Guerzy
I'm a fricken baby
- Jan 16, 2005
- 39,854
- 3,121
Maybe I am incorrect, but this is how I view it.
Everything about that unfolding play was routine and textbook. Puck going around boards, defenseman going in to retrieve puck, opposing player applying pressure and closing in on him to finish check.
As the player retrieving the puck (Kulikov) with incoming pressure (Hertl), Kulikov's job first and foremost was preparing for a potential body check and contact, be it minimal or heavy. You can't successfully play that puck if you're going to get hit, it's impossible. You *may* be able to poke check that puck before/during contact depending on how light or heavy the contact is, but you still have to be in position to take a hit for your own damn safety out there. Hertl has a job too for safety reasons, obviously. Kulikov on that play in that position as the first man to the puck HAS to prepare himself for contact, regardless of how Hertl finishes his check (light or heavy).
1. Keep your head on a swivel, perform "quick shoulder check", know where your opponents are. Knowing where the pressure is coming from will help you prepare for potential body check and give you an idea of how you should play the loose puck - It appears Kulikov did this?
2 . Don't get caught in the "danger zone" (2-4 feet from the boards). This will allow you to be positioned well to absorb the impact of contact, be it minimal or heavy.
3. Positioning - Assure your arms and hands are up mid-section level and you are (have already) turned your body so your shoulders will hit the boards/glass instead of hour head, face or front portion of your body. This will assure your impact positioning is where it needs to be. This positioning will also allow you to push off of the boards after the check if you are still on your feet, getting yourself back into action/the play quickly.
And then he did this...
4. Took himself OUT of position. He literally undid all of the proper steps and movements he appeared to have taken on that play, turned his head towards the boards and began turning his body too. He went into play the puck mode when he should have been bracing and prepared for contact. No, no, no...
Maybe I am wrong, but from the mere seconds in which Kulikov turned his head and body, I don't believe Hertl can let up given the quickness of the game. And again, IF Kulikov was in proper position, Hertl's hit likely results in no poor effects on Kulikov.
*** To this point Kulikov's # is not even facing an oncoming Hertl, and people expect Hertl to have the time and recognize he needs to let up? He's already over the goal line.
***This is where Kulikov turned, and look how close Hertl is.
Maybe Hertl receives discipline, maybe he doesn't. Maybe Hertl could have slowed up and pulled up, maybe he couldn't have (I don't think so, personally). At the end of the day, in my opinion, Kulikov did some things right and then did some things exceptionally wrong in terms of positioning yourself for any level of contact. Had Kulikov followed proper technique, I don't think Hertl's hit causes any injury and this is just another routine play. I don't think Kulikov was in a vulnerable position until he turned his head/body at the last second, in which I think at that point it was too late and Hertl was committed to finishing the check.
Everything about that unfolding play was routine and textbook. Puck going around boards, defenseman going in to retrieve puck, opposing player applying pressure and closing in on him to finish check.
As the player retrieving the puck (Kulikov) with incoming pressure (Hertl), Kulikov's job first and foremost was preparing for a potential body check and contact, be it minimal or heavy. You can't successfully play that puck if you're going to get hit, it's impossible. You *may* be able to poke check that puck before/during contact depending on how light or heavy the contact is, but you still have to be in position to take a hit for your own damn safety out there. Hertl has a job too for safety reasons, obviously. Kulikov on that play in that position as the first man to the puck HAS to prepare himself for contact, regardless of how Hertl finishes his check (light or heavy).
1. Keep your head on a swivel, perform "quick shoulder check", know where your opponents are. Knowing where the pressure is coming from will help you prepare for potential body check and give you an idea of how you should play the loose puck - It appears Kulikov did this?
2 . Don't get caught in the "danger zone" (2-4 feet from the boards). This will allow you to be positioned well to absorb the impact of contact, be it minimal or heavy.
3. Positioning - Assure your arms and hands are up mid-section level and you are (have already) turned your body so your shoulders will hit the boards/glass instead of hour head, face or front portion of your body. This will assure your impact positioning is where it needs to be. This positioning will also allow you to push off of the boards after the check if you are still on your feet, getting yourself back into action/the play quickly.
And then he did this...
4. Took himself OUT of position. He literally undid all of the proper steps and movements he appeared to have taken on that play, turned his head towards the boards and began turning his body too. He went into play the puck mode when he should have been bracing and prepared for contact. No, no, no...
Maybe I am wrong, but from the mere seconds in which Kulikov turned his head and body, I don't believe Hertl can let up given the quickness of the game. And again, IF Kulikov was in proper position, Hertl's hit likely results in no poor effects on Kulikov.
*** To this point Kulikov's # is not even facing an oncoming Hertl, and people expect Hertl to have the time and recognize he needs to let up? He's already over the goal line.
***This is where Kulikov turned, and look how close Hertl is.
Maybe Hertl receives discipline, maybe he doesn't. Maybe Hertl could have slowed up and pulled up, maybe he couldn't have (I don't think so, personally). At the end of the day, in my opinion, Kulikov did some things right and then did some things exceptionally wrong in terms of positioning yourself for any level of contact. Had Kulikov followed proper technique, I don't think Hertl's hit causes any injury and this is just another routine play. I don't think Kulikov was in a vulnerable position until he turned his head/body at the last second, in which I think at that point it was too late and Hertl was committed to finishing the check.
Last edited: