Learn from the Pros – Week 5
Playoff hockey this year has certainly delivered excitement as expected. One series not short on rivalry is the Boston vs. Philly match-up. In this week’s Learn from the Pros posting, we’ll take a look at a Boston goal scored off a blocked shot and a big hit.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mZOHZeUly4
[0:07] The entire play begins here. Flyers’ #18 Mike Richards has control of the puck off a delay entering the zone. In this freeze frame, the Boston defense has every responsibility covered. #33 Zdeno Chara is between Richards and the net and blocking his shooting lane (and at 6′ 9″ tall, he does a good job of taking up space). Richards has his head up, and is looking to move the puck to #19 Scott Hartnell entering the zone as the trailer, however Boston’s #46 David Krejci is taking away the pass option with a good backcheck.
[0:10] Chara blocks the shot and hustles to regain control of the puck.
[0:12] Chara makes a pass to the middle of the ice to Krejci, but Richards was already stepping up. Richards lays a heavy hit on Krejci.
[0:15] The big hit forced Flyers’ #13 Daniel Carcillo to jump and avoid the wreckage, pushing Carcillo wider than he would have most likely wanted to be. This opens up a lane for Boston #81 Miroslav Satan to have space down the middle of the ice.
[0:16] Boston’s #17Milan Lucic picks up the puck an delays as he enters the zone, catching Flyer defenseman Chris Pronger (#20) cheating puck-side. Lucic with his head up finds Satan streaking down the middle and makes a great pass just out of the reach of the outstretched Pronger.
[0:18] Satan makes a very quick forehand fake to backhand move freezing Flyer goalie #33 Brian Boucher. A great slow-motion replay of this move can be found at the [0:42] mark. The hand pump from Satan causes Boucher to flinch, then he uses his reach to pull the puck backhand around Boucher.
