Detroit goal 1: 1:56 in 1st- PPG Franzen (9) from Rafalski (8) and Lidstrom (16)
We pick this one up mid-way through a Wings powerplay. The puck is chipped out of the corner to Lidstrom at the left point. He has a lot of space between himself and his defender and takes advantage by putting a hard slapshot on net.
The puck hits Kiprusoff, and he gives up a huge rebound. Rafalski is waiting for the puck in the right faceoff circle. In this frame, Rafalski is at the apex of his fake slap shot.
Rafalski puts a perfect pass on Franzen's stick instead of following through with the slap shot. Franzen is in perfect position to put a quality shot on net; two of the defenders are behind him, and the one that is assigned to him is a second slow to react and playing low in the zone. Franzen has time to settle the puck and lift it over Kiprusoff.
Detroit goal 2: 2:28 in 3rd- PPG Datsyuk (7) from Lidstrom (17) and Rafalski (9)
The play starts with Rafalski getting the puck in the high slot. The defenders at the top of Calgary’s box are tight together, and Rafalski’s man is closer to him than Lidstrom’s. Rafalski makes the smart play and passes to Lidstrom instead of forcing a shot.
Lidstrom one-times the puck into traffic. Holmstrom is directly in front of the net and Datsyuk is in the left faceoff circle. Both are in great position for any rebounds or tip-ins.
Somewhere in the general vicinity of this frame is where Datsyuk gets his stick on the puck and redirects it. It happens so quickly that it’s difficult to find a non-blurred frame to screen cap.
Detroit goal 3: 11:04 in 3rd- Zetterberg (6) from Datsyuk (14) and Kronwall (5)
Upon carrying the puck into the neutral zone, Datsyuk notices Calgary’s defenders bunched together and dishes to Zetterberg on the left side.
Though his defender is playing him tightly, I’m a little surprised Zetterberg decides to cut to the middle of the ice here. While he’s almost guaranteed a step on his d-man, there’s a defender in the high slot that could easily close the gap and make a play on the puck. Oh well, that’s why I’m not in the NHL as clearly Zetterberg made the right choice. He has room enough to cut through the middle and towards the left faceoff circle.
The aforementioned high slot defender does attempt to play Zetterberg but is a step behind. At the same time, Zetterberg’s initial defender tries to stick with him but is also behind. This gives Zetterberg a great backhanded opportunity, as he already is making Kiprusoff use his feet and move across the crease. Zetterberg takes the backhander and buries it.
Detroit goal 4- 19:56 in 3rd: PPG Zetterberg (7) from Datsyuk (15) and Rafalski (10)
While there are times that I try to extoll the beauty of the game in an attempt to convert non-fans into fans, the truth is that hockey is often a game of strange bounces and improbable occurrences. Take this goal, for instance.
The key to this play comes with 14 seconds left in the game, when a Calgary defender loses his stick. The Red Wings have already pulled Jimmy Howard, and now Calgary finds themselves down a man and down a stick. That makes this something like a 6-on-4.5.
The puck is cleared to Rafalski near center ice. Rafalski sees Datsyuk moving into the neutral zone and makes a nice pass to him right before Datsyuk pivots to re-enter the offensive zone.
What happens next is truly and uniquely Datsyukian. Pavel sheds two defenders, at one point lifting his stick and placing it across the stick of one of the defenders. Somehow he emerges from
Datsyuk carries it into the left faceoff circle, where he notices that both the defenseman and the goalie are playing him and not Zetterberg. Left alone in the right faceoff circle, Datsyuk needles a cross-ice pass to him.
The defenseman reacts and is able to turn. He might be able to get a stick on the puck, or at least change the shot…except that he has no stick. Kiprusoff doesn’t have much of a chance here, and we’re all tied with 3 seconds left in the game.
Det goal 5- Lidstrom 1:38 in OT
We’ll pick this up mid-cycle with Helm carrying the puck towards the left faceoff circle. It looks like Tanguay has good coverage on him. Note the words “looks like”.
Helm turns hard to cut towards the net, while Tanguay just sorta keeps drifting up ice.
Kiprusoff has somewhat committed to Helm and already has his pads on the ice. Prior to getting crushed Helm is able to get a pass across to Lidstrom, who has just jumped up and joined the play. Lidstrom must not have been able to get much on the shot because he chooses to walk around a diving Kiprusoff despite having a completely empty upper half of the net.
Lidstrom turns the corner and backhands one into the net for what has to be one of the prettiest goals of his career. Comeback complete, game over, and Detroit walks away with 2 points.
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