System Analysis: We Lost to the Sabres?!?

Last night the Red Wings dominated possession but a inability to finish as well as a few defensive miscues allowed Buffalo to hang around and steal the win. After the game, Smith was asked about the two goals against the Red Wings. Te reported hinted that since they were the result of scrambles in front, the blame falls on the defensemen. Smith was very quick to disagree with him and talked about how it was more about getting pucks out of the zone and problems with their defensive system than the D clearing out bodies in front. I'm going to take a quick look at the goal and I’ll show you why I think this instance, Smith is absolutely correct.

We start with Smith having the puck behind the net and a man closing in on him. You can see here that his options are pretty limited. There is no winger on the wall for a direct breakout pass, and #24 is in great position to stop a hard rim from leaving the zone.

Trying to make something out of nothing, as Smith is one to do, he makes a soft chip to where the winger should be and hopes they win the footrace. Unfortunately Andersson and Miller are both slow to get there and the Sabres recover the puck.

Now the D takes the puck down low but we can see the Red Wings are in pretty good defensive positioning. Andersson is the new “center” playing down low, the wingers have collapsed low to help protect the scoring area. DeKeyser is covering the front of the net and Smith is eliminating the potential pass to his man. Smith could be more focused on his man and less focused on the puck and someone should be closer to #17 but so far so good. Now the camera angle makes it difficult but I'll try to explain whats going on.

The puck carrier reverses and curls back up the wall. Now Stewart has entered the picture for the first time, having occupied the defender's spot on the blue line. Since Stewart has become the "d-man" following the pinch he is Miller’s responsibility. However we see Miller is focused only on the puck carrier. Ignoring his defensive responsibilities Miller comes in to try win the puck.

Miller creates a battle along the wall and now Stewart, DeKeyser and his man come into the pile as well. The puck eventually gets by DeKeyser and heads back behind the net. This is where the trouble begins. As a defender you should always try to be between your man and the net. Miller’s attempt to win the puck allowed Stewart to get between Miller and the net, a big defensive no no. Now Stewart has inside positioning and is headed straight for the net.

Now Stewart is off the wall and no one goes with him. Smith's man now has the puck behind the net. I'm not sure if he knows Stewart is there, but he makes a good play to force his to make a play back into pressure. With all the Red Wings on once side of the ice, Smith wants to force the play back into where the defenders are so they can make a play.

However, Smith’s defensive positioning depended on getting help from the defenders coming back from the wall battle and allowed an easy passing lane on the right side. No one comes across with Stewart and Glendening is focused only on the puck. With no one close enough to help, a quick pass on the tape forces Jimmy in transition and it ends up in the back of the Red Wing's net.

A few bad decision eventually turned into a game tying goal. Andersson not being on the wall to receive the pass from Smith, Miller losing his man after jumping in to win a battle, and Glendening/Smith not keeping their head on a swivel all combined to cost the Red Wings a point in the standings. While many people will jump to Smith not getting the puck out, I personally have no problem with that play. The Red Wings are and forever will be a possession team, in a bad spot he attempted to make a play to keep possession. The worst case scenario for that play was exactly was happened, Buffalo winning a battle on the wall which was not exactly a horrid outcome. However I do acknowledge that I am a huge Brendan Smith fan and I may have some bias when viewing this play. That said, based on what I see the blame falls more on the forwards for failing to stay with their guys then the defenders.