Posts tagged Ryan O’Reilly

A lot of goaltending advice will seem like common sports cliches, but only because it carries everlasting value.

“Let the play, and the game, come to you. Don’t try to chase the puck. Just be patient.”

Those are just a few quips coaches will preach to their players in almost every pro sport, but only because it goes a long way in determining a winner and a loser.

Avalanche goaltender Peter Budaj’s first start of the regular season on Tuesday night was a perfect lesson in these goaltending virtues. Budaj, who was 3-3-1 lifetime against the Red Wings with a .917 save percentage heading into the prime time game on Versus, had a rough history of issues with his confidence and rebound control throughout his career. He would give up bad goals at the wrong time and then tighten up as a result. As games continued, he often looked impatient, scrambly and out of control. And that usually led to many tough one-goal losses where he simply didn’t make the timely save.

But last night’s 5-4 shootout win over the Detroit Red Wings was the complete opposite of everything Budaj used to be. He was poised, confident and focused from the moment the puck dropped until the very last shootout stop on Henrik Zetterberg. Even though he allowed four goals on 28 shots, he was one of the true stars of the game. More importantly, he was there when his teammates needed him the most.

As a goalie scout, I can tell you that facing very few shots in the first period makes it extremely tough for a goalie to play at their best. It’s extremely hard to get into a rhythm and nervous energy builds up while the focus can also stray. Every goalie at every level will also tell you that seeing a couple of routine shots early is very beneficial to feeling comfortable and playing well in a big game.

To start the 103rd all-time meeting against the Red Wings, Budaj faced an early shot and made a great save through traffic. Even though he gave up a juicy rebound, he confidently recovered and pushed to the top of his crease to square up for a potential rebound. Just a few moments later, however, Johan Franzen picked up a loose puck off the half-boards and fired a low wrist shot that beat Budaj just inside the far-side post. It was pretty much the worst start Budaj could have hoped for, as the Red Wings took a 1-0 lead just 2:24 into the game.

But despite allowing the early goal, Budaj’s demeanor never changed. He didn’t tense up. He didn’t cower into a shell and his mechanics never changed. The result of this consistency in his technique and in his mind resulted in a huge stop on Niklas Kronwall, who was all alone in the slot and had a prime scoring opportunity, just a minute later. And it wasn’t the save that impressed me, but rather where he made it. He was well above his crease and eliminated Kronwall’s time and space in a confident manner.

The first period ended with the score tied at 1-1 thanks to a David Jones wrist shot at 16:56. Detroit only had four shots on goal and Colorado had nine, so Avalanche fans were already on Budaj’s back and lacking confidence in his ability to stop pucks in a close game. But on the flip side, I was rather impressed with his steadfast demeanor and consistent confidence. I wasn’t worried about him in this game.

The second period got underway with an early power play chance for Detroit and resulted in a beautiful pass by Zetterberg off the half-boards, which was re-directed by Pavel Datsyuk just inside the right post. Budaj reacted well, but simply couldn’t get his right toe on the puck. Very few goalies would have made that save, as Detroit’s top guns proved what makes them so special – superfluous and sensational communication. The goal came just 2:50 into the second period and gave Detroit a 2-1 lead.

Although Colorado continued to carry the play in all three zones by jumping on top of Detroit’s defense, forcing turnovers and using their speed to their advantage, Franzen would extend the lead to 3-1 with a nice snap shot at the 13:02 mark of the second period. Defensively, it was a huge letdown, as Colorado limited Detroit to just four shots halfway through the middle frame. But the Avalanche’s “never say die” attitude helped them overcome a two-goal deficit the night before in Philadelphia, so the confidence on the bench was clearly there to do it again.

That comeback was initiated thanks to a beautiful play from Ryan O’Reilly. With his combination of speed and awareness, he took advantage of a Detroit turnover and flew down the left wing thanks to a powerful first stride. As soon as he hit the neutral zone, his head was up the entire way into Detroit’s zone until he cranked a slap shot that slightly tipped former Avalanche defenseman Ruslan Salei’s stick blade. The shot fooled Jimmy Howard just enough to power through his left arm, bringing the score to 3-2 with only :49 seconds remaining in the second period.

The shots in that middle frame were 14 for Colorado and only nine for Detroit, making the total a surprising 23-13 edge for the Avs. Budaj, who could really only be faulted for Franzen’s goals, had allowed three goals on 13 shots. No, it was not much of a ringing endorsement for Sacco’s decision to start Budaj against a potent Red Wings team. Yet Colorado found themselves only down a goal heading into the third period.

For a goaltender, it’s not how saves you make, it’s just a matter of being one better than the goalie on the other end. I was frustrated with the quality chances Detroit had with such few shots, so I knew the third period would come down to Budaj’s ability to make the timely save.

