From the first day of training camp through the first seven games of the season, the Seattle Kraken have spoken repeatedly about playing fast and pressuring opponents.
No one play epitomized the successful implementation of speed and pressure more than Freddy Gaudreau’s goal in Seattle’s 5-3 win over the Capitals last Sunday. “It’s exactly what we talk about,” said Kraken coach Lane Lambert. “When I talk about pressure, gaps and all that, we’re talking about 200 feet away from our net. So that’s a nice little systems clip for us.”
Meaning if he hasn’t already, Lambert will be using video of that goal as a teaching tool. Let’s do the same, breaking down how the Gaudreau line, with Ben Meyers and Ryan Winterton on his wings, pressured Washington into surrendering the puck and turned it into a tally.
Anatomy Of A Kraken Goal
Gaudreau (FG 89), Meyers (BM 59) and Winterton (RW 26) enter the Caps zone. Washington defenseman Martin Fehervary (red arrow) has a sizeable lead in retrieving the puck (black circle).
Speed: Meyers – known here in hockey terminology as “F-1,” the first forward on the forecheck – closes the gap on Fehervary and pins him to the end boards.
Not only does Meyers complete his check, he’s dislodged the puck (black circle) in an area he can reach it with his stick. From left wing, Winterton is arriving to provide support.
Meyers has the presence of mind to backhand the puck (black circle) into the slot, where it’s about to bounce off the skate of Washington’s Justin Sourdif (red arrow). This is where Winterton becomes involved.
Winterton alertly finds the carom, tipping a pass out to an open Gaudreau (black circle, red arrow). Pressure causing chaos: also note that three Caps are below the goal line, and a fourth is also in no position to defend Gaudreau.
Note that Gaudreau could have hurried and shot immediately, but between the puck (black circle) and Capitals goalie Logan Thompson (#48) in good position, there isn’t that much net to shoot at.
Recognizing he has time and space, Gaudreau, a 485-game NHL veteran, shows the patience to drag the puck across the top of the crease.
Gaudreau parks a backhand behind Thompson to break a 2-2 tie, a key goal in Seattle’s victory. Everyone on the line earned a point, three of 13 the so-called 4th line would collect in back-to-back road wins over Detroit and Washington.
As Meyers explained, “We had a good set breakout, speed through the neutral zone. The puck came to ‘Wints,’ he made a good play and Freddy finished. After the game in Detroit, Freddy was saying, ‘Y’know, let’s do that every night.’ Things are clicking.”
Team captain Jordan Eberle: “When we get on our toes and play with speed, we’re a good team.”
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Still Perfect On Roadie, Beat Flyers 3-2 in Shoot-out
Earlier Canucks:
— Close But No Cigar; Canucks Lose 4th Straight On Road Trip
