Last night's winning goal

In regard to Helm’s game-winning goal last night, first I asked Jonathan Quick today about the attempt he make on the play. Quick said he did go for the poke check on Helm, and got it, but that the puck took an unexpected bounce off his stick and went into the net.

Then, I asked Terry Murray what he saw on the play, and where he thought the breakdown took place. Here’s his answer, and if you click below, I’ll embed a video of the play that shows Helm getting around Sean O’Donnell and going to the net…

MURRAY: “It happened quite a few times throughout the game, the same scenario. Not necessarily that same look. We were getting players turned back on us, along the boards, and taking it to the net. I could probably pull off — that kind of scenario, at both ends of the rink — probably a dozen times, whether it be the forecheck or in the D zone. That has to have a big focus. Any time you play the game, your responsibility as a player, in the 1-on-1 or 2-on-2 look, is to get the body positioning. It’s not to run anybody with impact hits, necessarily, but you must take away that turn-back, where the player has a free road to the net and is able to make plays.

“I think that the Detroit Red Wings have established that kind of a game over the last 15 years. That’s one of their strengths, is that give-and-go, go to the net, beat you off the boards attitude. Whenever you get good at it, you’re going to win in critical times. They exposed us last night.”