Czechboy: It is the microcosm of our entire season. Going nowhere, not fast, but slow …
p a i n f u l l y . . . s…l…o…w…..

Strudwick slow.

From a technical viewpoint it is absolutely fascinating to watch, from both team’s perspectives. Detroit did one hell of a lot of things right. Key to the sequence of course is that it’s the second period, with the double indemnity of the long change. I made the following comment on Garth’s blog …that didn’t miss by much which is perhaps worth repeating here:

One other point about the long change is that for the pressing team it is a Short change, where the forward only has to go to the offensive blueline to get in the gate and his replacement is already flooding the zone, while the D can change on the attacking side of centre. So it’s kind of a double-edged sword in a situation like this, with upshot that the Detroit bench was closer to the action throughout. Thus that rather amazing cycle through the entire line-up! Essentially, Strudwick and Chorney got backgammoned.

I wonder if the NHL was really interested in increasing offence and excitement, that they should consider making the long change the norm in 2 periods out of 3. (Or as the WHA and the old international game had it, half the game including the last 10 of the third period.) It would really increase the challenge for the team defending the lead, wouldn’t it?

Next best thing. It ended in a penalty and DET scored the 4-0 goal on the powerplay. Unbelievably, the Oil came back to lose by one, so in a sense The Shift cost them the game.

In another sense, they clearly deserved to lose it. If you don’t believe me, watch that video again. :)

That’s a good point. We had discussed previously the sequence of Struds losing his twig and Fernando passing over his, but it is worth noting that Strudwick continued to use the borrowed blade for about another three minutes! Judging by his comical attempts to slap chop the puck thereafter, it must have been the wrong lie or something. :)