About a week ago I posted all of the "touches" Oiler players made in the first period of a game against the Dallas Stars. I noted every time an Oiler player touched the puck and what that player did with it hoping that it might tell us a little bit about how each player handles the puck. The process is somewhat labour-intensive and so I've decided to do periods instead of whole games. Today I'll be looking at the touches in the first period of the game between the Oilers and Blue Jackets from October 22.
Some of the things that we noted in the last game were Patrick O'Sullivan's struggles taking a pass, Mike Comrie being soft on the cycle and Denis Grebeshkov "reacting" instead of "thinking" when he plays. We'll take a closer look after the jump.
Just as with my first post in this series, I'll include a legend in case you're interested in reading all of the play-by-play data. However, since I know a lot of people will just want to get a broader overview of the data I'll post my own impressions first and see if there are any patterns between the first game against Dallas and this one. Keep in mind that these observations are now only from two periods of hockey and so remain "things to look for" as we watch the games instead of definitive conclusions about how any individual player plays over a longer period of time:
In General - I noticed on a couple of occasions the Oilers use a breakout off of a faceoff where Horcoff tries to win the draw to the boards and Grebeshkov, who then immediately goes to Gilbert behind the net who then relays to the forward on the other side of the ice. It worked the first time they did this. The second time the BJs read the play. I'll be interested to see how often the Oilers use this set play and if they use it with a variety of personnel.
#5 - Ladislav Smid - He probably didn't have his best period of hockey. From what I gleaned here he's a good skater but he struggles to use his skating in a way that creates offensive opportunities. When he tried to do so in this game it usually resulted in a turnover. A consistent passer on breakouts, he will still defer to Visnovsky quite frequently instead of making the breakout play himself (no one said he wasn't smart).
#10 - Shawn Horcoff - Like all players makes some mistakes here and there, but he's usually reliable taking and making passes and he made several good plays to cause opponents to lose possession, allowing teammates to win the puck. As we all know, takes a lot of faceoffs.
#12 - Robert Nilsson - One of the only Oilers I noticed that would dump the puck into the offensive zone and then immediately change. I think this is a good play and credited him as such. He sometimes gets lumped in with "skill guys" like Gagner and Cogliano but Nilsson generally seems to have a more conservative bent when it comes to gaining the zone and a generally more mature attitude toward puck position.
#13 - Andrew Cogliano - Uses his speed to his advantage and can take a pass well but isn't able to win many physical battles. Defenders had success taking the body with Cogliano in order to separate him from the puck.
#18 - Ethan Moreau - Did not take a pass well. One of the few Oilers for whom forechecking hard in the offensive zone is a big part of his game.
#19 - Patrick O'Sullivan - He has more trouble than most in making good consistent passes. Sometimes he makes poor decisions with the puck that result in turnovers. He didn't have much trouble taking a pass this game as was the case against Dallas.
#27 - Dustin Penner - Gets to a lot of pucks and is difficult to handle once he's there. Made two pretty bad giveaways in this period. By the end of the game he'd made up for those with a five point night.
#33 - Steve MacIntyre - This guy is slow. But other than that he actually did well in the shifts he got. He did a pretty good job getting the puck deep and understood the identity of his line very well: get into the offensive zone and hit, on defence stay in position. Seems to have much better hockey awareness than I expected (hard to say in only a few shifts). To be honest, I was surprised he didn't get more playing time
#41 - Taylor Chorney - Had trouble making the smart play consistently in the defensive zone. There were all kinds of little mistakes in his game, though no one defining weakness (i.e. MacIntyre - speed) which I think helps him to look better than he is.
#77 - Tom Gilbert - He makes a lot of very good plays. He reads where the puck is headed very well and will almost always choose to play the puck instead of playing the man. This causes problems around his own net. The BJs goal came from his playing the puck instead of the man and it's a habit I've noticed from him in front of the net in other games as well.
#83 - Ales Hemsky - Gave the puck away at the blue line once but generally has a wonderful ability to attempt a rush play and still get the puck deep or make a good pass if his one-on-one move does not succeed. In this period he had a better defensive stick than I've given him credit for in the past. That's definitely something I will want to watch for.
