GOAL ANALYSIS: Datsyuk Being Datsyuk

Haven't done a Goal Analysis post in a while, so it's time to change that.  Michelle suggested I break down the Pavel Datsyuk goal from the opening game against Buffalo, and I thought it was a fantastic idea.  Without further ado...ALLONS-Y!!

Here's the goal in video form:

 

 

(Sorry, I'm new to BlogSpot and don't know how to make the video bigger, but I digress)

 

 

Here's how the Wings start:

 

Buffalo dumps the puck in and (presumably) goes for a change.  Kronwall gets the puck from Howard while Hank and Pav circle back and give Kronwall options on the right side with very light pressure from Buffalo.  Ericsson is on the left circle skating towards the blue line with plenty of speed.  Abdelkader is waiting near the Buffalo blue line, to spread out the Buffao defense and to give the Wings a stretch pass/long tip-in option.  This looks very similar to when breaking out on a power play (and playing Buffalo is like being on a power play).

 

Datsyuk gets the puck from Kronwall and sends it to Big E skating on the left side.  The Buffalo player on the red line is caught flat footed so E kinda just goes right around him.  Ericsson will approach the blue line, and that's when things get....interesting.

 

Ericsson kind of loses the puck and smashes through the Buffalo defender.  Pretty...normal, I guess?  Abdelkader is doing his job on the boards of not going offside and then taking away the boards (yes, the forwards purposely do this to make the defense put the puck up the middle because sometimes Datsyuk takes the pass and scores SPOILERS!).  Abby will see E continue to chase the puck, so he holds up and does the right defensive thing:

 

The Buffalo defenseman gets to the puck first.  Ericsson continues on his rampage and forces the player to just clear it quickly.  You can see Abby on the bottom of the screen, holding the boards and taking away the pass to the Buffalo right wing.  The defenseman is going to try and bank one off the boards, but...umm....yeah, about that:

 

So, yeah.  The Buffalo d-man banked the puck off the boards and thought it'd be an easy out.  Nooooope.  You can see the forward up high turned to chase the puck and then saw Pav get it and is now in some weird position of trying to get back but inertia is a thing so good luck with that.

 

And here's where the magic happens. Datsyuk gets the puck just above the top of the circle and drives towards the net.  The two Buffalo players on the left side take Abby because....?  Yeah I don't get it either.  The Buffalo player in front has to a possible pass to E in case E was going for a pass, but Riggy maybe just sorta kinda got in the way of him so Datsyuk could have a clean shot.  I think we all know what happens next and I don't need to post another pic...but I want to so here it is!

 

 



And there you have it, folks.  In conclusion:

• Buffalo had minimal pressure, allowing the Wings to break out with relative ease
• Ericsson is a pretty good skater and likes to smash people
• Abdelkader closing off the boards forced Buffalo to use the middle of the ice
• Pavel Datsyuk exists

If you have another goal you'd like me to break down, yell at me on the twitter (@KevinN37).  While you're at it, bug Michelle ( @Slapshotg0al ) and hit us up at @BlueLinePatrol or bluelinepatrol@gmail.com because nobody has sent us an email yet and that makes me sad.  Make me happy, Wings fans!

 

Until next time, GO WINGS!!