Darren Helm: FLY LIKE AN EAGLE (Partial Goal Analysis Post)

Here's a gif with plenty of amazingness for Darren Helm's first flying lesson:

Okay, so this isn't going to be a typical Goal Analysis post.  It's pretty easy: Cleary flips the puck into New York's zone.  Darren Helm is probably the fastest player in the NHL.  Kevin Poulin, the Islanders goalie, thought he could easily play the puck before Helm got there.  Nope.  Awesomeness. Here...we....go!

Helm flew right by the NYI d-man because that's what Helm does.  Not sure Poulin knew it was Helm or what, but he probably should not do that.  The Islanders d-man also has to do better to get in Helm's way or be a better skater.

Helm gets to the puck juuuuuuuuuuuuust a little before (a lot before) Poulin.  Helm is going really fast and the goalie isn't the shiftiest player on the planet.  They're skating right at each other.  Time for boomboomboom!

Switching angles for effect.  Poulin just throws his leg out to get the puck and/or Helm (when I was playing goalie growing up, I was told if I tried this and missed, get the man even if it was a penalty for obvious reasons).  Helm's right knee hits Poulin but his left skate is still planted, so it's not going to be quite a full-flight.  The NYI d-man, however... (foreshadowing!)

Helm's right leg connects and goes really damn high. Looks like it's over the net, meaning over four feet high.  The left leg will get some air, but not nearly as much.  I enjoy what's about to happen to the NYI guy.  He sees that he's about to make contact with his goalie so he tries to jump to avoid contact. Ooooops.

SCORES!  But that's not the focus here.  Helm manages to get a hand on the ice, likely minimizing the impact when the rest of his body hits the ice.  The right leg comes down while the left leg gets some air, but it doesn't get over the crossbar like the right.  Meanwhile, the Islanders guy...this is going to be epic.  He ends up going ass-first over Poulin and this is fantastic.

Helm is about on the ice.  His lower body did some serious twisting around in this play.  Good thing the initial contact was only with one leg and the force didn't do much damage (I'm an account/IS person, not a physics person or a doctor so that's about all I can say on this).  Our favorite NYI player is now in full flying mode.  His left skate is well above the crossbar.  I am kind of shocked you can't see him pooping himself in this shot.  Poulin is thankful for that.

Helm lands safely, and his journey is basically done.  OR IS IT?!?!?  The Islanders guy is now at a total right angle, because baby, he does not want to be wrong.  You can see him flailing his arms and trying to brace himself because falling down on ice is not fun, especially shoulder first from a couple feet high.

Helm is now aware that he's not dead and sees the puck and his stick in the net.  Yay!  The Islanders player lands and he's now at less than a 90 degree angle.  Ouch.

This may be my favorite part.  The Islanders guy gets his bearings back well after the puck is in the net. I give him full credit reaching back here and trying to stop the puck from going in the net, buuuuuuut hahahaha sorry buddy.  Darren Helm scores.  A for effort, but nowhere close to sticking the landing.  The judges will take major points off for that.

And there you have it.  My breakdown of Darren Helm's awesome shorthanded goal, his second of the game.  And do you want to know why Helm didn't get the hat trick?

DAMMIT HELM STOP GRABBING CLEARY'S ASS AND RUBBING HIS UPPER THIGH!  If you get much closer, he might bite you and you'll turn into a zombie.  Ugh.

Just a reminder that Michelle ( @slapshotg0al ) purposely started this blog/podcast with me ( @KevinN37).  Go make fun of her.  Also follow the @BlueLinePatrol account because then you can suggest more of these.  HOORAY!

GO WINGS!!

Blue Line Patrol Podcast: Episode 9

It's been a crazy busy week, so Kevin and I had to Wing it tonight, but that's just Howe we roll.  Yeah, I went there. This week Kevin and I discuss...

• My impressions of Zach Nastasiuk after watching him play live
• High and low points of the Wings' Western Canada trip
• Wings - Griffins - Walleye transactions
• What's going on with Martin Frk?
• Emery vs Holtby: legitimate goalie fight, or disgrace to the NHL?
• And lots of good tidbits and fun stuff.

My full write up on Zach Nastasiuk can be found right here.

You may listen to and download the podcast right over here ---> Episode 9

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!!! 

Goal Analysis: Darren Helm's Comeback Breakaway Spectacular!

I know, I know.  I said yesterday that we should not expect much from Darren Helm in his return.  Now I'm going to break down his first goal back because why not?  Hockey is the best.

