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Thoughts on Game 27 (4-3 ot win over Calgary)
-- I'm not sure if anyone plays Tomas Holmstrom as physically in front of the net as Mark Giordano. The Flame works it like a basketball center, trying to beat Homer to the spot, then bang away. It was pretty effective. Usually, Homer is allowed to set up, then opponents try to front him or bang from behind. Giordano tried to deny Homer his spot.
-- Three delay of game penalties to Calgary for shooting the puck over the glass. Don't know if I've ever seen that.
-- Wow did Brian Rafalski look bad early when he jumped out on Curtis Glencross, but just allowed the Flame to skate around him and get a prime scoring chance.
-- By his own high standards, Nicklas Lidstrom's game is off. He's getting pinned more in the defensive zone and turning the puck over more down low. Again, these are by Superman's standards. He's still one guy you want on the ice when it matters. He's just not automatic this season.
-- Pavel Datsyuk has been off his game as well, but he did spring to life late in this one. He had a Datsyuk-like pass to Johan Franzen at the net front late that just missed turning into the winning goal. Beautiful pass across the grain that few players could make. Then -- and this is what I love about Datsyuk -- in overtime he reads that Franzen is on the wing feeding Lidstrom the puck, so he heads to the net-front with perfect timing. It looked like Adrian Aucoin was pushing Datsyuk into an even better screen position and the crowd in front led to the winning goal. Earlier in the game, Datsyuk beat everyone back to negate a possible Calgary 2-on-1, using impressive speed. The unique one-on-one moves haven't been as plentiful this year, but you have to love a superstar who plays the entire ice well.
-- Three delay of game penalties to Calgary for shooting the puck over the glass. Don't know if I've ever seen that.
-- Wow did Brian Rafalski look bad early when he jumped out on Curtis Glencross, but just allowed the Flame to skate around him and get a prime scoring chance.
-- By his own high standards, Nicklas Lidstrom's game is off. He's getting pinned more in the defensive zone and turning the puck over more down low. Again, these are by Superman's standards. He's still one guy you want on the ice when it matters. He's just not automatic this season.
-- Pavel Datsyuk has been off his game as well, but he did spring to life late in this one. He had a Datsyuk-like pass to Johan Franzen at the net front late that just missed turning into the winning goal. Beautiful pass across the grain that few players could make. Then -- and this is what I love about Datsyuk -- in overtime he reads that Franzen is on the wing feeding Lidstrom the puck, so he heads to the net-front with perfect timing. It looked like Adrian Aucoin was pushing Datsyuk into an even better screen position and the crowd in front led to the winning goal. Earlier in the game, Datsyuk beat everyone back to negate a possible Calgary 2-on-1, using impressive speed. The unique one-on-one moves haven't been as plentiful this year, but you have to love a superstar who plays the entire ice well.
posted by Chuck Pleiness at
10:10 AM
3 Comments:
Bruce, I don't know where else to turn with this, but I could have sworn Rafalski's goal went through the outside of the net. I was watching online and the quality wasn't great, but when TSN showed the in goal camera, I didn't see the puck. Plus, the left side of the net just outside the post billows out, which I would think would be impossible if the puck squeezed between the post and the goalie. Anyway, didn't know if you had a way to confirm this or not, but I couldn't find a replay that showed it.
That was the most exciting regular season game in a long time. Never yelled at the TV so much. If the red wings can come back from that, they shouldn't lose another game this season. Makes it a little hard on the blood pressure every game being a 1 goal victory.
Michael: Rafalski's goal definitely did not go in through the outside of the net. It went in just inside the post. Just watch the replay and keep your eye on the left side.
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