As casual observers -- even informed casual observers -- we’ll often question the decision making of hockey players in the moment. And afforded some luxuries like instant replay, and the comfort of a seat in the press box, arena or your local bar, second-guessing something a player does can become quite easy.
The time Blake Wheeler created an Avalanche of bad defending
Blake Wheeler waited, and waited, and waited some more, en route to a highlight goal in OT to beat Colorado. It’s No. 5 on our list of the top 10 goals of the 2013-14 NHL season. Let’s break it all down frame-by-frame and get some thoughts from those who enjoyed this one most and those who’d love to forget it forever.
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That can also bring about some, "oh no ... no ... yes!" moments, like the one Blake Wheeler created in a spectacular display of patience late in the regular season against the Avalanche.
Tim Bonnar, Arctic Ice Hockey: Blake Wheeler is fun to watch
Cheryl Bradley, Mile High Hockey: Just thinking about that goal, watching it again, has me clenching my teeth.
Cara Throington, Arctic Ice Hockey: The goal was glorious.
The 5th-best goal of 2013-14
How it unfolded
To fully understand this play, it requires rewinding a few frames before Winnipeg entered the zone. Colorado had carried the puck into the Jets end, hitting the blue line 3-on-3.
As Colorado maintained possession, keeping the puck 200 feet away from its end zone, Winnipeg did well to put a body on every Avs player.
Where this play began to break down was the Colorado turnover. Erik Johnson, out of the frame, was in the neutral zone. But both Gabriel Landeskog and Tyson Barrie were pinned in deep, while Nathan MacKinnon floated along the half wall.
Blake Wheeler, in the bottom left of the frame, would get tons of real estate to skate into.
Paul Postma sent a stretch pass up to Wheeler, who entered Colorado's zone with only Johnson to beat. The Avs defenseman was actually in decent position, giving Wheeler the option to shoot, but confining him to that outside lane.
The trio of MacKinnon, Landeskog, and Barrie furiously attempted to backcheck, as Johnson went down, forcing Wheeler to bounce the play toward his teammates.
Cheryl Bradley, Mile High Hockey: All season long, I had been screaming at Erik Johnson for choosing to "defend" by lying down on the ice. This goal is the absolute pinnacle of that frustration. I can't begin to describe how angry this made me. The worst part is that he didn't just do it once. He ended up flopping around in the crease like Nemo and Dory on the docks in Sydney. Can't write about this one anymore. Forehead is getting bloodied, and desk is splintering.
Steve House, Mile High Hockey: Dammit EJ stop swimming.
All three Colorado players managed to get back, but in their haste, overskated the play. Barrie was forced to reach back in an attempt to poke the puck away from Wheeler, while MacKinnon pulled up at the top of the crease.
With Barrie having sold out completely, MacKinnon stepped up to meet Wheeler. With the Jets forward still shot-faking, MacKinnon also went down to take away the shot, gliding a bit in the process, but forcing Wheeler into a worse angle.
Trevor Rinn, Arctic Ice Hockey: I remember watching that goal and thinking “FFS! Would you shoot already!” fully expecting this to be yet another wasted opportunity by the Jets.
Wheeler continued wide and down toward the goal line, while Landeskog was planted in front of Berra, screening his own goalie. The only question was: what was Berra doing so far off the post, completely giving up a major portion of the net?
By looking at the reverse angle, Berra was square to Wheeler when MacKinnon first went down. He wasn’t giving up any daylight on the near post, and Wheeler wouldn’t have had anything to shoot at given this setup.
The technical term for what Berra would proceed to do is a brain fart. As Wheeler continued toward the goal line, Michael Frolik rotated toward the slot. And for whatever reason, Berra completely abandoned ship, driving off his left leg, and giving Wheeler the entire net to shoot at.
Sure, Wheeler was incredibly patient, but this also seemed like a case of Berra over-thinking a very simple angle.
Steve House, Mile High Hockey: Dammit Reto Berra, be some version of Reto Berra that's NHL-backup-ready and deserves a three-year contract.
Tim Bonnar, Arctic Ice Hockey: [Wheeler] has out-waited defenders and goalies before, but any time a player can break this many pairs of ankles in 10 seconds or less it is definitely highlight worthy.
Mike Thompson, Mile High Hockey: Invalid -- Reto Berra.
Trevor Rinn, Arctic Ice Hockey: The sheer amount of patience he showed was staggering - and just about too long. By the time he shot, the angle -- especially for a right-handed shot -- was extreme.
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