Quote:
Originally Posted by GranteedEV
1) Is this a significant difference in 3rd period production, or it such a random difference that I am overthinking it? Do score effects factor in too strongly?
2) Are the obvious differences in structural philosophy relevant to this difference? Are 3rd periods better suited to a rush scoring team due to the way teams pack the middle?
3) As an extension of (2) - how active does the defense need to be late in games? Is this defense core better off playing it safe or taking more chances when the opponent has a lead?
4) What are the differences in 3rd period player usage philosophy, and do they contribute? I seem to recall guys like Gaudreau being money with empty net points when this team had a lead. On the flip side I personally find guys like Bartkowski aggravating late in games.
5) Are there any upward reversals of trends in 3rd period production,
6) Is "sticking to the process no matter the score" working more often than not? Is the process itself worth sticking to?
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Not sure I've ever thought of period by period results ... I think a team can start poorly as a trend that needs to be looked at, but you'd think ending poorly would either be random (like the Hartley miracle kids) or fitness (the team seemed to have good results in camp in testing).
Overall the Flames are really trending in the right way when you look at at the metrics, they're playing much better hockey and have been since game 6-7 and have seen some results (three game win streak).
Sometime you don't get the bounces though.
I like what Gulutzan is doing in tactics and how the team is playing, but I'm not a fan of his utilization of players, though I wasn't a fan of Hartley's either. I guess it comes down to arrogance of thinking I'd know better how to roll his team out, but I do think he errs to the roll the four lines thinking when he should ...
a) rely on his best players more often
b) alter his rolling the lines by the circumstances of the game
c) avoid putting the worst of the forwards with the worst of the defensemen whenever possible
To me adding Jankowski, Jagr and Hamonic should give him less need to roll out the fourth line in the last ten minutes of a third period when down a goal. Why risk it?