Quote:
Originally Posted by AC
What's striking to me these last 2 seasons has been how the style of attack changes dramatically when we need some goals late.
Instead of making East to West passes in the neutral and offensive zones or dumping and chasing, someone just takes control and drives wide to establish possession. We get the pucks to the point for tips/screens/rebounds, or else pass it down low for a stuff attempt / pass through the crease / pass into the slot.
Seems like when we do make that change we've been dominant. Is there an obvious reason why that isn't the style of attack normally?
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It's my hope that whatever style of play CGY coaches want to employ the players buy in totally and execute. However and I could be totally wrong and don't know what the hell I'm talking about, the style they are using right now is too much like the Gulutzan era.
I have to admit I didn't really watch much of the CHI game or VAN game but I knew it from the EDM (which they won) that it was reminiscent of the end of the Gulutzan era style.
The D to D passes would go up to a stationary winger who would chip it in. This is what Gulutzan did and I see Ward doing the same. I don't think giving up possession of the puck is playing to the team's strength:
Take the Edmonton game:
Mangiapane's first goal definitely was from great plays from Tkachuk (hit) and Lindholm (quick pass) but those weren't the key play on that goal. RNH retrieved the the CGY chip in and mishandled it - then Tkachuk hit him. That play and this style is dependent on the opponent making mistakes or CGY forcing them into mistakes rather than CGY creating offense by making plays with the puck.
Tkachuk's goal in the game was similar - Great play by Mangiapane but only came about because the puck skipped over Nurse's stick at the blueline - without that error CGY does not even get a chance.
This chip and chase game is too simple and doesn't allow for the strength of this roster to shine: Hockey IQ ie creativity. I think you can play too simple and it detracts from winning.
CGY is a skilled fast team that is at it's best when they are making plays. The hold on to pucks, gain zone entries and let their creativity shine make plays. D to D for a chip works good when the opponent can't make clean plays in their end but when they do CGY plays the entire game chasing the play.
I think Ward saw that early on this year CGY was not making the same quality transition plays as beginning of last year. The exits were not clean, the forwards were not getting the puck in stride or they were not able to take a great transition pass and make plays (opponents were countering) so Ward wanted the puck out of his end and into the offensive zone as fast as possible:
D to D then up for chip. I can understand the rationale but this is not playing to the strength of the team. It feels like playing to minimize mistakes or turnovers but it is actually too far and it's taking away from the team's ability to take the attack to the opponent. Create offense. Make plays in a sustainable way that doesn't rely or focus on mistakes. I think that is not an aggressive, assertive style of play that dictates or takes control of the game. Rather its a worry about mistakes style of play.