Quote:
Originally Posted by J epworth kendal
http://moby.to/3jduj3
He didn't score here or anything, but it's plays like this that make me so excited about Gaudreau.
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His play a few minutes earlier, like his weaving through the SJ defense, was unquestionably his pure natural ability coming though and maybe his move of the night, including the slick shootout Jokinen-esque goal.
It was the play where he went at the goalie from the side of the net, a quick, deft backhand fake as if he was going to shoot....that fake froze the goalie and made him straighten up ever so slightly...and what that straightening did was prevent him from pushing off to the other post.
What further sells that move is that he still looks to go short side on goalies through the game, and he did tonight...as mentioned on that goal where he scored from the tough angle over the goalies head, its likely from college goalies cheating off the post. In this case, he sets that up in the goalies head all game that he may go short side, then, in a move later in the game, fakes it to freeze the goalie and beat him around the net for the wrap around. It wasn't an obvious fake, and with his quick stick handling and speed, it didn't have to be, but it was enough for the goalie to think twice about pushing to the other side of the net, and that split second was all he needed. You can't teach that.