If you want to read through all of the data I've collected, it's posted below. Anytime I thought a "mistake" was made I bolded the text. As per Bruce's excellent suggestion, anytime I thought a player made a "good good" (as opposed to "routine good") play I italicized the text. Every time Dennis King tracked a scoring chance, that's been noted. All of the players are listed by jersey number and not name so I'll provide a legend here. I've also used several other abbreviations which will be explained below:
5 - Ladislav Smid
10 - Shawn Horcoff
12 - Robert Nilsson
13 - Andrew Cogliano
18 - Ethan Moreau
19 - Patrick O'Sullivan
22 - J.F. Jacques
27 - Dustin Penner
33 - Steve MacIntyre
35 - Nikolai Khabibulin
37 - Denis Grebeshkov
41 - Taylor Chorney
43 - Jason Strudwick
46 - Zack Stortini
71 - Lubomir Visnovsky
77 - Tom Gilbert
83 - Ales Hemsky
89 - Sam Gagner
91 - Mike Comrie
BO1 - "First" break-out pass. A pass from low in the defensive zone to a player along the boards.
BO2 - "Second" break-out pass. A pass from a player along the boards to a player skating through the middle.
DZ - Oilers defensive zone (always)
FO - Faceoff
NZ - Neutral Zone
OZ - Oilers offensive zone (always)
22 NZ FO loss.
BJ pass hits 13, puck to NZ boards.
37 loses 2-on-1 NZ puck battle. BJs clear to DZ with control.
22 puck retrieval along boards in DZ off missed shot. BO2 pass to 13 completed.
13 skates puck into NZ, dump-in to OZ. BJs retrieve.
12 strong forecheck. 12/13 lose 2-on-2 puck battle in OZ corner. BJs clear to DZ.
35 retrieves BJs dump-in behind net, puck is stolen while he sets puck for 37.
89 intercepts pass to the front of the net in DZ, dump-in to open area in NZ.
83 retrieves puck with speed in NZ, dump-in to OZ. BJs retrieve.
83 intercepts BJs BO1 pass in OZ, shoots puck low on goal from boards.
27 retrieves rebound at side of net, backhand pass to 89 in high slot completed.
89 shoots one-timer from high slot (Scoring Chance - GOAL)
10 NZ FO win to 43.
43 DZ pass to 41 completed.
41 DZ pass to 19 tipped away, 19 recovers puck, skates behind DZ net, 19 short DZ pass to 43 completed.
43 DZ pass to 41 completed (both players behind goal line).
41 BO1 pass to 10 completed.
10 tip BO2 pass under pressure to 19 completed.
19 skates into NZ, NZ pass to 91 misses badly (behind him).
43 retrieves puck in NZ, dump-in to OZ.
10 retrieves puck in OZ corner, 10 OZ pass to 91 along boards completed.
91 OZ pass to 19 behind net completed. 19 separated from puck by BJ Dman.
10 retrieves puck in opposite OZ corner. 10 loses OZ puck battle along boards. BJs clear to DZ.
43 retrieves BJs dump-in along DZ boards. 43 DZ pass to 41 behind net completed.
41 DZ pass to 43 in corner completed.
43 stretch pass to 33 completed.
33 tips pass for dump-in to OZ. BJs retrieve, clear to DZ.
37 retrieves puck in DZ, fights off BJ Fwd to leave puck for 77.
77 BO1 pass to 18 not received cleanly, BJs recover puck.
33 tips pass in DZ, puck retrieved by 18.
18 skates puck into NZ, dump-in (not deep) to OZ. BJs retrieve and clear to NZ.
71 tips BJ pass at DZ blue line, but right onto stick of BJ Fwd, creates BJ 2-on-1.
(BJs miss two passes in succession which leads to puck in OZ).
Decent forecheck by 89/27. BJs clear puck to OZ blue line.
27 steals puck at OZ blue line. 27 short pass to 89 completed.
89 short OZ pass to 27 completed. 27 shoots from the boards.
83 loses puck battle for rebound in front of OZ net. BJs goalie stops play.
22 scrambles OZ FO. 22 finds puck for quick shot from FO circle (Scoring Chance). BJs clear to DZ.
43 loses puck battle in DZ corner.
13 wins puck battle behind goal line, moves puck to opposite corner.
