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!!

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