Quote:
Originally Posted by timbit
Getting to the puck first, protecting the puck, winning puck battles and overall puck possession which lead to big OZ time are huge factors in winning hockey games....if you have extraordinary goaltending, which the Flames have enjoyed this season, that is a bonus.
The players and teams that are doing a lot of the hitting don't have the puck much. They spend a lot of time chasing and arriving second.
True Grit is getting to the puck first....not being there second and landing a hit, after the opponent has gained possession and puck control.
Not rocket science.
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and yet the teams that hit a lot as group win the Stanley cup on a more than regular basis and are in the top teams in the league.
2013-14 LA kings 9 players with 2 hits /game ... just chasing the puck around and coming in second?
Teams that rely on a few goons or don't hit at all don't make the playoffs and get high draft picks.