41 retrieves puck in DZ corner. 41 attempts to dump puck into NZ.
12 tips puck down out of the air in NZ for 22.
22 dump-in to OZ. BJs retrieve.
22 intercepts BJs BO1 pass. 22 OZ pass to 12 in corner completed.
12 OZ pass to 13 behind net but 13 is tied up by BJs Dman.
41 retrieves puck along OZ boards and dumps puck into OZ corner.
12 retrieves puck in OZ corner. 12 is stripped of puck by BJs Fwd. BJs clear to NZ.
43 retrieves puck in NZ. 43 NZ pass to 41 (both moving backwards) completed.
41 NZ pass to 43 misses (saucer pass off target high).
43 retrieves puck along boards, attempts to dump-in to OZ. Puck hits BJ Dman and bounces to 13.
13 NZ-to-OZ pass to 12 completed.
12 dump-in to OZ for line change.
91 intercepts DZ-to-NZ pass at OZ blue line, dump-in to OZ.
10 strong forecheck separates BJs Dman from puck. 91 retrieves puck along boards.
91 OZ pass to 10 in corner completed.
10 cycle pass behind net to 19 completed.
19 skates around net and spins at bottom of FO circle, shoots wide.
77 retrieves rebound along OZ boards, slap shot on goal, BJs goalie stops play.
10 loses OZ FO. BJs clear with control into DZ.
91 loses race to puck but blocks shot into far DZ corner.
10 retrieves puck in DZ corner, BO1 pass to 19 completed.
19 drop pass to 77 completed.
77 dumps puck into open area in NZ.
10 retrieves puck with speed in NZ, skates into OZ.
10 OZ pass to 91 completed.
91 OZ pass from high slot to 10 in front of crease but 10 is tied up by BJ Dman. BJs clear puck to DZ.
5/27 win 2-on-2 DZ puck battle. 27 retrieves puck, gives it away at DZ blue line.
71 blocks BJ shot from the slot coming off 27 giveaway.
89 retrieves puck along DZ boards. 89 BO2 pass to 27 completed.
27 NZ pass to 83 completed.
83 skates to OZ. 83 OZ drop pass to 27 completed.
27 OZ pass to Hemsky along boards completed.
83 shot blocked by BJ Fwd's stick. Puck goes behind OZ net.
27 retrieves puck behind net. 27 OZ pass to 43 at point completed.
43 pass intended for 27 in corner deflected but 83 retrieves puck along OZ boards.
83 skates behind net, 83 OZ pass to 89 in opposite corner completed.
89 OZ pass to 71 at point completed.
71 OZ pass to 89 along boards completed.
89 plays puck to OZ corner for 27 but 27 is not there, cannot recover in time. BJs retrieve, clear puck to DZ.
43 retrieves puck in DZ corner, skates behind net, stretch pass to 33 completed.
33 tips pass for dump-in to OZ.
Decent forecheck by 18/22. BJs retrieve, clear puck to DZ with control.
43 wins puck battle in DZ corner, skates behind net, BO1 pass to 18 completed.
18 skates off the boards, through the slot, DZ pass to 33 completed.
33 skates puck into NZ, dump-in to OZ partially blocked, puck at OZ blue line.
46 clashes sticks with BJ Dman and dumps puck to OZ corner.
Strong forecheck by 46 pressures BJ Dman with possession.
37 intercepts BO1 pass by BJ Dman along boards, OZ pass to 18 in high slot not received cleanly.
18 loses OZ puck battle. BJs clear to DZ.
77 retrieves puck in DZ, skates puck to DZ blue line, DZ-to-NZ pass to 12 not received cleanly.
37 retrieves puck in NZ and pushes puck to BJs Dman in OZ.
37 intercepts pass at DZ blue line, DZ pass to 77 completed.
77 DZ-to-NZ pass to 13 completed.
13 skates into OZ, dumps puck to boards, retrieves, dumps behind net for 22.
22 short OZ pass to 12 in OZ corner completed.
12 OZ pass to 13 in slot knocked away.
12 retrieves puck in OZ corner, OZ pass to 22 behind net completed.
22 OZ pass to 13 in slot intercepted. BJs clear with control to DZ.
77 tips BJ Fwd shot off the rush, puck out of play.
