Quote:
Originally Posted by Realtor 1
We can agree to disagree
We barely got into the playoffs and if not for a magical 10 game win streak, there was no playoffs. At the end of the day, playoffs is playoffs so I will give you that....until we are man handled in 4 games and done for the year. Even so, it was a learning curve... GG used learning new systems as the excuse for early failures and we all know goaltending was another issue. Tre solves Glens goalie problems and Glen has a team that now knows his system....whats this years excuse?
If I watched a consistent effort each night and we were having the issues we are, then absolutely I would agree with you. I feel like there are 1 of 3 teams we could watch on any given night.
Watch the game tonight and count the number of times
On the breakout, there is no pressure on the d man but they force a long pass. 1 of 3 things will happen
- A very high % of these are turnovers.
-A fwd now has the puck with a guy all over him.
- It is deflected into the zone to chase but the D man takes too long to make their decision so the fwds are standing still and the other team easily retrieves the dump in.
The D could easily continue to bring the puck up ice which eventually opens up a passing lane or easy entry into the zone.
On the PP, count the shots from the point or high wing that are wide, blocked or ring around the boards and leave the zone. Watch other teams use the point to draw attackers high to open up some nifty play down low. Watch the flames use the point as the main shot with incredibly low odds of getting through. The best was when we decided to mix the quick pass into the slot to Monahan and all of a sudden we started scoring for a few games. Who would have thought other teams would pick up on that and take it away all while we have no answer but to go back to the point shot.
Watch the number of times Smith plays the puck and the D men are along the boards near the hashmarks. By the time the puck is played, there is pressure on the D man. It counts as a turnover but they really had no chance and we now get hemmed into our own zone. I believe this is why we have the success we do with Rittich in net. He stops it behind the net and allows the team to regroup. As the coach you either need to tell Smith when he wants the puck left behind the net or draw up a plan to utilize his elite puck handling.
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All I know is that the current expectations on this team are way too high which is likely the reason for all this sourness because it's not like we're toiling in the basement of the NHL right now. I expected this team to battle it out for a wild card position or the final spot in the Pacific division which is exactly where we are.
We've seen consistency over the last month right now, we're just not getting the desired results. I'm not a big advanced stats guy, but we're a top possession team right now and it shows with the way we're consistently out playing and out chancing our opponents. We've run into some bad luck with bounces and outstanding goaltending performances, but I like the process in which we've played. Everyone had these conversations last season regarding poor special teams and inconsistencies, but this same group figured it out and I think they can do it again. We just need to preach some patience instead bringing out the pitchforks after one bad game.