Four Seconds
by PPP on Dec 1, 2010 1:01 PM EST
in Chemmy's Corner
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Doug MacLean apparently said he'd never seen a face-off alignment like this one. To be honest, I am not sure what you might do differently other then maybe get Francois Beauchemin alongside Luke Schenn leaving Kris Versteeg on the outside of the pack. As it stands, it seems pretty standard. What happens depends on where the puck goes off of the face-off. If Tyler Bozak had won, as he did 60% of his draws, then Beauchemin is well positioned to win a race to the puck and he can backhand it up the boards (not my preference) or he can fire it to the far side since Martin St. Louis is the long Lightning back.
Unfortunately, that's not how things played out.
When Dominic Moore (of course) wins the face-off the puck goes towards Clarke MacArthur and Steven Stamkos. MacArthur squeezes past his man in his attempt to beat Stamkos to the puck. Kris Versteeg needs to get on his horse to get out to St. Louis.
MacArthur loses the race as the delay in shoving past his man and the advantage of the puck going towards Stamkos makes the difference. Tyler Bozak has left his man behind and Versteeg is on his way towards the point but he is going to be too late. On the back end, there are now four Lightning players going towards the net against only two Leafs. This is not good.
I won't mince words: if Mike Brown had not been injured on the previous shift he would have been out and would have laid out to block the shot. At the very least, he would have been down and let Jonas Gustavsson see the puck. Instead, Bozak and Versteeg did not make fully committed attempts at blocking the shot. The puck went between them, past the mass of people in front of Gustavsson and into the net. Even if Gustavsson had made the save the defenders were outnumbered 2-to-1 because of Bozak's decision to go to the point.
The net result?
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Great analysis
Being from Chicago, I always enjoy seeing these things drawn out and explained by someone not named Eddie Olczyk. You do a great job of explaining the situation/setup and exactly what happens.
I’d love to see some one just run a blog diagramming critical goals like these.
Im somewhat curious where the Tampa player across from MacArthur hid in the second frame.
Mike Weber: Free to roam the ice and take stupid boarding penalties once more.
Everything wrong with the Sabres is Drew Stafford's fault.
This is like the Zapruder film
Photo 1: The is a Lightning player lined up across from MacArthur. He’s the fifth Lightning player on the circle and St. Louis is at the blue line making that 6.
Photo 2: The puck has just been dropped, but there are only 4 Lightning players to be seen. The guy lined up with MacArthur has disappeared.
Photo 3: That LWer didn’t go to the point as only Stamkos and St. Louis are there.
Photos 4 and 5: There are clearly 4 Lightning players visible around the goal and Stamkos and St. Louis are on the point. The missing player has reappeared in front of Gustavsson.
Now looking at the TOI charts, let’s find out who this Houdini is. Stamkos was there. So was St. Louis and Moore. In photo 2, you can see #6,Malone, in photo 5 #12, Gagne. Looking at the charts, the missing player is #9, Steve Downie. How did he do it?
Certified Grabbo Lover
Excellent point. If it turns out Tampa is using black magic to win games there’s going to be some real controversy over Stamkos winning every award and a Nobel Prize this year.
"Callgirl! She was a callgirl!"
"No Cyril, when they're dead, they're just hookers!"
You can see part of his arm sticking out from behind the linesman dropping the puck. He moved directly in towards the faceoff dot to help out his centre in case the draw was scrummed.
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by CanadianMaple09 on Dec 1, 2010 1:23 PM EST up reply actions
Of course, it figures that his shot goes through/around/behind about 5 bodies on it’s way to just missing Gustavsson. Those are the shots that happen against the leafs and almost never for.
Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!
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by Sergei Puckizin on Dec 1, 2010 2:10 PM EST up reply actions
And when they do, it’s goaltender interference and is waived off.
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by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Dec 1, 2010 2:12 PM EST up reply actions
I swear that’s Keith Hernandez sitting in the front row.
The Maple Leafs- making me certifiably insane since 1985.
by torleafsfan29 on Dec 2, 2010 8:15 AM EST up reply actions
Tyler Bozak should be begging to get a chance to block that shot. Instead he flamingos like a bitch.
KESSEL KULEMIN KADRI KABERLE KOMISAREK
by TMLSiegeinVancouver on Dec 1, 2010 1:18 PM EST reply actions
Mike Brown should be giving lessons on how to be a man to all the Leafs forwards.
"Callgirl! She was a callgirl!"
"No Cyril, when they're dead, they're just hookers!"
The fact that Mike Browns willingness to sacrifice himself for the good of the team stands out SO much really is a poor reflection on the rest of this group….
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
THIS is an excellent point.
Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!
Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !
by Sergei Puckizin on Dec 1, 2010 2:09 PM EST up reply actions
Mike Brown missed 2 game sbecause he took a shot off the BALLS in practice, and in his first game back makes 2-3 HEROIC shot blocks, breaks his hand and then has watch a bunch of pussies blow it.
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
’tis the Stache.
All hail the Stache!
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by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Dec 1, 2010 7:51 PM EST up reply actions
Hell
Brown – Zigomanis – COLD body
Leafs win
by Blue and White Expat on Dec 1, 2010 2:57 PM EST up reply actions
So
I’m assuming this is an issue with a lack of execution by the players, at the same time if only one guy heads out to the point and fully commits to the shot block it’s a different ending.
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by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Dec 1, 2010 1:27 PM EST reply actions
Tampa executed it perfectly. Versteeg or Bozak could have gotten down to block but there’s no guarantee they would have stopped it.
I’m not sure why Sjostrom or Brent wasn’t put on the ice to sub for Brown, since they are our next best shotblockers.
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Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Well, maybe if at least one of them gets horizontal enough, St. Louis changes his shot (or ends up faking and trying to skate around, eating up seconds). I dunno. I’m still smarting from that loss (and I was nowhere near blocking any shots).
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by Berezin's Spleen on Dec 1, 2010 1:38 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, it’s possible, but it’s far from a guarantee.
That’s why I’m leaning towards it was more a function of Tampa executing the play perfectly than any one mistake a Toronto player made.
Resident Capologist
Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Bozak should have won the draw.
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by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Dec 1, 2010 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
Or at least scrummed it.
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by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Dec 1, 2010 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
He did though, the puck took a weird bounce off MacArthur’s stick, right to Stamkos.
by Jacques Strap on Dec 1, 2010 1:48 PM EST up reply actions
Of course it did.
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by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Dec 1, 2010 1:50 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t even think it got a chance to hit his stick.
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by PPP on Dec 1, 2010 2:34 PM EST up reply actions
that’s a funny thing to say. only one person can win a draw, and it’s pretty close to a 50/50 proposition. can’t we also say then that st louis ‘should’ have won the draw as well?
if bozak wins the draw, maybe the outcome is different. but being scored on in the final seconds of the game, with the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, is not really a unique situation in the NHL.
Yesterday is dead, but not my memory.
I know, but it just sucks that everything went completely wrong there.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
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by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Dec 1, 2010 2:07 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, you’re probably right. Just looking for someone to blame for my ongoing and irrational heartsickness. You know.
"To be a Leafs fan is to know your heart will be broken in the end."
–Seamus Heaney Boreshevsky
by Berezin's Spleen on Dec 1, 2010 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
well, if bozak stays home like he’s supposed to and brown (obviously not available) or shoestorm are on the point man and can lay out, the shot can’t happen the same way.
Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!
Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !
by Sergei Puckizin on Dec 1, 2010 2:11 PM EST up reply actions
Tampa definitely ran the play perfectly. The puck came out of the face-off almost perfectly.
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by PPP on Dec 1, 2010 2:34 PM EST up reply actions
Chalk Talk
During the timeout TSN had their camera zoomed in on the whiteboard where Tampa’s assistant was drawing up the play. It was exactly what happened. Center wins it back to Stamkos who loops towards the blueline and passes over to St. Louis for the shot.
Certified Grabbo Lover
The funny thing was how the talking heads were talking about how it was so different than the NBA because then you have the ball.
That’s where having a team win 60% of their face-offs comes in handy.
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by PPP on Dec 1, 2010 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
Think is, I don’t feel like their formation was all that weird. It was pretty genius.
With wings on their sides, the Leaf forwards are blocked in getting up to the blueline should Tampa win the faceoff back. (They were) There Stamkos can get it quickly if it goes either way and then dish to St. Louis. Either he shoots (he did) or continues skating across the blueline drawing defenders to his him until he passes back left to Stamkos who would be right on his favorite spot. Everybody else? Get your big asses in front of the net.
It must be awesome having good coaches.
Certified Grabbo Lover
I can’t speak for Doug Maclean, but I’ve certainly seen that formation and tactic before.
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by Back In Black on Dec 1, 2010 3:09 PM EST up reply actions
Right?
I’ve seen and played both before. I have no idea what he was yammering about.
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by PPP on Dec 1, 2010 3:33 PM EST up reply actions
Would it be wrong for the coaches to latch in to the TSN feed? lol
by Blue and White Expat on Dec 1, 2010 2:58 PM EST up reply actions
The NFL has a strict TV rule of not showing coaches when they are yelling out play calls because they know other teams are watching the feeds. Even so, coaches always cover their mouths when they are talking into their headshots or yelling to the field.
