GBGA Regular Season Game 32: Tear Down This (Bulin) Wall

Bulin Wall Fall Down

1st Period

Edmonton 0 Detroit 1; 4:33- Cleary (8) from Kindl (7)

Helm takes a shot from the goal mouth and the rebound ends up in front. An Edmonton player instinctively clears it to towards the boards. Not a bad play altogether, as the Oiler puts the puck where it's supposed to be.

Kindl wins the race to the loose puck and chips a backhander towards the net as he sees pressure coming from two directions. Cleary (circled above) is in front of the net and has position on his defender. He tips the puck, redirecting it past Khabibulin. 

2nd Period

Edmonton 1 Detroit 1; 2:37- Jones from Gagner & Belanger

It looks like Helm has possession for a second, but the puck is chopped at and knocked loose. Edmonton picks up and moves towards the blue line. Kindl is the only man back and has to watch for the  stretch pass.

Kindl loses a step on his man and allows enough space for a pass to get through. Jones gains control on the wing and cuts towards the middle.

Kindl never provides much of a hindrance to Jones. His inability to cover means that Jimmy has to play this one as a breakaway, and it's not much of a surprise that Jones is able to slip one under him.

Edmonton 1 Detroit 2; 14:36- Hudler (7) from Zetterberg (15) & Filppula (16)

Ian White does a nice job of holding the puck in along the boards on the right side. He rims the puck around and Filppula picks it up on the other side. Fil has a passing lane to the slot if he passes off his backhand.

Sometime around now Zetterberg is taking the pass from Filppula and shooting. I wouldn't know that, as the one screencapable replay I have shows this. Nice camera angle, bad timing.

Hudler tips the puck in. Again, can't see it in the replay but it looks like he pays for the goal. Either that or this is just a really bizarre celebration.

Edmonton 2 Detroit 2; 19:59- PPG Eberle from Nugent-Hopkins & Hall

Ah yes, the play everyone's talking about today. The puck came out of the zone here. This isn't the best replay angle, but it happened. It is what it is and this is something the linesmen get right 99% of the time. Unfortunate that the Oilers score shortly after one of the few times it's missed, but that's ok.

A puck that is oh-so-close to being cleared rolls towards the top corner of the zone, near the blue line. Zetterberg and Datsyuk are covering the top portion of the PK box, and for some reason they both go into the top corner to chase. This leaves a huge coverage gap on the left side of the ice. The Oilers get the puck and move it to Nugent-Hopkins on the previously mentioned wide open left side. He puts a slapshot on net that's stopped, but a rebound comes out to the slot.

Eberle is right there and snipes it past Howard for the tying goal. Eberle had slipped between coverage zones and wasn't picked up, but the bigger mistake is still Datsyuk going to the wrong side of the ice at the beginning of the sequence.

3rd Period

Edmonton 2 Detroit 3; 15:45- Miller (6) from Lidstrom (15) & Helm (7)

Helm almost gets knocked off the puck behind the net but manages to maintain control and continue moving up the boards. He sees a huge passing lane and moves the puck to Lidstrom at the opposite point.

Lidstrom's blast is tipped by Miller in the slot. The Edmonton coverage isn't terrible here, but Miller's defender is playing just far enough off to allow Miller room to operate. Another contributing factor to this goal is the work being done in front, particularly that of Dan Cleary. The extra screening helps ensure that Khabibulin has no chance of stopping the redirect.

GBGA Regular Season Game 31: Watch the Throne

(Image via Larry Brown Sports)

Kopi zombie hungry. Kopi zombie want braaaaains.

1st Period

Detroit 1 LA 0; 1:45- Miller (4) from Helm (5) & Cleary (6)

Los Angeles tries to start a breakout from their own end but the pass skips over a stick at center ice. The turnover is picked up by Drew Miller, who quickly moves the puck to Dan Cleary on his left.

Cleary passes across to Helm, then charges the net with Miller. Helm's defender is playing off of him, leaving plenty of room for Helm to shoot.

In the second screenshot you can see that Miller is just about in line with his defender. He beats the defender and has a positional advantage as he gets closer to the net. Helm's shot is stopped, but a rebound pops out in front. Miller is in the right place at the right time and sweeps the puck past Quick.

Detroit 2 LA 0; 2:00- Emmerton (2) from Ericsson (4) & Holmstrom (8)

The Wings win the faceoff immediately following Miller's goal and move the puck into the neutral zone. From here they dump in, and Quick sets it up to the side of the net. Holmstrom can still skate (!) and wins the race to the loose puck. He throws it into the middle towards the blue line.

