Maple Leafs

Goal Toronto by Accari: Such a gritty goal being near the net and making things happen. This was a playoff goal and one where you want your bigger D-men making it a miserable place to play. This is exactly the kind of goal you want to see from a newly acquired player. Lesson here is, Edmonton gives up these kinds of goals and Toronto is capable of scoring them. Be tough in front of the net, moving on. Toronto 1-0

Goal Edmonton by Ekholm: This was a great shot. The defense was pulled onto the entire left half of the zone. One pass to the open Oilers defenseman and he has an opportunity for one shot while the defense of Toronto tries to get over in coverage. A fundamental way to score, moving the puck across the zone and executing the shot. A very Edmonton goal, would like to see the defense leave someone available for the backside open player. Tied 1-1

Goal Edmonton by Kane: Great individual effort on the goal by Kane and the rush up ice from McDavid to assist on the goal. Toronto tried to cover the back post on the wrap-around, but Kane was just faster. That is a great individual effort. The top line for Edmonton is very dangerous. Turnovers in the offensive zone lead to rushes the other way and Edmonton put the puck away. Edmonton 2-1

Goal Edmonton by McDavid: McDavid doesn’t do anything fancy, he gets the pass from deep in his own zone then skates through the Toronto zone, and finds an open spot in the slot, goes five-hole. Nothing fancy, just great skating with the puck. Edmonton 3-1

Goal Toronto by Marner: Abysmal goal to give up. A terrible turnover right in front of the goalie. All credit to Marner for blocking the pass and keeping control then completing the play. One the defense wants back. Edmonton still has the lead, but Toronto is good enough that they don’t need help. Edmonton 3-2

Goal Toronto by Nylander: I can see why the Avalanche put such value in defensemen who can move the puck out of the zone. This is another terrible turnover. Toronto gets a stick in the way, they gain control then the rest of the team is scrambling. Not to mention, they have started to leave the zone to go on offense. This makes two goals the defense wants back. Tied 3-3

Goal Toronto by Tavares: Defense again, but a little different. Edmonton whiffs (great stick lift by Matthews) on a clear when there are two Toronto players in the area. Toronto gains control, creates a 2-on-1 rush and they complete the play. The last three goals have been about sloppy play and converting the misses. That makes three goals that should not have happened. Toronto 4-3

Goal Toronto by Tavares PPG: Sometimes you get lucky bounces off skates, that’s hockey. In this case, Toronto tried a pass through the slot on the power play and it hits an Edmonton skate and goes right to the forehand of Tavares. He converts the bounce into a goal. Those are tough to swallow but they happen. Stay out of the box, that’s the lesson here. Also, when the penalty killers have to react to a bounce of a puck and it goes right to the team on the power play, that’s tough to recover from. Toronto 5-3

Goal Toronto by Matthews PPG: Great play by the Toronto power play. Quick passes, gets the puck to Matthews in front and they get the “easy” goal on the power play. Honestly, stay out of the box. There are ten minutes left in the game at this point, Edmonton has given up three goals you’d want back and two power play goals in a row. This didn’t need to happen. Why does SportsNet always put the camera on McDavid after a Toronto goal? Toronto 6-3

Goal Edmonton by Draisaitl PPG: Draisaitl was the beneficiary of the goalie’s pad not being up against the post when it should have been. We know Edmonton has a potent offense. This is one Toronto would want back, but in a game where the other team has gifted three prime opportunities and the offense converts, giving up one softy is a low-stakes learning moment rather than losing points in the standings. Toronto 6-4

Goal Toronto by Accari: ENG Toronto 7-4

Vegas Golden Knights @ Carolina Hurricanes

Goal Vegas by Marchessault: Vegas is great on the transition. Carolina did their best to get set up for the rush, they even had a defender in front of the shooter going down to block. The shot was just too good. When the Avalanche played Vegas a couple of weeks ago, they didn’t give up any real rush opportunities. This looked like a “vintage” Vegas goal from a “vintage” Vegas player. Vegas 1-0

Goal Vegas by Smith: This is one of the fluke players where a defender whiffs on a puck and the forward makes a great individual play that leads to a goal. If the defender doesn’t whiff then Smith doesn’t get behind him and have a clear path to the goal through the slot. Bounces happen and the question is, who capitalizes on those bounces? In this case, Smith was able to complete the goal. Vegas 2-0

