Scott Hartnell's new favorite spot

by Travis Hughes on Jan 23, 2012 10:31 AM EST in Philadelphia Flyers Commentary

Scott Hartnell scored five goals in two games over the weekend, and I'm truthfully, honestly not sure how he did that. Not that Hartnell didn't deserve it or anything -- that's not what I mean at all. It's that three of those goals were EXACTLY THE SAME, and you'd think the opposition would be able to figure this out by now.

On Saturday in New Jersey:

And on Sunday against the Bruins at home:

But that's not even the start of it. It's one thing when three of the five goals come on the exact same play -- a feed from Claude Giroux on the wall to Hartnell in the slot, where he just puts the puck up over the goalie's shoulder. It's another thing when all five goals come from the exact same spot on the ice.

(As an aside, can we talk about how awesome everybody on that line was on this play? Giroux has a great keep near the blueline, one he had to leap to make. Brayden Schenn does a great job of chipping the puck in on the play and using the body to take Johnny Boychuk out, and the extra space allowed Hartnell the time to grab the puck out of the air and score the goal. From his favorite spot.)

On Sunday's other goal, Hartnell didn't put it in the net with a shot, but he was credited with the goal on a deflection. And guess where he was on the ice when he tipped it past Martin Brodeur?

Hartnell didn't score against the Islanders on Thursday, but dating back to last week against Minnesota, he scored from the same spot on a deflection in that game, too. His last six goals have come from the exact same spot on the ice.

Hartnell scores a lot of goals in the slot, but he tends to pitch his tent closer to the crease, not on the hash mark like he's been doing the last few games. In fact, I quickly went through and watched all of his goals so far this season. Before the Minnesota game, he only had one goal that came from that spot on the ice.

Most of his other goals have been deflections from right at the top of the crease or diving pokes on 2-on-1's or, on the odd occasion, awesome snipes. Scoring goals from that exact spot has been new for Hartnell over the last few games -- and it's so obvious that we'll assume teams are going to start taking notice.

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Comments

Perhaps they should paint #Hartnelltown at that space on the ice.

by Pocono Flyers Fan on Jan 23, 2012 10:50 AM EST reply actions

spot on

I like that hashtag. Get it done!

by TheRealBoyer on Jan 23, 2012 12:13 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Natural Hat Trick, No Headlines

Scotty has to be the only palyer who doesn’t rate a single headline (except certain Philly media) when he gets a natural hat trick.

All the national headlines including Yahoo PD and NHL.com are “Bruins beat Flyers in Shootout” and not a blaring “Natural Hatty for Hartnell”. Yeah, I guess I’m whining but what the hell, media? At least Wysh put Hartnell as 2nd star of the day. With a sideways compliment.

Hartnell tallied a natural hat trick in the second period of the Flyers’ 6-5 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins, scoring twice on the power play and once at even strength. He was also his usual charming self, getting physical and agitating the Bruins.

by Georgia_Flyer on Jan 23, 2012 10:51 AM EST reply actions

I have to imagine Hartnell should have been the first star, as without his three goals it’d have been a wipeout.

It's in his wheelhouse!!
Carlos Ruiz, My Nickname is Chooch.

by Dr. Steve on Jan 23, 2012 10:53 AM EST up reply actions

I noticed this, but also noticed NHL.com named him yesterday’s second star.

Bob > Bryz

by KT_pucks35 on Jan 23, 2012 10:56 AM EST up reply actions

NattyLite never gets full credit

I like #NattyHatty better though.

A lot of things make sense now.

by Sparki on Jan 23, 2012 1:40 PM EST up reply actions

Round of Natty Bo's

On me!!

or is that NastyBo?

by Georgia_Flyer on Jan 23, 2012 2:55 PM EST up reply actions

They do know what he is going to do.

Why is it that no one has stopped Stamkos from scoring bushels of identical career goals? It is called execution. On any given play in football each team is pretty confident they know exactly what the other team is going to do, the successful team just executed better. Hartnell is winning on the ice through hard work, skill, savvy and playing with good personnel. His high percentage may be on account of some luck, but we all know luck is the result of preparedness meeting opportunity. I believe his luck has been earned.

Commenter formerly known as M from Pdaddy, but still just Call Me "M"!

DISCLAIMER: Information written above may not be entirely factual nor provable with the use of complex statistics. But it may induce thought, humor and possibly laughter.

by MJDII on Jan 23, 2012 10:54 AM EST reply actions

They had 3 guys cover Hartnell on the PP at the end of the game, and ignored hte points.

being obnoxious and self righteous while ignoring the point since 9/29/11

by DLJr on Jan 23, 2012 11:00 AM EST up reply actions

So then if we’re smart enough to notice that, take advantage of it and get the puck to the open man. Boom.

