The reason most players like playing off the rush is that it's easier and more fun than skating hard, battling to hold onto a pick, making a series of passes a s battling for rebounds and loose pucks.
The reason you see that style of play when desperation sets in is because the desperation has set in.
Drop passes off the rush inside the blueline are easy.
Battling 2 guys outside the crease to chop at the 3rd rebound is really hard.
Coaches want their players to play hard all the time. That mystery element we all love about tkachuk? He plays hard.
The mystery about why Bennett can't play like he does when he's successful? Because it's really hard. He wants to be an off the rush player, but he isn't. He has to work really hard to produce. Sacrifice his body, literally, to make plays driving the net and making hits.
It's hard to play like that, but it's basically impossible when the top guys aren't playing like that, especially when they keep getting minutes no matter what.
Pat Kane worked way harder tonight than Gaudreau, it was obvious.
You can't win consistently on talent alone.
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