Ericsson takes Homer's pass and fires a slapshot on net. Emmerton is to Quick's right to start the play, and he moves towards the crease as the play develops. You can see that both Kings defensemen are at the sides of the net and moving towards the middle, which means there's no one there to clear Emmerton. The puck is tipped off of Emmerton's stick and past Quick.

Detroit 3 LA 0; 8:32- Kronwall (7) from Cleary (7) & Helm (6)

Helm has the puck along the boards and is about to be hit by two Kings. Helm somehow unleashes a backhand pass to Cleary just before getting crushed. Cleary skates into the neutral zone with three Kings behind him and two Wing alongside him.

As I heavily alluded to in the last sentence, the Wings have a 3-on-2 break. Cleary sees his defender getting closer and makes the intelligent pass, dropping it for Kronwall on the right wing.

Cleary ties up his man on the way to the net. This gives Kronwall both time and space, thereby allowing him to unleash a nasty slapshot. This beats Quick over the shoulder. I know that being "Kronwalled" is typically reserved for a big hit, but I'm pretty sure Quick jut got Kronwalled.

Detroit 3 LA 1; 17:15- Drewiske from Williams & Penner

Hudler has a chance to clear the puck, but his attempt gets blocked. The Kings chip it back into the zone and chase the puck behind the net.

Kronwall gets the puck behind the net and moves it along the boards to Filppula. Fil can't hold on, and the puck bounces around before being quickly passed up from a Kings player in the corner to the top of the left faceoff circle. Williams sees a huge passing lane, no defenders, and an open Davis Drewiske and passes across the zone.

Hudler tries to get into the shooting lane but there's no way he can recover after blowing the coverage the way he did. 

Detroit 4 LA 1; 18:35- Emmerton (3) from Abdelkader (5) & Holmstrom (9)

After nearly getting the puck stolen by Abdelkader behind the net, Alec Martinez moves the puck along the boards to former UofM star Jack Johnson. It looks like Johnson is about to start a breakout with an outlet pass, and everyone on both sides starts to move up ice...except for Holmstrom. Homer gets in the way of the pass and smothers it along the boards. 

Holmstrom digs the puck out and leaves it for Abdelkader, who carries lower into the zone. Martinez is in front of the net. He locks his sights onto Abdelkader and doesn't let up until it's too late.

Abdelkader sees Emmerton cutting towards the slot and somehow lasers a pass to him. Emmerton wastes no time in snapping the puck and puts it past Bernier, who isn't square to the shooter.

2nd Period

Detroit 4 LA 2; 11:03- Stoll from Williams & Penner 

The Kings carry in and get a weak shot from Doughty that Howards stops and directs into the corner. Penner picks it up in the faceoff circle and move the puck to Williams at the blueline. With plenty of time and a wide shooting lane, Williams fires a slapshot at Howard.

Jimmy stops the slapshot but lets a rebound go out in front. Stoll is in front to clean up, and though it looks like he's tangled up with the defensemen he somehow lifts the puck over Howard. 

Detroit 5 LA 2; 12:06- Zetterberg (8) from Hudler (14) & Kronwall (8)

Hudler gains control along the boards and makes a risky pass ahead. Zetterberg and Doughty are now in a footrace for the puck, and Doughty has a good jump on Z.

Zetterberg wins the race to the puck. Doughty moves up to cover Filppula, who is skating into the high slot. Z carries across the zone to the opposite wing.

Two defenders converge on Zetterberg, but he somehow splits them and maintains possession of the puck. Note that Doughty is now to Bernier's right. He won't be able to get across and cover Z after he's gained ground lower in the zone.

Zetterberg neatly tucks the backhanded shot away shortside.

Detroit 6 LA 2; 19:38- Datsyuk (10) from Franzen (16) & Bertuzzi (10)

Bertuzzi lays out and stick checks the mess out of the puck. He strips the Kings player of it and sweeps it    back towards the blue line.

Franzen gets the pass from Bertuzzi and enters the offensive zone. Doughty is the lone defeseman back and decides to step up on Franzen. The Mule reads this perfectly and passes to Datsyuk.

Bernier barely has time to react before Datsyuk has redirected the pass. No dangle dangle here, just score score.

3rd Period

Detroit 7 LA 2; 7:34- Miller (5) from Cleary (8)

The Wings dump the puck into the corner. Dustin Brown gets to the puck first, but Helm harasses him into passing behind the net. Dan Cleary reads the play and jumps the pass.

Cleary gets bumped off the puck and Jack Johnson gains possession. Dustin Brown starts up ice to prepare for a pass from Johnson. Helm and Cleary, however, have other plans. They force him to panic-sweep the puck which...