Goal Vegas by Cotter: Please see the first goal commentary where we talk about the Golden Knights being good on the rush. For this goal, it was a transition to a 3-on-1 rush and Vegas buried the goal. When a team likes getting their goals on the rush, it’s really important to be prepared in the neutral zone. Carolina got their players deep into the Vegas zone, lose possession of the puck and Vegas was off to the races. It was a nice looking 3-on-1 passing play and shot that snuck under the left pad. Vegas 3-0

Goal Vegas by Howden: ENG Vegas Wins 4-0

Winnipeg Jets @ Florida Panthers

Goal Winnipeg by Scheifele PPG: Puck movement is the name of the game on the Power Play and Winnipeg not only found the wide-open back-side rusher, but they made the extra pass to Scheifele in the slot who scores the goal. Really pretty play and the kind of offense you’d expect to see from this team. Winnipeg 1-0

Goal Winnipeg by Ehlers: This goal feels a softy. I have not seen a lot of Florida play this year, was that bad defense was that poor goalie play. That seems like a shot Bobrovsky stops last year. However, a good shot is a good shot and Ehlers deserves the credit. Winnipeg 2-0

Goal Florida by Tkachuk PPG: Who doesn’t love an ugly Power Play goal? Don’t make it complicated. Get the shot on net and have your stick ready for the loose puck in front. Florida is capable of scoring the ugly goal on the PP, noted. Winnipeg 2-1

Goal Winnipeg by Namesnikov PPG: Winnipeg runs a great-looking passing play on the Power play. Puck goes behind the next then back into Namesnikov who gets a tap in. That makes two lovely passing plays on the Power Play. Winnipeg 3-1

Goal Florida by Reinhart PPG: This kind of goal is painful to surrender. Winnipeg goes on the short-handed rush, they get a shot that bounces hard off the rebound and turns into a 3-on-1 rush the other way. Florida converts the opportunity. A tough one to give up for Winnipeg. Winnipeg 3-2

Goal Winnipeg by Namestnikov: A classic, shot for a rebound to the player moving to the front of the net off the faceoff. Playing an offensive team like Winnipeg you have to mind your Ps and Qs on defense. you can’t let them get behind you off the faceoff, simple as that. This one was more preventable than the others. Winnipeg 4-2

Goal Florida by Staal: For the second time in the game Florida get a good bounce off the board that leads to an odd-man rush. Winnipeg had committed to the net drive on their end so when the bounce goes the other way, they were way behind the play. The two Winnipeg defenders were in a tough spot. The shot was iffy and it probably should have been saved, but the goal is good. Sometimes the other team converts. No lesson here, just a bad bounce for one team and a conversion for another. Winnipeg 4-3

Goal Florida by Tkachuk PPG: Ugly goal, that makes two. Tkachuk is a beast down low. A tipped shot, a rebound and a goal all in two motions. Credit to the Panthers. More evidence of their ugly goal capabilities. Tied 4-4

Goal Winnipeg by Scheifele: OT goal, there are no lessons here, these goals don’t happen in the playoffs nor is 3-on-3 something to worry about during regulation. Good individual effort on a short angle. Some credit where it is due. Winnipeg 5-4

Dallas Stars @ Seattle Kraken

Goal Dallas by Hintz: Big rebounds lead to easy goals. Nothing the defense can do when the rebound goes right to Dallas and they have a player wide open on the back-side of the play. Nice passing, goal converted. Dallas 1-0

Goal Seattle by Eberle: What a fun tip-in play. The shot takes two deflections on it’s way to the net. These are great goals. Players doing their jobs, getting shots on the net and forwards getting tips. Tied 1-1

Goal Dallas by Marchment: Not to be outdone, Marchment makes a beautiful tip on a shot that was bound for the boards behind the next. This is just a great play. Seattle had decent coverage on the play as well. Dallas is a large team that holds their ground well. This was a Dallas goal through and through. Dallas 2-1

Goal Seattle by Donato: Ugly goal! Nothing special, shot, rebound, scramble in front and Seattle gets the goal. Seattle can play scrappy. Tied 2-2

Goal Seattle by Bjorkstrand PPG: It’s a good passing play on the Power Play. Not quite the same quality as we’ve seen from Toronto or Winnipeg, but a goal is a goal. Not only can Seattle score the ugly goals, but they can run pretty passing plays. Seattle 3-2

Goal Dallas by Pavelski: Of course it’s with an empty net and of course it’s Pavelski and of course we’re going to overtime and of course Dallas is going to win. The lesson here is, Dallas is never out of a game when they are down one, or even two. I trust no leads against this team. Tied 3-3

Goal Dallas by Heiskanen: OT goal, no real lessons here. Dallas 4-3