It’s time for another edition of “Illustrating Cody Glass’s Hockey IQ.” About a week ago we broke down his ability to use the stick lift to harass opposing players, something he’s continued to do well through his first two NHL games. Today’s example was pointed out by Max Pacioretty following the home opener on Wednesday.
I really liked one play in the 1st period when – it might have been offside but – he got a puck bouncing by their bench and instead of just throwing it in with the (first game) jitters, he found Stone in the middle and Stone was able to make a play and it almost resulted in a good offensive chance. -Pacioretty
Glass loses the puck, then gets it back, and makes a perfect pass to Stone as he enters the zone. The play went for nothing, but it made a profound impact on Pacioretty.
It’s just little plays like that in your first NHL game, you have the puck and you don’t know where anyone is on the ice but you have your head up and hit Stone in the middle it just takes very good poise. He a gut that sees plays and he makes them, he doesn’t make hope plays, and that’s why he’s so successful. -Pacioretty
Bear in mind, I didn’t ask Pacioretty about this play. My question to him that spurred this response was about whether or not he saw any first game jitters from Glass. He instantly said “no,” then went on talk about this play, before finishing up by laying loads of praise Glass.
I went back to Glass to see if he remembered the play, which he did, but he gave all the credit for that play right back to his linemates.
I kind of had a turnover before that but the puck found me again so I picked my head up and Stone was yelling for it. That’s a huge thing, communication. They’ve been really good talking to me on both ends of the ice. Those little things will pick up as we go the more chemistry we get if I’m on their line moving forward. -Glass
The hockey IQ skill displayed here, and many other times over his first two games, is his ability to see the ice while the puck is on his stick. He feels the pressure around him and has the stick talent to maneuver the puck away from oncoming defensemen and to his teammates.
The play above occurred at 5-on-5 early in the first game, but this still really shows up for Glass when he’s playing on the power play. Watch this one.
He’s trapped behind the goal by two Sharks players, and still finds a way to slide a pass through to Pacioretty. It opens up the penalty kill and nearly leads to a Vegas goal.
He has an uncanny knack of knowing where teammates are supposed to be and then finding them with subtle passes he slides along the ice. It shows up in all three zones and buys time for himself and/or other Golden Knights.
Neither of those plays will show up in the box score, but rest assured, they have a major impact on how his and linemates and coaches view his game. Now that you know what you are watching for, you’ll start to see it all over the ice too.
Leave a Reply