...feeds Drew Miller perfectly near the slot. Bernier has dropped to a knee to protect against a wraparound, but this leaves a good deal of the net exposed. Miller snipes it, picking the top corner without hesitation and padding the lead further.

Detroit 8 LA 2; 11:18- PPG Stuart (4) from Emmerton (2) & Kronwall (9)

The Wings win the faceoff on the powerplay and immediately get set up in the umbrella. Kronwall moves it to Emmerton, who has two options. Emmerton's passing lane to the middle is cut off, but he has the pass back to the blue line open. Emmerton moves it to Stuart at the right point.

The Kings player who should be near Stuart blows his coverage. He skated to cover Abdelkader, and now has to stop hard and turn up ice. Stuart has plenty of time to load up and lets a filthy slapshot go.

Homer's in front doing what Homer does, and he has to jump out of the way of the shot. Look at the air he can still get at 38 years old. He's simply the best in the league at what he does, as Bernier has a difficult time tracking the puck because Holmstrom's in his way.

GBGA Regular Season Game 30: Collapsing- It's More Than A Defensive Strategy

Weber's best impression of Babcock's Death Stare. Nice try, Shea.

1st Period


Nashville 0 Detroit 1; 5:15- PPG Holmstrom (6) from White (10) & Datsyuk (22)

Detroit moves into the umbrella on the powerplay. Holmstrom slips behind the coverage down low and is screening Rinne. The puck is on Ian White's stick at the point. Nashville is in a diamond formation and the middle defenders have moved in towards the slot. This leaves White with a narrow lane to shoot into, but he gets the shot through.

Rinne stops the initial shot but gives up a rebound. Holmstrom collects the puck, turns on it, and backhands it past Rinne to open scoring.

Nashville 1 Detroit 1; 10:09- Legwand from Smith & Erat

Kronwall goes behind the net to chip the puck along the boards to Howard's right, but he gets hit and the puck is now loose. If Kronner had won the puck race he would have been able to move it up along the boards to an open winger.

Stuart and Abdelkader go behind the net, and at this point there are three Wings defending one Predator. Said Predator still manages to get possession of the puck and passes to Smith at the bottom of the right faceoff circle. Smith sees Legwand open even lower in the zone and passes across.

Legwand's first shot is stopped by Howard, but a rebound comes off Jimmy's pads and ends up directly on Legwand's stick. Jimmy has hit the ice and the top of net is completely unguarded. Legwand lifts it over Jimmy to even the score. The blame doesn't fall on Howard; he got hung out to dry by the blown coverages.

2nd Period


Nashville 1 Detroit 2; 10:03- PPG Zetterberg (7) from Hudler (13) & Bertuzzi (9)

The Wings win an offensive zone powerplay draw and tap the puck back to Kronwall at the point. Kronwall shoots into traffic, and his shot gets blocked low in the slot. Bertuzzi, who is doing his best Homer impression in front of the net, reaches around the defender and taps the puck out to Hudler in the left faceoff circle.

Hudler displays great vision here, seeing that Zetterberg is open behind the defenders. Hudler places a perfect pass on Zetterberg's stick.

Rinne was square to Hudler and has to dive to try and stop Zetterberg's shot. He can't get any of it, and Z put the puck in the very open net.

Nashville 1 Detroit 3; 11:30- Lidstrom (7) from White (11) & Datsyuk (23)

Lidstrom lets a slapshot go from near the half boards. For a second it looked like there might have been a tip, but the puck ends up on a straight line from the blueline to the back of the net, farside.

Nashville 2 Detroit 3; 17:22- Tootoo from Klein & Spaling

The Wings lose another board battle, this time behind the red line in the defensive zone. The Nashville player carries behind the net and around, waiting to throw a centering pass into the middle.

Though it's congested, the Predators' player puts the puck in front of the net. A big rebound goes out to the left faceoff cricle, where Tootoo steps into the shot and scores.

3rd Period 


Nashville 3 Detroit 3; 15:36- PPG Weber from Suter & Erat

I don't see many mistakes on this play. The defenders are in a box, and no one has strayed too far from their coverage. Essentially Weber just beats Jimmy with his famed slapshot.

Nashville 4 Detroit 3; 18:24- Weber from Tootoo

Howard goes behind the net to pick up the puck and clear it. His clearing attempt is intended for Kronwall along the boards, but instead the puck gets past him and is picked up by Weber at the blue line.

Weber slaps one towards the net. The puck drops like a curveball, hits the ice, and bounces up and over Jimmy for the game winner. Another play where the Wings are solid defensively but are on the wrong side of puck luck.