91 DZ FO win to 77.
77 skates behind net, BO1 pass to 19 completed.
19 BO2 pass intended for 10 misses badly. BJ Dman with puck in DZ who dumps puck to corner.
77 intercepts dump-in. 77 DZ pass to 10 completed.
10 skates puck to NZ, 10 NZ pass to 91 completed.
91 skates puck to OZ, shot from outside FO dot and above FO circle, BJs goalie stops play.
13 OZ FO loss. BJ Dman dumps puck to boards.
22 wins OZ puck battle, pass to 12 in OZ corner deflected, puck out of play.
13 OZ FO scrambled.
22 loses 2-on-1 OZ puck battle behind FO dot. BJs clear to DZ with control.
41 steals puck along DZ boards, throws puck blindly to DZ blue line, intercepted by BJ Dman.
41 tips pass from behind DZ net into slot.
12 hits puck in the slot, 41 clears puck to DZ corner. BJs retrieve.
12 partially blocks shot from high slot. BJs retrieve.
35 makes a save on BJ shot (Scoring Chance) from inside FO dot just inside top of FO circle.
13 dumps rebound into NZ. BJs retrieve clear to DZ with control.
22 disrupts BJ Fwd but BJ Fwd moves puck into DZ corner.
41 loses DZ puck battle in corner.
41/83 win 2-on-1 DZ puck battle behind net.
83 skates through DZ, pass to 22 completed.
22 DZ-to-NZ pass to 83 completed under pressure.
83 skates puck to OZ, dump-in to OZ corner while falling when BJ Dman makes hit.
89 decent forecheck, loses 2-on-1 DZ puck battle. BJs clear to DZ.
5 retrieves puck in DZ corner, DZ pass to 71 in opposite corner completed.
71 BO1 pass to 83 completed.
83 BO2 pass to 27 with speed completed.
27 skates to OZ, stripped of puck by BJ Dman in high slot. BJs clear to DZ.
5 retrieves puck in DZ behind net, back pass to 71 in DZ corner completed.
71 DZ pass to 5 behind net completed.
5 DZ pass to 71 who skates by him behind net completed.
71 BO1 pass to 27 at DZ blue line completed.
27 DZ pass to 89 along DZ boards completed.
89 DZ pass to 27 at DZ blue line completed.
27 chips puck past BJs Dman into NZ. BJs retrieve, clear to DZ with control.
BJ Fwd pass to slot tipped by 5.
33 retrieves puck in high slot, DZ pass to 18 completed.
18 skates to NZ, dump-in to OZ.
33 decent forecheck. BJs retrieve.
46 intercepts BO1 pass along OZ boards, dumps puck behind OZ net for 33, 33 not there. BJs clear to NZ.
37 retrieves puck by DZ blue line, pass intended for 46 up the middle intercepted. BJs clear to DZ with control.
35 makes a save off BJ Fwd (wrist shot from above FO circle), no rebound, holds for whistle.
10 DZ FO win to 37.
37 scrambles puck in 2-on-1 puck battle.
10 retrieves loose puck by DZ FO dot, DZ pass to 77 completed.
77 DZ pass to 19 completed.
19 BO2 pass to 10 completed.
10 scrambles puck in 1-on-1 puck battle.
19 retrieves loose puck in NZ, skates to OZ, shot (Scoring Chance) from center of the ice above FO circle, rebound to corner. BJs clear to DZ.
77 retrieves puck in DZ, BO1 pass to 19 completed.
19 DZ pass to 10 completed.
10 DZ pass to 19 completed.
19 DZ pass to 10 completed.
10 skates to NZ, kick pass to 91 is too slow, knocked away.
10 wins puck battle at OZ blue line.
10 OZ pass to 91 not received cleanly
91 directs puck to OZ corner.
91/10 win 2-on-2 puck battle in OZ, move puck to 19 in OZ corner.
19 OZ pass to 10 in high slot intercepted. BJs retrieve
37 intercepts BJ clear at OZ blue line, slap shot from point deflected wide by BJ Fwd.
19 retrieves puck in OZ corner, OZ pass to 37 at point completed.
37 spins around BJ Fwd, OZ pass to 91 moving into high slot hits him in the skates. BJs retrieve, clear puck to DZ.
