Goals Under Review - March 18th

Colorado Avalanche @ Detroit Red Wings

Can Detroit play spoiler to an old rival? Can Colorado complete the perfect road trip and solidify their spot in the division standings?

Goal Colorado by Toews: Colorado looked like Colorado with this goal. 5 v 5 with smooth passing and great movement in the zone. The exact start the team wants in the final road game of a 4-game road trip. Avalanche 1-0

Goal Detroit by Suter: This must happen to other teams but all too often the Avs get themselves into “clear the zone” trouble. They had a decent chance to clear the puck and didn’t Suter take a great shot, hitting the far top corner. The shot was not a cheap goal, but the clearing attempt was cheap and the Avalanche paid the price. What does Detroit do with this momentum off an equalizer? Tied 1-1

Goal Colorado by MacKinnon: This is a Cale Makar appreciation post. The stretch pass from BEHIND THE NET to Malgin, then Malgin does a little delay dangle followed by a NO LOOK BEHIND HIS BODY pass to a streaking MacKinnon, who scores, yada yada. I jest, the shot was sick too. If this is the Avalanche team we are going to see the rest of the year they are going to be close to the team we saw in the playoffs last year. Avalanche 2-1

Goal Colorado by Byram PPG: This was a 4-on-3 PPG, there isn’t a lot we can learn from this other than Byram has a sick shot. There are so many good young players on this team. Seriously, appreciate your star players! Avalanche 3-1

Goal Colorado by Eller SHG: I feel like the Avs have been a much better team at making zone entry on the Power Play more difficult this year. This play in particular is a good play at the line, then a great follow-up from the players on the ice. This is the effort that made them a Stanley Cup winner last year. Whatever funk the team was in when they lost to the Kings and the Stars seems to be gone. Will they take this level of play into the next couple of weeks of games? Can they extend this into the rest of the regular season and beyond? Avalanche 4-1

Goal Colorado by Rantanen: Incredible passing. I love this team right now. they are playing so well together. The things they need to clean up can be cleaned up while the things they are doing right are visible and scoring them multiple goals a game. Avalanche 5-1 (Final)

Boston Bruins @ Minnesota Wild

Can the league’s best team get back on track against a team trying to play its way back into a home-ice advantage?

Goal Minnesota by Johansson: Halfway through the first period and the Wild get on the board first. They found a way to get behind the Bruins’ defense and ran a nice passing play including the finish. A good start against a good team but lots of game left. They need to push for a two-goal lead. Wild 1-0

Goal Boston by DeBrusk: This was a bad goal to give up. The shot was good but three seconds before the goal was scored the entire Wild defense was looking at the puck. Five seconds before the goal, four defenders were below the faceoff dots. A team like Boston will take advantage of that and they are good at converting their chances. Tied 1-1

Goal Boston by Pastrnak PPG: What can we learn from this goal? It was a nice shot on the Power Play by one of their star players. Stay out of the box, especially when this win will mean so much and your main rival at the moment is playing a team near the bottom of the standings. Bruins 2-1

Goal Boston by Krejci: Bad defense, frustrating. The Wild lose track of the curling Bruin and they get the puck into the soft middle of the defense. One pass and in the net. You watch this and the expected story of the #1 team in the league confirms the expectation. Make a bad play and get punished. Tip your cap to a good play and don’t make the same mistake while hoping you can make up a two-goal deficit to Boston? Bruins 3-1

Goal Minnesota by Sunqvist PPG: All credit to Minnesota for running a good play off the faceoff for the goal. There is plenty of time left in the game and the gap id down to one. They have a tough hill to climb but they scored first in the period. Bruins 3-2

Goal Boston by Bergeron: the Wild gave up the same goal to the Bruins. the entire defense was watching the puck and not paying attention to the slot or Bergeron skating into the middle of the defense. Credit to Boston, this is what you expect from a team this good, but the defense for the Wild is really letting the team down today. Bruins 4-2

Goal Boston by Frederic: ENG. Bruins 5-2 (Final)

Winnipeg Jets @ Nashville Predators

8th vs 9th in the Western Conference, who wants it more?

