Breaking Down NHL Goals from Week 7
A Post Turkey-Day Goal, a Young Gun, and the Greatest Goal Scorer of All-Time
Welcome! As you can tell by the title, this will be a break down of some (three to be exact) NHL goals from the start of the season. Each “header” will be the goal scorer, goal number for the player (first goal = 1, second goal = 2, etc.), and opponent with the date of the game. We’ll dive into the details of what makes an NHL goal happen and taking things step-by-step should be a decent way of going about that. If you want me to cover a specific goal, let me know!! Let’s get into it.
Patrice Bergeron (8) VS. New York (R), 11/26/2021
Boston Head Coach Bruce Cassidy sees the Rangers’ fourth line out and sends out his stars. Starting the play off, the Kevin Rooney (#17) of the Rangers takes a faceoff in his defensive zone against Patrice Bergeron (#37), the center of Boston’s perfection line.
Bergeron wins the puck over to linemate David Pastrňák (#88), who has the puck in his feet.
Pastrňák, with K’Andre Miller (#79) on him, moves the puck up to Charlie McAvoy (#73) at the right point. Barclay Goodrow (#21) also moves towards McAvoy. Ryan Reaves (#75) isn’t particularly close to his responsibility, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (#48). Brad Marchand (#63) goes up along the boards.
Marchand moves along the half-wall towards the point as McAvoy drifts towards the middle of the ice. Miller is caught in an awkward position here, as most of the Rangers are puck watching. This particularly does not help Reaves, who has Grzelcyk coming down freely, behind his back. The Bruins now operate in a pseudo-umbrella formation, with Marchand as the conductor.
Rangers have a slight counting problem here. Four players defending three Bruins. Someone is going to be open. Jacob Trouba (#8) is alone in front of the net with Bergeron. Marchand has the point to McAvoy, which probably wouldn’t be the best look, but Marchand also has Grzelcyk down low, who he identifies perfectly.
Marchand delivers the pass through a sea of Rangers sticks, most of whom are cannot get down to help Trouba. Trouba, who hasn’t made a mistake to this point in the play, goes to protect the pass and abandons Bergeron in front.
Now, Trouba will try and cover the pass from Grzelcyk. If Grzelcyk had elected to shoot, I do think Igor Shesterkin (#31) makes the save since Grzelcyk isn’t on his pure one-timer side. This puck guys through Trouba and straight to Bergeron.
We all know how this ends.
A breakdown and lack of communication off the draw doomed the Rangers from the start. Props to Boston Head Coach Bruce Cassidy once again for taking advantage of home-ice last change. While Boston may have scored here, the Rangers would get the last laugh and finally beat the Bruins on Black Friday, a 5–2 final.
Dylan Cozens (5) @ Detroit, 11/27/2021
Firewagon hockey! The Red Wings have Vladislav Namestnikov (#92) and Michael Rasmussen (#27) barreling down the ice. Dylan Cozens (#24) of Buffalo does a great job on the back check, while Robert Hagg (#8) also has decent position.
Namestnikov misses the net completely, however the puck caroms up to the right point, as Gustav Lindström pinches down to make a play on the puck. He gets there and sees Adam Erne (#73) on the other side of the ice. Kyle Okposo (#21) takes note of the aggressive pinch by Lindström.
Okposo makes the read on the puck, and snags it in the middle of the ice. Okposo has Cozens with him, as the pair rush up through the neutral zone. Marc Staal (#18) is the only defenseman back for Detroit. Okposo flies between the blue lines, driving the right side of the ice, as Staal drifts with him. Lindström has Cozens, shouldn’t be a problem with a two-on-two. Okposo pulls up as he enters the offensive zone.
Welcome to the play (*checks notes, squints*) Brett Murray (#57). Okposo passes the puck over as he enters the offensive zone. Okposo almost takes Staal out of the play, but Okposo keeps driving, as does Cozens, with Lindström. Erne is a bit late to get to Murray.
Lindström is about to pull up and take Murray, while Cozens drives the net. Staal puck watches and tries to go for Murray as well.
Cozens has a bit of separation here. It will grow as Murray is about to move the puck. Lindström is committed to the pass. Staal is letting Cozens go untouched to the net front. Nice job by Cozens presenting his stick on the ice to Murray.
Lindström goes to one knee, but it’s all too late. Murray throws the puck to Cozens. Staal seems to be doing his own thing. Alex Nedeljkovic (#39) bites on the shot-pass and it seems like it’ll be an easy finish for Cozens.
Cozens, on the doorstop.
Puck in the back of the net. If you don’t have the puck on the rush, drive the net front and you will be rewarded.
While Buffalo struggles after a sizzling start, it’s always nice to see young players like Dylan Cozens play well for the Sabres. This year is a turning point for the franchise and having a mix of veterans and young guns on the roster makes for a compact team that can play close, competitive hockey.
Alex Ovechkin (19) @ Carolina, 11/28/2021
Lars Eller (#20) darts to the puck in the corner for Washington. He’ll beat out Brady Skjei (#76) to the biscuit. Eller moves with the boards and looks to the point.
Eller goes off the boards to Dmitri Orlov (#9). Orlov receives the puck at the left point. Jesper Fast (#71) will pursue Orlov. Skjei will stay with Eller as he moves to the right side of the ice. Alex Ovechkin (#8) crashes down the slot with Brett Pesce (#22) defending him.
This is where the play really kicks off. As Fast reaches, Orlov sends the puck down the wall to Tom Wilson (#43). Orlov activates as Wilson can come up to protect the point. Things get a bit messy in the middle of the ice with Ovechkin, Eller, Skjei, and Pesce all moving.
Wilson notes that Orlov is taking off for the slot, so he’ll eventually move the puck to the Russian d-man. While Orlov gets the puck, Ovechkin goes from the slot to the bottom of the left circle; Pesce is still on him. Eller moves farther away from the play, opening up the lane, which Orlov will gladly take. Pesce notices no one has Orlov, as Fast can’t catch Orlov.
AHHHHH DON’T LEAVE HIM OPEN LIKE THAT (Orlov continues down the slot).
Orlov has the attention of Pesce and goalkeeper Frederik Andersen (#31). Both defensemen and goalie commit to Orlov’s backhand. Fatal mistake. Orlov zings a pass to Ovechkin, who actually doesn’t get a clean shot off as Fast dives and gets stick-on-stick contact.
In the end, it doesn’t matter. Ovechkin finishes it off and Washington strikes first against Carolina.
Ovechkin is off to a great start this season, as the Russian sniper has 19 goals and 19 assists in 24 games. His 38 points puts him on a 129-point pace, which would be a career high (current high 112 points in 2007–08) for the 36-year-old.