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!
"I think there is virtue in pissing off idiots." - Fehr and Balanced

by hintzy64 on Jan 23, 2012 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

And now everybody knows, thanks a lot!

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!
"I think there is virtue in pissing off idiots." - Fehr and Balanced

by hintzy64 on Jan 23, 2012 10:57 AM EST reply actions

STOP DON’T TELL EVERYONE JEEZ OH MY GAWWW

/tattle’d

Salute the Jagr

by DannyMcG on Jan 23, 2012 11:06 AM EST reply actions

The H spot. It’s where you go when you can’t find the G spot.

/s, more often than not

by flyersfaninchicago on Jan 23, 2012 1:05 PM EST reply actions 4 recs

can you draw a diagram for me….plz

Beets,Bears,Battlestar Galactica.
MICHAEL!

Political Correctness - the belief that one can pick up a turd by the clean end.

by reaper1221 on Jan 23, 2012 2:22 PM EST up reply actions

G-spots

H-spot (traditional, missionary)

H-spot (nouveau)

/s, more often than not

by flyersfaninchicago on Jan 23, 2012 3:35 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs

I have to agree with the poster who said that the other teams, especially Boston, knew what he was going to do.

The whole strategy of a PP is stretching the box and getting the other team out of position, right?

Well, with Simmonds and Hartnell on the same powerplay unit, there’s an emphasis on on the “double screen” that sets up to the left side of the net when G handles the puck along the wall. If you watch every single one of those PP goals, Simmonds is in “his” spot too: the left post.

All year G has had the Simmonds option on the powerplay and he’s been very effective at moving the puck from that side of the net into the crease and quickly creating chaos. It becomes a more dangerous option when you have Hartnell as a high screen and in the vicinity to pound away at any rebounds he may generate.

It anchors both D-men down low, especially since G will almost always have that pass to Simmonds at the side/behind the net.

One forward has to stay high on Timonen, who is just as integral to the Flyers PP as Giroux. Voracek also has be watched, since he comes in from the point allowing the back door play.

IMO, It’s just very good powerplay execution. There’s good movement and Hartsy is playing like an elite power forward right now. If he’s able to keep sniping goalies short side, than this is going to keep working (as long as Giroux doesn’t try to force it all the time.)

by Andrewch7 on Jan 23, 2012 2:47 PM EST reply actions

I agree, the power play with Giroux, Simmonds, TImonen, Voracek and Hartnell have been deadly lately

by Anders Jensen on Jan 23, 2012 3:34 PM EST up reply actions

The more I think about it, the more I come to the conclusion that Voracek is the key to the increased sucess of this unit. Correct me if I’m wrong, but when the team sets up the PP with Jagr, doesn’t he stay on the right side?

It kind of makes Jake redundant. He’s not a natural point man and doesn’t have much value up top. What he does have is good speed and hockey sense, so when he pinches down low (which has been often recently) it can really stretch things out and create more room for the Hartnell/G/Simmonds combo on the left hand side.

by Andrewch7 on Jan 23, 2012 3:52 PM EST up reply actions

Hmm, interesting…

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!
"I think there is virtue in pissing off idiots." - Fehr and Balanced

by hintzy64 on Jan 23, 2012 4:11 PM EST up reply actions

One of the things I love about this place is that there are quite a few folks who can write comments about who does what on the PP or the PK and how the mechanics work. Without bragging about “I have coached hockey” or “I have played for years and…” It’s really interesting and no one makes others feel like a lesser light for not having the insight.

by Georgia_Flyer on Jan 23, 2012 7:25 PM EST up reply actions

Unless you poke at the statisticians, they get a little pushy. ;-)

Commenter formerly known as M from Pdaddy, but still just Call Me "M"!

DISCLAIMER: Information written above may not be entirely factual nor provable with the use of complex statistics. But it may induce thought, humor and possibly laughter.

by MJDII on Jan 23, 2012 7:42 PM EST up reply actions

This!!!!!

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!
"I think there is virtue in pissing off idiots." - Fehr and Balanced

by hintzy64 on Jan 24, 2012 9:34 AM EST up reply actions

Good analysis.

But all I saw was “stretching the box” and “back-door plays”

by Phalange on Jan 23, 2012 10:57 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Ewwwww.

"I wouldn’t run if there was a fire. I wouldn’t run anywhere. I hate running." - O. Munn

by doubleh on Jan 24, 2012 2:58 PM EST up reply actions

This isn’t BSH after Dark.

Commenter formerly known as M from Pdaddy, but still just Call Me "M"!

DISCLAIMER: Information written above may not be entirely factual nor provable with the use of complex statistics. But it may induce thought, humor and possibly laughter.

by MJDII on Jan 24, 2012 5:18 PM EST up reply actions