I think defenseman should excersise a more conservative style on defending the attacking team rush and be more concerned in blocking the shooting lanes and defending the rebound shots. Teams are going to be more aggressive at just shooting the puck from the blueline and letting a offensive player pick the loose rebound whom may be wide open to pot it in if our defenders are too up on the blueline looking for the check and quick turnover.
The defenders should just force the team to hold the puck longer while the forwards come back on the forecheck. If they want to take the shot from the point on the rush, they can do so all day if we have one or both of our defenders in the slot to pick up the rebound or hit the player that is chasing for the puck.
Last game I had last night the more conservative style for our defenders worked well because it force the team to work the puck around the outside more then deking around and try to chase the defenders into hitting them thus getting behind them for the cross crease one timer or an overload of forwards for the rebound. As long as we have a defender stay back in the slot on the rush when there is a player rushing into it, we should be able to pick up rebounds and block passes.
Also tomorrow night is the night before first rosters of the pro team are made.
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