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Originally Posted by Calgary4Life
Systems - people talk about the stretch pass like it was the only zone entry that the Flames utilized under Hartley. It wasn't. What the stretch pass did, however, was open up space for the team, allowing more talented players like Gaudreau some more time. 5 man units are great as well, but to defend it the opposing team will clog up the neutral zone more. Teams have to have balance.
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Teams are figuring out how to exploit Gulutzan's breakout/zone-entry system.
1.) D tries for outlet: Send in single forechecker, clog neutral zone to prevent stretch pass/force a tipped dump-in
2.) D tries to skate it out, send in another forechecker to prevent D to D pass
3.) D and Fs try to skate it out as a 5 man unit - line four guys up across the blue line to force the dump in
The dump-in is still an option but it requires very good timing... need one or more forwards with tremendous steam crossing the blue line at around the same time the puck is fired in. We have not yet found a way to do that, so on those dump-ins we get beat to pucks and lose board battles as a result.