Goal Nashville by Glass: How is Glass allowed to make that cut into the net when a shot is being sent on goal? How many times does Winnipeg have to play bad defense before they start to look like they are trying to improve on defense? I get it, the players are the players, but I would expect to see a simplified defense that made sure a player was always guarding the net front. I’m not playing armchair coach, I’m just a fan of good hockey and I’ve seen enough bad defense from Winnipeg to wonder when things will start to look different. Predators 1-0

Goal Winnipeg by Ehlers: When in doubt, power the puck into the net. Nothing fancy just a great slapshot for the goal. I know there are two teams here but I think this 8th spot in the Western Conference is just about Winnipeg. Nashville does seem to have the firepower to make up the difference to Winnipeg in the standings but Winnipeg is hell-bent on giving up the spot by losing games. Tied 1-1

Goal Nashville by Evangelista: Tenacious goal by Nashville. It looked chased by the defense and Nashville put together a nice scramble play to get the goal. No real takeaway from the goal. Good frantic hockey from a team trying to get into the playoffs. How does the Winnipeg offense answer? Predators 2-1

Goal Winnipeg by Lowry: Now that is a hockey goal. The kind of goal when the team scores you feel good because the goal was nice looking but down low and tough. A playoff-type goal. Now they just have to get to the playoffs. Tied 2-2

Goal Winnipeg by Pionk: OT Goal. Jets 3-2 (Final)

Edmonton Oilers @ Seattle Kraken

The Battle for 3rd in the Pacific

Goal Edmonton by Kane: This was a pretty looking 200 foot play. This is the kind of goal I fear when playing the Oilers. Not only did they get the lead early but they are on the road. All credit to the Oilers for a great team play. Oilers 1-0

Goal Seattle by Schwartz: Seattle makes a good push into the zone and doesn’t allow the Oiler defense to get set up. There is an organized scramble in the zone where Seattle has control and they get the goal. watching this, you want your team to score when you see the defense in scramble mode. The Kraken get the goal, can they get keep the tie or maybe get the lead before the period is over? Tied 1-1

Goal Edmonton by Yamamoto: Another quality offense goal here. The frustrating part is Seattle had the chance to clear the puck and they didn’t get it done. You can’t give a team like the Oilers a chance like that. Oilers 2-1

Goal Edmonton by Kane: Broken play, but a really pretty finish. I can’t fault the defense for this one. A big rebound, the defense is now out of position but Jane drifts into a soft spot after the rebound, gets the pass, and finished the one-timer. Edmonton has its offense rolling today. Seattle must buckle down if it wants to get the win today and honestly, the Oilers look like they are playing too well to be beaten. Oilers 3-1

Goal Seattle by Eberle: Leaky goalie goal. Good play by Eberle to let the defense drift passed his position. He got himself into a good shooting position in the zone but the shot looked to be saved, but it trickled through. I think you shake this one off. Sure, you want it back, but this was a bad play. Oilers 3-2

Goal Edmonton by Hyman: McDavid takes the puck deep into the zone and the Kraken defense collapses. Hyman follows him into the zone, never picks up a defender, and gets the pass from McDavid for the easy put-away. Edmonton playing Oiler hockey. This game is telling me that the Oilers are going to hang on to that #3 spot in the pacific. At the very least, they are showing they are better than a wildcard. Oilers 4-2

Goal Seattle by Bjorkstrand: Bad defense. The Oilers are capable of the defensive laps and in this case they overcommitted to the right side of the ice and the trailing forward just didn’t cover the slot. This will lead to great shot opportunities and goals against. In this game, the Oilers are outscoring these problems. Oilers 4-3

Goal Edmonton by Kane: Just a great shot. As I said, Edmonton is outscoring its problems today and Seattle just doesn’t seem to have the answer today. Oilers 5-3

Goal Edmonton by McDavid PPG: McDavid is good at scoring goals. Don’t take penalties against the Oilers. what more do you need to know? The worst part for the Kraken is that this goal is scored with just under 4 minutes left in the game. Three goals in four minutes doesn’t feel like it’s going to happen. Oilers 6-3

Goal Seattle Tolvanen: A pretty goal, all credit to the Kraken but this is too little too late. With less than a minute on the clock, this game is all but over. The Oilers defended their place in the standings well today. Oilers 6-4 (Final)

Carolina Hurricanes @ Philadelphia Flyers

Carolina’s division lead is one point. Can they win a game they need to and should win?

