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Wolf of the Week

#22 Mr. Smith
This week's winner is based on the past 3 games, including two shut out victories. While the goalies always get the credit for the SO, it can often be linked to the play of the 'D' in front of them. Which is why we were trying to guess which D would win this week. And after some deliberation, with Dom having some votes for 2 game winning goals, Nolan ended up taking the hardware home for Christmas.

Nolan's style is pure defense. Take the man, clean the front of the net, pass the puck, stay home. Each of these skills appears to be a simple play, but as anyone (like me) will tell you - they put the smart oneson defense for a reason. Knowing when to leave the front of the net, looking for the right pass on the breakout, pinching at the blueline, when to stick check vs. when to 'hammer', shooting low ...all require decisions and Nolan rarely makes bad decisison. x

What impressed me the past two games was Nolan's efforts to make sure the goalies could see the puck. He moved the screens away and let #31 & #33 see the puck. And rarely is anyone left standing around the front of the net, and heaven help anyone who hacks at the goalies (this is a universal trait of all our D...much loved by all goalies & their mothers). And the second aspect of his game that I like is that he is rarely out of position. A rhetorical question - how often do you see Nolan skating forwards into his own end or chasing an opponent? Smarts!

Now if Nolan starts rushing the puck again like last year, the trophy may end up staying in the Smith's house for a long time, but in the mean time, coaches love consistent, stay at home D!