Gabriel Vilardi's One-Timer vs PIT: Moving Counter to the Puck
Ever since being acquired from the LA Kings, Gabriel Vilardi has made a seamless fit in Winnipeg and has really blossomed as a top-six level scorer on a regular basis. Vilardi has been very consistent for the Jets this season thus far, on pace for nearly 70 points in a full 82 game season. Vilardi has showcased his ability, in large part, to bring elite scoring ability at 5v5 and on the power play, where he can leverage his quick release to get shots off and generate shots from interior space. Vilardi is great at being able to create from interior, whether that’s around the net as a finisher and trying to jam in loose rebound opportunities, or if Vilardi is trying to shoot from afar and generate shots from space there.
A lot more confidence and instinct is showcased from Vilardi in these areas now in Winnipeg, particularly of his increased role and increased trust from the coaching staff, where Vilardi seems to be noticeable as a play driving center/winger a lot of the time I watch Winnipeg games. I’ve seen him become better at controlling defenders’ feet, controlling space in the neutral zone, controlling the puck at a high tempo, and understanding how to space himself off the puck to create for his teammates.
Since joining Winnipeg, Vilardi has also continued to improve at generating even strength offense, his finishing and goals/60 rates have improved, and he’s genuinely evolved into more of a shooter in his time there. He was also prominent scoring goals in LA, but the scoring was somewhat inconsistent and streaky in terms of how he was generating, whereas he’s continued to evolve that consistency in a new environment in Winnipeg thus far.
Here we see the sequence on the power play with Winnipeg, where they have talent at every position and their movement in their power play is so quick. Winnipeg does a great job zipping the puck around thanks to their speedy wingers like Connor and Ehlers, along with speed from Morrissey and Scheifele in their movement as well. Vilardi is in the bumper, a dual threat position that allows him to quickly get shots off if D coverage is collapsed and lateral seams open up fast. Connor gets the puck on the wall, and with the strong side D collapsing and strong side F slightly coming down on the play, this forces Connor to make a split second decision.
Connor can do two things here:
If Connor retreats, that pass lane to Vilardi would close quickly. Instead, Connor recognizes the open space, sauces it to Vilardi with Vilardi trying to change his angle to create the available seam, and Vilardi rips the puck off his stick quickly.
Credit to Vilardi for making this pass easy for Connor, as Connor just had to get the puck off his stick and to Vilardi quickly. Vilardi also moves counter to the movement of the puck and Connor’s route in this scenario, which allows Vilardi to open up that space, open the pass lane, and simultaneously open the shot lane as well. Vilardi rips the puck top shelf effortlessly past the goaltender here as well.