Goal Carolina by Aho: This is what it looks like when a good team lulls a weaker team to sleep and gets them puck-watching. For a game that I would call must win, I would feel good about the rest of it if the Hurricanes can play like this. Hurricanes 1-0

Goal Carolina by Skjei: Great forecheck pressure, layers of attack without the puck, a turnover and a great shot. You’d have to feel like one more goal and this can be put into cruise control. A three-goal lead against a team giving up goals like the first two and a team as good as the Hurricanes should put the win away. Hurricanes 2-0

Goal Philadephia by Foerster: Great plays are great plays. This was a good rush out of the defensive end and Foerster gets his first goal in the NHL, congrats to him! This looked more like good play from the Flyers than bad play from the Hurricanes. Makes the goal easier to write off but it was given up too early in the second period to feel like the Canes are going to get a freebie win today. Hurricanes 2-1

Goal Carolina by Aho: Great, great hockey. I would be so psyched if I watched my team score a goal like this. The Flyers are outmatched in this game. Almost like the goal the Canes gave up didn’t matter and the Canes should be 98% to win this game. Such a pretty play. Hurricanes 3-1

Goal Philadelphia by Cates PPG: I’ve said in other Goals Under Review recaps that 5-on-3 goals provide no lessons and I gloss over them in one sentence, congrats for scoring when you should have. For this goal, why are the Canes down two men? There is no reason for the canes to play risky enough hockey to be down two skaters. That is a mental lapse and the margin for error does not exist right now for that kind of a letdown. On top of that, this is late in the third and now the Flyers are looking at a one-goal deficit, they think they can win this game at home, in front of their fans. Hurricanes 3-2

Goal Philadelphia by Farabee: Pretty play that leads to an ugly goal early in the third period and we have a tie game. Throw your hands up and look at the Canes and ask “well, this is what we didn’t want boys.” Good “hockey goal” btw. The story of this game revolves around the Canes and their playoff spot but the Flyers are putting up a fight. that deserves recognition. Tied 3-3

Goal Philadelphia by Lemieux: Get your head in the effing game boys! A terrible turnover by the goalie and the Flyers convert by shooting into an empty net. How this has gone from an assured win to being down by one, doesn’t feel good. I’m shaking my head and wondering what the coach is saying on the bench. You don’t win Stanley Cups if you can beat the Flyers. Especially the quality of play the Flyers offered in the first half of the game. Put them away. Flyers 4-3

Goal Carolina by Necas PPG: I feel gutted for the Flyers. If there is no Power Play they play off the faceoff doesn’t happen. Carolina got a gift from the hockey gawds. Tied 4-4

Goal Caolina by Aho: OT Goal, more skill, more ice, Canes win. I hope they take the right lesson from this game, they were gifted two points from the jaws of defeat. I wouldn’t feel good about this win. Hurricanes 5-4 (Final)

New Jersey Devils @ Florida Panthers

The Devils can take over first in the division, but they need a win, on the road against a team trying to get into a playoff spot.

Goal New Jersey by Hicher SHG: Great shot, love it, I’m pumped. On the road and turning a Power Play against into the first goal of the game. Devils 1-0

Goal New Jersey by Boqvist: Ugly, scrambly, hockey goal. The Devils have scored pretty and they have now scored ugly. What’s not to like? Now the question become, can the Devils put this game away as it approaches the halfway mark? Devils 2-0

Goal Florida by Barkov: I don’t feel bad about giving up that goal. Panthers ran a good play in the offensive zone and the Devils got set into decent zone coverage. The shot didn’t go directly in and it was a hockey goal. This goal really sets up the question, of who scores the next and they get a double dose of momentum. Devils 2-1

Goal Florida by Reinhart PPG: Stay out of the box, that’s the lesson and don’t let other teams fighting for the playoffs stay in the game. That was a quality deflection goal but that double dose of momentum is felt not by the players but by the fans in the building as well. The Devils need to dig deep if they want to get the momentum back. Tied 2-2

Goal Florida by Tkachuk: The Devils were outplayed on this zone entry. They got beat 2 vs 3 and they had the 3 players on defense. I want to just say “good play Panthers” but this goal means more than that. The Panthers took the lead. The Devils did not look good giving up the lead in a game that means the potential lead in their division. This is a late-round playoff scenario they are playing against and they aren’t passing the test. Panthers 3-2

Goal Florida by Reinhart: ENG. Don’t make the mountain more difficult to climb. Good on the Panthers for getting a victory that means a lot to their playoff chances. Panthers 4-2 (Final)

Montreal Canadiens @ Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay needs to turn around their recent performance and get a string of wins going if they are going to catch and pass Toronto for home ice in the first round.