The final frame started off with a bang for the Avalanche. They got the puck in deep and forced Dan Cleary to take an interference penalty just 1:43 into the period. Although they failed, once again, to take advantage of the man advantage, they carried the play and kept Detroit on their heels. That’s when Daniel Winnik would chip a puck past Kronwall and then fire a simple shot over Howard’s left shoulder to tie the game 3-3 at the 4:43 mark. It was his first in an Avalanche uniform and a goal that totally stunned and silenced the crowd at Joe Louis Arena.

But Detroit was opportunistic when John-Michael Liles coughed up the puck during another Avalanche power-play chance. Darren Helm, who is easily one of the fastest players in the NHL, cruised down the left wing on a 2-on-1 short-handed breakaway. He held on to the puck until the last moment, forced Kyle Quincey to slide over, then made a perfect saucer pass to Patrick Eaves, who elevated the puck and put it over Budaj’s glove. No chance for Budaj, no excuse for Liles’ costly turnover. The Red Wings were up 4-3 with just over 13 minutes remaining and the momentum was quickly back in Detroit’s corner.

Once again, Colorado’s resiliency allowed them to fire back, as a beautiful backhander by Jones slipped under Howard, who was deep in his net and clearly not prepared for the shot. It once again shocked the Red Wings, eliminated the crowd’s presence and rejuvenated the Avs bench, just enough for the game to end in a 4-4 tie. Despite it being just the third game of the regular season, it was an instant classic thanks to the quality goals, amazing plays and even a fight between Cody McLeod and Doug Janik.

Surprisingly, very few chances surfaced during the overtime period and the game went to a shootout. Below is a recap of the six shootout chances against Budaj. As you will see, each one preaches the importance of patient goaltending:

1. PAVEL DATSYUK - The shiftiest hands in the league couldn’t pull Peter out of position, as Budaj stayed anchored in his crease and got the right pad down in time to stone Datsyuk’s quality opportunity.
2. JIRI HUDLER - The underrated scorer walked in on and tried to go high, but Budaj was patient and forced Hudler to shoot high and over the net. It may have slightly grazed the post.
3. TODD BERTUZZI - Colorado’s arch nemesis swung really wide to the left side and tried to force Budaj to come off his angle. But Budaj would have none of it, as again he displayed great patience, tracked the puck perfectly and made a beautiful left toe save as Bertuzzi cut across the crease.
4. JOHAN FRANZEN - Mentally, Franzen had a clear advantage after beating Budaj twice in regulation. But again, Budaj forced a perfect shot and Franzen nailed the crossbar. It was a bit of luck for Peter, but that’s what it takes to beat one of the best teams in the league.
5. MIKE MODANO - This one was another lucky break for Budaj, as Modano cruised in and fired a wrist shot high over Budaj’s glove and off the crossbar. The puck came back into Budaj’s body but he alertly squeezed the legs shut before the puck could escape.
6. HENRIK ZETTERBERG - A move that would have beat most inexperienced goalies, Hank opened up the five-hole, but Budaj went paddle down and did an amazing job of covering the space with his stick, shutting the door on Zetterberg.

Thanks to a Brandon Yip wrist shot over Howard’s glove, Colorado once again came back from a two-goal deficit and skated away with two points and a 5-4 overtime win. On opening night they squandered a two-goal lead and still won in overtime. Last night, they came back from one and won in overtime. It’s not a pattern this team will want to continue, but at the end of the day, points are all that matters. And in years past, Budaj would have been paralyzed after allowing a goal in the shootout and then he would execute with much hesitation.

But not last night. Not at any point. Not after any of the gut-wrenching goals against him. He was even-keeled the entire 65 minutes and on each of the six shootout chances against him.

When a goaltender gets to years five and six in their NHL career, they begin to truly understand the mental approach needed to succeed as a starter or a backup. Away from the rink, I know that Budaj really matured over the summer. He bought a house and started a family and it’s not “…all hockey, all the time…” for him anymore. He’s balanced in life, and I feel that has turned him into a much better goalie on the ice. Throughout training camp and his limited pre-season action, I noticed better perspective, more mental toughness, confidence, and most importantly, more patience than ever before.

It was very exciting to see Budaj not only get the start, but despite giving up four goals on just 28 shots, make the timely stops when his team needed it most. I don’t remember every single win he has notched in an Avalanche uniform, but because of the lessons learned, I consider it one of his best wins in his career. It proved he’s capable of winning games behind Craig Anderson. It proved he has matured and evolved into a mentally tough netminder capable of overcoming any hurdles set in his path. He’s a consummate pro and he deserves more starts.

Coming away with the win in Detroit does so much more than give the Avalanche two points in the standings. It increases their momentum heading into the final three games of this crucial five-game road trip. More importantly, it forces Craig Anderson to play even better in the next game. Healthy competition between two goalies is one of the most important things for the Avalanche to have.

That’s not because I think Anderson is going to play worse than he did last year. It’s simply because he will now be motivated to work even harder than before. If you thought Anderson was good in the first two games of the season, imagine how good he will be in the next game knowing that Budaj already has one start and one gigantic win under his belt.