Sunday, December 22, 2013

Blue Line Patrol Podcast: Episode 13

We make plans to podcast again, and the Wings start winning again. Coincidence? Probably. With all the injuries the Wings are dealing with, we're getting a taste of the future with guys like Jurco, Sheahan, and Mrazek called up from Grand Rapids. The Wings currently have 9 players on their roster who won the Calder Cup with the Grand Rapids Griffins last spring. With all of the currently injured Wings (except Weiss) due back by the end of the year, the Wings will have some tough roster decisions to make. This week Kevin and I take a look at...


  • What roster moves need to be made short term, and long term, in order to make room for injured players returning.
  • Tomas Jurco's performance in his first 4 NHL games, how he's done so far, and what should be done with him short term
  • Riley Sheahan's surprising performance. Should he stay or should he go?
  • Pavel Datsyuk, the Magic Man is back!
  • Who gets sent down to Grand Rapids when Nyquist, Helm, and Abdlekader make their expected returns against the Islanders?
  • Healthy scratches? What are those?
  • Spoiler Alert! We talk 24/7, the good, the bad, who's the star so far, and what we'd like to see more of. 

We also have a special announcement to make... No, Kevin isn't pregnant. The podcast should be available on iTunes in the  near future! We've jumped through the necessary hoops and awaiting final approval. We'll make an official announcement when it's up and available, and we're excited about this development because it will make it much easier for you, our valued listeners, to access, download, and listed to the BLP Podcast. We'll keep you posted on further developments. Yay progress!


You may listen to and download the podcast right over here ---> Episode 13



Due to scheduling difficulties, this will probably be the last podcast we're able to record for a few weeks. So we want to thank you again for listening, and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Hockey New Year... Errrr.. Happy New Year.

If you'd like to hit us up on Twitter, we can be found here:

Kevin @KevinN37
Michelle @Slapshotg0al  
Blue Line Patrol @BlueLinePatrol 

and you can always e-mail us at Bluelinepatrol@gmail.com

Let's Go Red Wings!!! Let's Go Griffins!!! 

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Goal Analysis: Tomas Jurco's First NHL Goal

JURCO!!!  Photo Credit: Me
The only positive things about the Wings/Ducks game? Glendening's first NHL point (an assist on Cleary's garbage time goal) and Tomas Jurco's first NHL goal to give the Wings a 1-0 lead.

As much as I don't want to remember anything from this game, it's still awesome to see a player score his first NHL goal.  Let's watch the video and break down how this amazingness happened:


Not a whole bunch to break down here, but we're going to do it anyway.  To the screenshots with my awesome paint skills!


Pretty basic play here.  The Wings have control while trying to complete a line change.  You can see Jurco just about ready to get on the ice, while Anaheim only has one player putting semi-pressure on Quincey.  They are also changing, leaving lots of room at center ice, which will be important soon.

Side note part one:  typically, it's not a good idea to change all at once.  This is why you see the one Ducks forward pressuring.  Either he is the last Ducks forward to pressure or was the first one to change.  When the other team has the puck, if you're the far winger (or far side d-man), your job is to make sure the far boards are taken away.  The players changing can cover that side, so the far winger waits just a second or two until that side is covered before he goes.  Here, the one Ducks player need to put more pressure on to either force Quincey behind his own net or to go back to Smith.


Quincey skates back a little bit, but the Ducks forward doesn't chase.  This gives Quincey time and a much better angle to pass the puck up.  Miller is waiting for the puck at the offensive blue line (see below for details why this is a thing).  Jurco recognizes this is happening and cuts to the middle.

Side note part two:  The two-line pass was eliminated in 2005.  Teams started taking advantage of this by basically icing the puck to a player waiting by the offensive zone.  This player, typically the far winger, usually just tips the puck into the offensive zone, negating the icing and allowing his teammates to change.  Sometimes, however, this player collects the puck if he has support and tries to make a play.  Foreshadowing.


Miller does his job as his linemates are changing and collects the puck from Quincey.  I'm not sure if he saw Jurco coming or recognized the Ducks D were changing late, but regardless, he receives the pass instead of just tipping it in the corner.  Jurco sees Miller basically standing still, and with the Ducks left D changing and the center expecting his D to be there, Jurco has a clean shot to the net.  All Miller has to do is get the puck past the Ducks d-man and let Jurco go get it.  SPOILERS: it happens.


Aww yeah!  Miller does his job with a little saucer pass to the front of the net.  Jurco outskates the Ducks center and their d-man (Fowler) can't get back in time.  Jurco has amazing hands and decides to Nyquist this and go five hole.  Proof:


This goal was awesome and it made me sad that I didn't go to the game.  Then...the rest of the game happened and I became content to stay home.  Oh well.

To summarize:
  • Both teams were in the middle of line changes
  • The Ducks didn't pressure Quincey enough or take away the stretch pass
  • Miller was in the proper position for the Wings to make the long stretch pass
  • Tomas Jurco is really good at hockey
Let's hope I get to do another one of these for Luke Glendening or Riley Sheahan in the near future.  Until then, GO WINGS!!