If you haven't seen the goal yet, or just want to watch it again (and again, and again, and again), here it is:



Okay, so there's not a whole lot of hockey things to break down, but hey, this was such an awesome moment that I'm going to keep going anyway.  Deal with it.

Here...we.....GO!

Pretty innocent looking play right here.  The Oilers dumped the puck in on Mrazek, and he easily directs it towards Alfredsson.  There's only one Oiler on the forecheck at the moment, so the Wings have time to head up the ice.  Cleary curls to the center for a breakout pass while Helm turns up the left wing.

Edmonton's left wing come in to put pressure on Alfie, so he attempts to get the puck to Cleary (I'm not convinced Cleary touched the puck, but as of this writing, nhl.com still has an assist to Cleary, so we'll go with it).  The puck either deflects off Cleary or bounces over his stick.  Either way, the puck continues towards the Wings blue line.


Whether Cleary deflected it or not, the puck thankfully is bouncing.  The third Oilers forward is in the proper defensive position here.  He tries to intercept the pass, but the puck is not exactly easy for non-Datsyukian players to get when it's in the air like that.  We have Datsyuk.  You don't. Hash tag winning.  Anyway, so what happens next?

The puck clears the Wings zone and is still bouncing.  Again, Edmonton is in good defensive position, with Petry (GO GREEN!!) back to make the safe clear back into the Wings zone and because it's a Wings goal analysis post we know that didn't happen.  Petry can't stop the puck, and with only a few feet between him and Helm, it's not even close.

The puck is now Helm's for the taking.  Not much left to break down here, let's just take a look at how fast Helm pulls away and is able to get a clean shot with no back side pressure.

 

(this looks to be about the time Petry loses all of his "give-a-fuck")

 

 

LOOK AT THAT FACE HOLY SHIT TOTES ADORBES!!!!!

 

And now:

 



 

So awesome.  In summary:

 

• Mrazek makes a smart play on the dump in and plays it to Alfie
• The Wings have minimal pressure at first so take time to head up the ice
• The puck is bouncing (possibly because Dan Cleary tipped it)
• The Oilers are in proper defensive position but can't handle the puck
• Darren Helm is dangerously fast

That's all for this one, folks.  Yell at me on twitter (@KevinN37) if you'd like to see another goal analyzed and tell Michelle (@Slapshot0al) that Petr Mrazek got his first NHL shutout because FRK YEAH MRAZEK!  Then follow the @BlueLinePatrol account because you don't want to hate puppies, do you?

 

Darren Helm's Return: Setting Expectations

Darren Helm is expected to return to the lineup tonight against the Edmonton First Rounders.  Hooray!

We all know the situation - Helm has played less than four periods of hockey in the NHL since March of 2012.  Proof.  Mr. Danger Zone did play two games in the AHL two weeks ago, in which he played pretty well and missed two shorthanded opportunities, because that's what happens.  He looked tired towards the end of each shift/period, but it's to be expected.  On that note...

We shouldn't be expecting Helm to be on fire right away.  Yes, he may play well in his first game or two, but over the first few games, he's going to have issues adjusting back to the NHL game compared the AHL game/not playing.  If you're expecting him to come out and play 17 minutes of hard, aggressive hockey, you're in for a disappointment.  As much as I want him to get there, it's going to take time, and the Wings should ease him in slowly.

The safest bet is to play Helm on the fourth line and aim to give him between 8 and 11 minutes of ice time. He should get some penalty kill time, but I'd still give Andersson/Miller the bulk of the duties.  Maybe play Helm 30-45 seconds (if possible) for each shift and a regular 4th line shift.

If the Wings can do that and slowly get him up to game shape, I'm thinking Helm will return to form in 15-20 games, with the obvious caveat that he doesn't hurt something else.  That being said, let's enjoy Helm's return to the lineup.  It's always great to see someone work so hard to return to the lineup.  Now, if he would just keep his damn shirt on so it wouldn't make things that much harder for me with the ladies I mean YEAH HELM!

In case you're not pumped up enough for the game, this should get you in the mood:

LET'S GO RED WINGS!

update at 2:08pm

Motherfu....

Babcock said Helm will play on line with Miller and Samuelsson, who is in for Eaves, a healthy scratch. Franzen, as noted earlier, is out.
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) November 2, 2013

Helm is now going to take 65 games to get up to speed and will score negative ALL OF THE GOALS.


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