71 retrieves puck in DZ, skates behind net, leaves puck for 89.
89 skates to NZ, NZ pass to 83 completed.
83 skates to OZ but one of 89 or 27 is just offside.
89 NZ FO win to 5.
5 dump-in to OZ.
83 retrieves puck in OZ corner, pass around boards to 27 on opposite boards completed.
27 OZ pass to 83 in near corner completed.
83 OZ pass to 5 at point completed.
5 stripped of puck at OZ blue line as he tries to move around BJs Fwd. BJs clear to NZ.
83 deflects BJs NZ pass.
71 retrieves puck in NZ, dump-in to OZ. BJs retrieve, clear to OZ blue line.
71 scrambles puck at OZ blue line with BJs Fwd.
83 tips stick of BJs Fwd on dump-in, puck into DZ.
71 wins race to puck in DZ cleanly, DZ pass to 5 completed.
5 skates through NZ into OZ corner. 5 surrounded, stripped of puck. BJs clear to DZ.
35 retrieves puck in DZ behind net. 35 DZ pass to 5 in corner completed.
5 DZ pass to 12 in far corner completed.
12 DZ pass to 41 behind net not received cleanly.
5/41 win 2-on-1 puck battle behind DZ goal line.
41 BO1 pass to 22 completed.
22 attempted clear up boards intercepted by BJ Dman. BJs have clear possession in DZ.
35 save on wrist shot from DZ corner. Rebound to side of net.
22 takes rebound, tries to clear puck to corner but hits 5 in slot. BJs gain possession in corner.
35 save on slap shot from point. Rebound behind net. BJs gain possession.
5 tips BJs pass from behind net into slot, BJ Fwd gains puck in slot.
35 save on wrist shot in slot (Scoring Chance). Rebound in front. 35 covers for whistle.
10 DZ FO win to 37.
37 DZ pass to 77 completed.
77 BO1 pass to 19 completed.
19 stripped of puck at DZ blue line.
77 wins puck battle at DZ blue line, DZ pass to 37 completed.
37 DZ pass to 77 completed.
77 BO1 pass to 91 completed.
91 DZ pass to 37 in corner completed.
37 DZ pass to 77 completed.
77 DZ-to-NZ pass to 19 completed.
19 NZ pass to 10 completed.
10 dump-in to OZ.
Strong forecheck by 19 scrambles puck behind OZ net.
91 wins OZ puck battle in corner, OZ pass to 10 along boards completed.
10 OZ pass to 19 behind net intercepted
10 scrambles puck with BJs Dman.
19 retrieves puck at bottom of FO circle for wrist shot (Scoring Chance). Rebound to side of net.
10 scrambles puck with BJs Dman, puck to high slot.
91 retrieves puck in high slot, shot blocked by BJs Dman.
10 retrieves puck in OZ corner, skates up boards, pass to 19 in corner not received due to hit from BJs Dman. BJs retrieve puck, clear to DZ.
37 retrieves puck in DZ behind net, DZ-to-NZ pass to 83 completed.
83 tips puck into OZ for dump-in. BJs clear to DZ with control.
35 save on slap shot (Scoring Chance) from above FO circle off BJs rush. Rebound in slot.
71 tips rebound from shooting range of BJs Fwd. BJs Fwd puts puck into DZ corner. BJs retrieve.
71 intercepts BJs pass behind net, DZ pass to 27 completed.
27 DZ pass to 83 intercepted in front of DZ blue line. BJs in control with numbers.
89 tips away dangerous shot from BJs forward. Puck behind net.
27 tips BJs centering pass in the air, 5 swats at pass with glove to BJs at point.
71 tips BJs point shot wide into corner.
71 retrieves puck, BO1 pass to 83 completed.
83 dump-in to NZ. BJs retrieve bring puck into OZ.
22 intercepts BJs pass at OZ blue line, OZ pass to 13 completed.
13 OZ pass to 22 in slot knocked down.
13 retrieves puck above FO circle, OZ pass to 41 at point completed.
41 shot from point wide of net, puck to corner.
12 retrieves puck in OZ corner, cycle pass to 13 behind net completed.
13 slips. BJs retrieve puck, clear to DZ with control.