Twitter for podcast/breakdown suggestions/random profanities:
Kevin - @KevinN37
Michelle - @Slapshotg0al
Blue Line Patrol - @bluelinepatrol

Monday, December 16, 2013

Forwards Higher Than Mikael Samuelsson On The Red Wings Depth Chart

Not listed in order, obviously.  Listed by lines from Sunday's game vs Tampa then the injured forwards:
  1. Pavel Datsyuk
  2. Tomas Jurco
  3. Daniel Alfredsson
  4. Johan Franzen
  5. Gustav Nyquist
  6. Todd Bertuzzi
  7. Joakim Andersson
  8. Tomas Tatar
  9. Drew Miller
  10. Luke Glendening
  11. Dan Cleary
  12. Patrick Eaves
  13. Henrik Zetterberg
  14. Darren Helm
  15. Justin Abdelkader
  16. Stephen Weiss
  17. Riley Sheahan
  18. Jordin Tootoo (updated 12/18/2013)
My money is on Calle "IRON HOOK" Jarnkrok to be the 18th player on this list.  Who's yours?

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Blue Line Patrol Podcast: Episode 12

This is a special Griffins episode of the podcast this week, because both Kevin and I were able to watch the Griffins in person this weekend. Who looks good? Who looks really good? Who looks insanely good? Who has tiny legs? All those questions and more will be answered. So please, get your poop in a group and let's roll!

You may listen to and download the podcast right over here ---> Episode 12

Here's the full article about the Walleye that we talked about: Prospect News: The Weeping Walleye

and

Here's my complete recap of the Griffins 5-1 win over the Rochester Americans on Friday night: Griffins Keep Rolling And Beat Americans 5-1

If you'd like to hit us up on Twitter, we can be found here:

Kevin @KevinN37
Michelle @Slapshotg0al  
Blue Line Patrol @BlueLinePatrol 

and you can always e-mail us at Bluelinepatrol@gmail.com

Let's Go Red Wings!!! Let's Go Griffins!!! 

Monday, December 2, 2013

Goal Analysis: Gustav Nyquist's NHL Return - Part 2

Gustav Nyquist is the best.

I broke down Nyquist's first NHL goal this season here, and now, I'm going to break down his second of the season, which also happened to be in the same game.  Oh, and it ended up being the game winner.

Here's the video the awesomeness:


And the breakdown begins...now!


The play starts with Carolina skating up the ice with the puck.  With a one goal lead under 5 minutes left, the Wings are making sure they have all the skaters back to prevent an odd-man rush.  Hank is doing his job and forcing the puck towards the boards.  It looks like Nyquist just got on the ice (based on his position to the bench and the door still being open) and appears to be a little flat-footed.  Carolina has all 5 guys in the neutral zone and are looking to create a scoring chance.


Gus and Hank force the Carolina player to move the puck towards the player on the boards.  The Wings are still in a good defensive position, with both d-men back and Mule available to cover the high slot.  Note how I'm counting all the Carolina players.  This will matter soon.  What happens next?


The Carolina player carries the puck down the boards, with E covering him and making sure he doesn't get inside.  Zetterberg and Franzen do a good job of covering the other Carolina players entering the zone.  If you check out the lines above, those are meant to represent passing lanes.  All four options are blocked by either Hank or Mule.  It's easy for this keyboard warrior to say, but the best play is probably to shoot the puck around the boards and have number 27 on the right point pick up the puck and try to set up.  This doesn't happen.


As you can see, the puck was passed towards the player going to the slot (number 15).  Mule does a good job and eliminates him so he can't receive the pass.  Hank does a good job of being between the guy he's defending and his own net.  At this point, Nyquist is high in the zone.  After getting his stride back, he's off to cover the trailer in the middle of the ice.  Him being flat-footed earlier is about to be a good thing.  In the interviews after the game, Gus said he called for the puck, so I would imagine that would be happening just about now when he realizes that Hank is going to have the puck on his stick.


Hank does a good skate-to-stick puck handling thing, because he's Hank.  Check out the 5th Carolina player - he realizes right about now that he's the last guy back and there is a guy behind him.  Hank doesn't have much time, so he makes a smart play and lightly shoots the puck out of the zone.  He knows with Nyquist's speed, it shouldn't be too big of an issue for him to pick it up.


So, not really much for me to break down from this point on.  Hank lobs the puck off the boards and Gus goes and gets it and goes 5 hole on Peters (which is really funny to me because I have a story that I don't think is meant for public knowledge and I don't want to piss anybody off (or get sued (mostly the lawsuit part (parenthesis)))).  But I mean while I'm here I might as well keep going with the play right?



I'll spread my WINGS and I'll learn how to fly...
I'll do what it takes, 'till I touch the sky...


Almost there.  Wait for it....


Awesome.  Wait, one last thing...


GOOSE LEAP!!!!  Let's get a better picture:

AP/Carlos Osorio

And that's the analysis OKAY FINE ONE MORE PIC OF THE GOOSE LEAP:


DRW/Dan Mannes

Okay, I'm done with Goose Leap things...for now.  Let's summarize this goal:

  • The Wings are trying to protect a lead so have all five guys back
  • Carolina is trying to put pressure on so they have all five guys on the rush (mistake)
  • Franzen makes a great defensive play and takes out the guy receiving the pass
  • Hank makes a genius move to get the puck to Goose
  • Gustav Nyquist is really good at hockey
You know the drill - yell at us on the twitter:

Michelle - @slapshotg0al
Kevin - @KevinN37
Blue Line Patrol - @BlueLinePatrol

Until next time...GO WINGS!!!