Certified Grabbo Lover
I just thought it was funny that they switched over to Wilson and he had the board down at his waist so that the players blocked it from camera view.
tampa basically showed anyoen watching exactly what they were going to do and then they went and did it
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No doubt, but nothing went our way on that play, of course if it was the Leafs, we would have lost the draw, if we won the puck would have gone off about 8 legs and into our own empty net.
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by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Dec 1, 2010 1:43 PM EST up reply actions
the faceoff was a result of an icing to be more specific and wilson couldnt change, sorry
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
Yes, but because Brown was hurt he was able to change.
So they could have put Sjostrom or Brent on instead. Brent would have seemed a more logical choice as insurance in case Bozak got thrown out of the faceoff.
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Сертыфікаваны Grabbo Палюбоўнік
Gah
Good point.
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by PPP on Dec 1, 2010 2:34 PM EST up reply actions
And now we have lost Brown four to six weeks with a pin in his finger from that awesome shot blocking display that he put on earlier
by silver lurker on Dec 1, 2010 2:39 PM EST up reply actions
It was an icing. They couldn’t get out there.
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by PPP on Dec 1, 2010 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
Weak icing call.
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by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Dec 1, 2010 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
I’m surprised to learn that Versteeg has blocked more shots than any other leafs forwards. I suppose that’s why he was on the ice, but doesn’t explain the lack of effort. Bozak is up there too.
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Dec 1, 2010 1:36 PM EST reply actions
wait. for some reason those stats seem off. Brown isn’t even listed…
http://www.behindthenet.ca/2010/5_on_5_blocks.php?sort=8&mingp=1&mintoi=10&team=TOR&pos=
Fire Ron Wilson!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Dec 1, 2010 1:38 PM EST up reply actions
minimum 10 minutes toi probably excludes him.
Mike Weber: Free to roam the ice and take stupid boarding penalties once more.
Everything wrong with the Sabres is Drew Stafford's fault.
For what it's worth
Mike Brown
2nd among Leaf forwards in Blocked Shots and Hits. Link
14th in TOI/G Link
9th in total TOI Link
BS
by MapleLeafMole on Dec 1, 2010 3:04 PM EST up reply actions
Correct me if I'm wrong
and someone likely will, but I thought it was conventional wisdom in the NHL these days for forwards not to leave their feet to block a shot. IIRC Brown managed a couple of nice shot blocks without actually laying out. If Bozak goes down and St Louis steps around him it’s a 6-on-4 (or 4-on-2 considering where Versteeg and MacArthur are).
My point is that Bozak forced St Louis to take a long shot through a crowd. While it ended up going in, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Bozak didn’t prevent a higher percentage scoring chance. The Lightning execution off the faceoff created a dangerous situation.
I've been looking at the sky
Really it’s like 50/50 amongst everyone from coaches, to fans, to reporters. I personally am a fan of going down to block a shot because it
a) forces the shot high taking away on ice deflections, or in Dion’s case sailing it 8 feet high
b) going low makes the shot blocking player get low and out of the goalie’s view of the shooter giving the goalie a better look at the play.
c) you cover a lot more horizontal shooting space when going down versus standing up.
d) often times you’ll force the shooter to pull up and pass off the puck instead of letting one rip. A shot not taken is even better than a shot blocked.
The only real downside, like you said, is that it does momentarily take the blocking player out of the play giving the shooter the opportunity to step around him, but that might be more a problem with the blocker getting down too soon rather than a heads up play by the shooter.
Certified Grabbo Lover
Personally I usually go down to block a shot and you’ve listed (a-c) all the good reasons why I do. Those, plus ‘falling’. But I’m a defenceman, and I was under the impression that forwards were now being instructed differently. I’m not sure about (d) – I don’t like to go down unless I’m already sure they’re going to shoot. I’d rather have St Louis shooting from the blueline than passing to Gagne for a one-timer from the slot, or to Malone for a tap-in. The goalie’s pulled, so someone is probably open.
With 10 seconds left, and with Versteeg coming at St Louis as well, there’s a decent argument that this was an exceptional time and Bozak should have sprawled as much as possible to keep the puck at the blueline. It probably wasn’t his instinct, though.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Dec 1, 2010 4:13 PM EST up reply actions
To be honest, a lot of times I hate seeing guys sprawl out because if they are terrible at timing it they slide right out of the play. However, with 10 seconds left in a desperation situation you have to do it if only for the optics.
And, what SF said.
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by PPP on Dec 1, 2010 3:34 PM EST up reply actions
Something just occurred to me
You should have title this post “Four Sloppy Seconds”.
Certified Grabbo Lover
GAH!
Good timing.
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by PPP on Dec 1, 2010 4:29 PM EST up reply actions
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