Goal Montreal by Hoffman: Pretty simple, the defense forgot about and skated away from Hoffman. Montreal made the play to get him the puck and he converted the shot. Not a great feeling when the Lightning have to up their game and they just forget about a guy on the ice. Canadiens 1-0

Goal Tampa Bay by Hedman: Now that is the kind of goal I expect to see from the Lightning. Montreal got into puck-watching and they had a guy down a stick but Hedman skated down the slot for an easy pass and shoot and scored. The exact kind of goal a team like Montreal can’t give up to a more talented team than themselves. Tied 1-1

Goal Tampa Bay by Hagel: Montreal has collapsed so deep on defense, the Lightning can do what they want in the zone. Goals like this remind the Lightning how to play better hockey. This is a gift in this game and a gift to future Tampa Bay games. Lightning 2-1

Goal Montreal Gurianov: This was great two-man play. Gurianov found a soft spot in the defense. The defense collapsed a little too deep and they did lose sight of the shooter, but good plays are good plays. I still don’t think Montreal is a threat to take the game but the ease of the win got a little…..less easy. Tied 2-2

Goal Montreal Ylonen PPG: Big slap shot on a broken-ish Power Play zone entry. Don’t get in the sin bin. Now Montreal has the lead but half the game remains and a two-goal lead for Montreal at this point would make me feel like they were a real threat to take the surprise victory. Canadiens 3-2

Goal Tampa Bay by Stamkos PPG: Yup, good team scores on a good zone entry on the Power Play and scores early in the third period. exactly what the Lightning needed. Good luck Montreal getting this win, we are firmly in Lightning-style game territory. Tied 3-3

Goal Tampa Bay by Hagel: Ugly tip-in hockey goal. Now the Lightning have the lead in a game they need to win and they can get back to lockdown hockey. Tampa bay is showing that they can play their brand of hockey against weaker teams. Do they convert this game into better play over the next 5 games and make a run at #2 in the Atlantic Division? Lightning 4-3

Goal Tampa Bay by Hagel: ENG. Lightning 5-3 (Final)

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Ottawa Senators

Tampa Bay is trying to catch the Leafs, can they get the victory and keep the Lightning at T-Rex arms distance?

Goal Toronto by McCabe: Waves of players and a huge rebound lead to a pretty goal. The Leafs are on the road and they get the first goal. What more could you want? Maple Leafs 1-0

Goal Ottawa by Gauthier: A weird goal to give up. I’d write this one off and hope the offense can outscore this bit of bad luck. What do the Sens do with this gift bounce from the hockey gawds? Tied 1-1

Goal Ottawa by Stuzle SHG: On its own, that was a sick shot from Stuzle. Great individual effort. The real story here is how in the hell does Toronto give up a 3-on-2 rush on the Power Play? The hockey gawds have already given the Sens a gift goal, now the Leafs have done the same. Don’t make the win harder than it needs to be, Tampa bay isn’t that far behind. Senators 2-1

Goal Toronto by Marner: The Power Play taketh and the Power Play giveth. Mitch Marner has shown up in almost every game I’ve watched or followed for the Leafs. I like how he is playing and if I’m honest, I would go so far to say he is the engine moving this team along right now. There is plenty of good team play but Marner makes himself known every single game. Now to mention, it was a sign wrister to the short side. Tied 2-2

Goal Toronto by Jarnkrok: Sick shot after finding a soft spot in the zone. This was a Toronto goal. Now they have the lead and the Leafs are now on the quest for the 2-goal lead before the second period is over. Maple Leafs 3-2

Goal Toronto by Jarnkrok: Great goal, great follow into the zone from Jarnkrok. The second wave scored this goal and a great pass from Matthews. The two-goal lead is secured and now I’m feeling good going into the last ten minutes of the game. maple Leafs 4-2

Goal Ottawa by Tkachuk: Frustrating when the team scores such a pretty goal for a two-goal lead then two minutes later gives up that two-goal lead on such poor defensive play. Maple Leafs 4-3

