Nathan MacKinnon's Goal vs Carolina: Importance of Center Support Low
Nathan MacKinnon is one of the league’s most efficient players in transition offense scenarios. MacKinnon not only brings the ability to have speed and top gear separation speed in those situations, but the ability to quickly maneuver around opponents inside the neutral zone and separate from contact. MacKinnon is far above average and elite when it comes to generating controlled zone exits, controlled zone entries, generating shots and playmaking right away from controlled entries, and xG through controlled entries as well. MacKinnon has the ability to drive pace and offense directly from transition scenarios, and adding to that, MacKinnon is an elite play driver inside the offensive zone.
What always impresses me with MacKinnon is his ability to carry pace and not get knocked off the puck too easily by opponents. Not only is he very strong on his edges and in his lower body, but MacKinnon is strong when it comes to managing the puck at a high tempo and maintaining that center of gravity. A lot of times when defenders try to check him, MacKinnon either blows past them with his speed with the puck, or he doesn’t move considering how strong on his skates he is.
A common theme we see among modern, skilled centers is their ability to stay low to the puck and to support the puck low. Butch Goring, a New York Islanders broadcaster, had some good points talking about this:
Though this was an external example since it was a game between the Islanders/Devils, the example is very relevant to the example here. To start this sequence, notice how MacKinnon supports the play low and swings back to the D zone to support both of his defensemen. With the strong side winger coming back on a straight line route to their own blue line, this allows MacKinnon to climb underneath that winger as puck support inside the sequence. MacKinnon does an excellent job supporting the play, and then his close support allows him to get a bumped puck from the winger to him.
MacKinnon has speed underneath the sequence here, allowing him to have speed when he gets the puck on his stick. Carolina also has two checkers closing in towards the winger, allowing MacKinnon to be open through the double team elsewhere. MacKinnon maneuvers inside the neutral zone, and quickly takes advantage of a vulnerable strong side D on Carolina. Carolina’s D has his feet tied up and misjudged his crossover timing, and also misjudged his gap, which creates a vulnerable position for the CAR defender here. That, in this case, was the former Av Sean Walker, who doesn’t usually get drawn out of position too easily off a misjudged gap and crossover. He just mistimed the situation, and then this allows MacKinnon to get behind Walker on the entry easily.
So with some luck of the draw, we see MacKinnon maneuver on the entry next. MacKinnon has Mikko Rantanen on the far side of the ice as a 2v1 with Shayne Gostisbehere defending here. Gostisbehere takes the pass away, allowing MacKinnon to walk right down the middle and maneuver in on Spencer Martin. MacKinnon shoots low on Martin, beating him clean. Again, some luck driven by misjudgment in both Carolina D’s, more through Walker than Gostisbehere, but great initial center support by MacKinnon allowed him to gain speed effortlessly through the sequence.
Owner of Purpose Driven Development Hockey, Senior at Michigan State University
2 周Great read.. Incredible 2nd period from Colorado as a whole last night.