It seems to me that the Flames main problems are:
- Having breakouts forced to the outside resulting in sustained possession against.
- Ineffective forechecking resulting in easy zone entries for opponents.
- Defensive zone turnovers during puck retrieval and breakout initiation.
- Lack of offensive production outside of the first line.
Solutions:
- Three skaters in the defensive zone for breakouts when against a two-man forecheck.
- Green light head-man passing between the red line and offensive zone blue line.
- Activate the defense more when on offense.
- Defensively, stack the blue line and limit Smith's puck handling. When Smith has the puck behind the net, it's only really safe for him to move it along the boards. Having the skaters initiate breakouts opens up the short passes towards the middle of the ice.
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