Goal Ottawa by Tkachuk: And this is why you want a two-goal lead going into the empty net phase of the game. Credit to Ottawa for fighting to the end. They got the tie in regulation. When the thing you worry about, giving up a two-goal lead, comes to fruition, how do you build faith in the team when it hits crunch time in the playoffs? Tied 4-4

Goal Toronto by SO: Nine rounds, something something, exciting hockey, blah blah, whatever. Shootouts are dumb. Maple Leafs 5-4 (Final)

Pittsburgh Penguins @ New York Rangers

Are these two teams tired of playing each other yet? Pittsburgh is looking behind them in the standings while the Rangers are looking to make the playoffs healthy.

I’m not going to cover all the goals. It was a 6-0 victory for the Rangers and they aren’t the story here. The Rangers have a secure playoff spot and it would take quite the fall for them to move up in the standings. The story here are the Penguins and the Panthers who are looking at the 8th spot in the playoffs.

Let’s assume the Penguins make the playoffs and play the Bruins in the first round. Is this team good enough to beat the Bruins? No. Their other option is to use the games in hand and gain the 7th spot to play Carolina in the first round. Another unlikely victory. Pittsburgh is in a weird spot where they have to decide what team they want to be aka, do they start the rebuild in the post-Crosby era?

It sucks to be stuck in the middle of the standings. Too good to be part of the Bedard sweepstakes and not good enough to be a threat to any of the teams you’d be facing in the first round of the playoffs. However, they’ve had a really good run here for a long time. The last time they missed the playoffs was Crosby’s rookie year. I may feel bad for them being stuck in standings limbo but I’m not shedding tears.

Dallas Stars @ Calgary Flames

Calgary needs every win it can get and Dallas is looking at the surging Colorado team right behind them in the standings.

Goal Dallas by Pavelski: The most Dallas goal that ever goal’d. The nice zone entry combined with some passing against the flow of the defense them an ugly scrum finish for the goal. Stars 1-0

Goal Dallas by Faksa: I’m frustrated if I’m Calgary. The Stars’ forecheck got them a goal and there were plenty of Flames in the area to cover the play. Not to mention the game is only two minutes old and the Stars have a two-goal lead and they are great with the lead. Stars 2-0

Goal Calgary by Lindholm: Ok, we have a track meet! One minute later and the Flames score on a turnover at the point on a weak clearing attempt by Dallas. This is fun hockey to watch but the lesson of “don’t turnover the puck” doesn’t make for an in-depth goal discussion. Just enjoy the game! Stars 2-1

Goal Dallas by Johnston: Good tip-in goal and Johnston has been showing up a lot on the scoresheet of late. You have my attention, young man. Stars 3-1

Goal Calgary by Weegar: Let me dig into my deck of hockey cliches and oop, here is it, “the goalie can’t stop what the goal can’t see”. Great play. Screen the goalie and convert the shot, simple. Hockey is simple, just like golf. Greens and fairways all day. Stars 3-2

Goal Calgary by Coleman: This was an ugly hockey goal set up by a good play from Andersson using the space the defense gave him. Calgary his put in the effort to get back to a tie against a team that is good at playing with the lead. That deserves credit, now, can they get the lead? Tied 3-3

Goal Calgary by Ritchie: Great stretch pass, breakaway, and conversion. I got to watch this part of the game and Calgary getting the tie and taking the lead felt inevitable. They were putting in great effort and they were getting results. This is exactly what you want to see from a team that needs wins to get into the playoffs. Flames 4-3

Goal Dallas by Robertson: In the last two minutes of the period the Flames stop playing defense for one rebound and Dallas gets a free shot on goal, from the circle. Problem is, the shooter was a 40-goal scorer, he isn’t going to miss from there when no one defends him. Tied 4-4

Goal Calgary by Andersson: A shot from the point that goes in, you take that and the lead it provides all day. Flames 5-4

Goal Dallas by Hakanpaa: Bad defense, bad bounce and this game is tied. When all five defenders are down low and the fourth skater for the Stars gets into the zone uncovered. Frustrating to the max. These kinds of goals feel like they are avoidable. Credit to the Stars for playing the rush and follow-up the way you’re supposed to. They converted and the game is tied, just the way Dallas like it. Tied 5-5

Goal Dallas by Robertson: OT Goal. Stars 6-5 (Final)