BJs Fwd falls on rush, 43 retrieves puck, DZ-to-NZ pass to 12 completed.
12 dump-in to OZ for line change. BJs retrieve, clear to NZ
77 intercepts pass at DZ blue line, NZ pass to 10 at OZ blue line completed.
10 OZ pass to 91 completed.
91 pushed off puck from behind. BJs clear puck to NZ.
37 retrieves puck in NZ, NZ pass to 77 completed.
77 NZ pass to 91 at OZ blue line completed.
91 pass behind net to 10 not received cleanly. BJs clear to DZ with control.
35 stops backhand (Scoring Chance) from BJs Fwd who took 37 wide off the rush. Rebound in slot.
77 fans on clearing attempt.
BJs shot (Scoring Chance - GOAL) off rebound in front.
89 NZ FO win to 5.
5 NZ pass to 71 completed.
71 NZ pass to 27 completed.
27 skates to OZ, back pass to 83 completed.
83 stripped of puck in OZ. BJs clear to NZ.
5/27 lose NZ 2-on-2 puck battle.
71 blocks BJs Fwd wrist shot off rush with his skate, puck to DZ corner.
5 wins puck battle in DZ corner, BO1 pass to 27 completed.
27 DZ-to-NZ pass to 89 completed.
89 OZ pass to 83 blocked, BJs clear to DZ.
35 stops puck in the crease for 43.
43 leaves puck in DZ corner for 22.
22 pass to 43 not received cleanly, puck to far corner.
12 draws tripping penalty in 1-on-2 puck battle along DZ boards.
OILER POWER PLAY
89 scrambles OZ FO
27 retrieves loose puck, OZ pass to 83 along boards completed.
83 pass to 71 at point completed.
71 pass to 83 along boards completed.
83 skates down boards, pass to 71 at point completed.
71 skates along blue line, pass to 83 at top of boards completed.
83 shot from top of circle. Rebound to side of net.
89 retrieves rebound, shot (Scoring Chance). Rebound back to 89.
89 skates around net, pass to 27 in slot tipped away.
83 retrieves loose puck behind goal line, pass to 89 behind net completed.
89 pass to 19 at point completed.
19 pass to 71 across blue line completed.
71 pass to 83 along boards at FO circle completed.
83 skates through FO circle, shot from FO dot blocked, puck to corner.
27 retrieves puck in corner, skates up boards, pass to 89 in corner completed.
89 skates up boards, pass to 71 at point completed.
71 skates across blue line, pass to 89 across blue line completed.
89 pass across the ice to 19 below FO circle completed.
19 shot (Scoring Chance). Rebound to high slot.
89 retrieves rebound. 89 pass to 71 at point completed. Goalie Interference penalty to 27.
FOUR ON FOUR
13 DZ FO loss
35 save on BJs point shot. Rebound behind goal line, BJs retrieve, control through several passes.
77 intercepts BJs pass behind net, BO1 pass to 12 completed.
12 DZ pass across the ice to 37 completed.
37 skates through NZ, into OZ, pass to 13 in high slot completed.
13 shot (Scoring Chance) misses the net. BJs clear to DZ with control.
37 intercepts BJs pass in DZ, skates to NZ, NZ pass to 13 completed.
13 separated from puck at blue line by defender, puck goes deep into OZ. BJs clear to DZ after several passes.
43 touches puck in DZ for icing.
10 OZ FO loss.
18 decent forecheck. BJs clear to NZ with control.
BJS POWER PLAY
18 retrieves BJs dump-in to DZ, shoots puck to OZ.
13 challenges attacker at blue line, BJs retain control, circle back.
37 challenges attacker at blue line, loses 2-on-1 puck battle, puck deep in DZ.
BJs shot (Scoring Chance - GOAL) on pass from corner to slot.
EVEN STRENGTH
27 NZ FO loss. BJs clear to DZ with control.
35 easy save on wrist shot from point. Rebound directed to 71.
71 BO1 pass to 83 completed.
83 BO2 pass to 27 misses (in skates even after 27 slows down). BJs clear puck to DZ, retrieve dump-in.
5 blocks BJ Fwd wrist shot from boards above FO circle.
89 retrieves loose puck in high slot.
PERIOD OVER