Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
Don't totally agree with that.
They played the same style against Winnipeg but Winnipeg wasn't Dallas.
Against the Jets they gave up the perimeter but were able to keep them from driving the play into the scoring areas, and Calgary had more time to transition to the break out when they won the puck battle against a lesser offensive and forechecking foe.
Against Dallas they set up the same way but then get run over for long shifts, get exhausted and eventually break down.
Agree on Dallas domination, but the game plan is the same with very different results.
The Jets were 53% CF% in the series against Calgary and middle of the pack of the 24 teams for shot attempts for per 60. But near the bottom in xGF and HDCF/60 because they couldn't penetrate the bubble and get shots from the inside.
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To a certain extent the flames will do this against everyone because I think most teams do this. Collapse down to help out-man second chance opportunities and clear pucks, but I think Calgary had the same concern against the jets as they do against Dallas, but like you said, the jets were much worse offensively.
The Jets though looked the most dangerous when their skill players were able to make plays and passes around the perimeter, it's just that the jets are a bottom 3 offensive team in the league and then lost their two best offensive players on top of that, so they weren't ever able to actually accomplish much but throwing the puck at the net.
Not having Scheifele and Laine's big bomb made a big difference in whether breaking down a defensive structure actually made any difference. Calgary isn't nearly as bad in terms of skill as the Jets, but it's the same type of skill deficit.
Everyone on Dallas seems to be able to make a play, even if it ends up with a less than spectacular finish from guys like Comeau or Gurianov, those guys can make and take passes.
I think Vs the Jets they gave up the perimeter because the Jets perimeter play wasn't a threat.
Against Dallas I think they are giving up the perimeter play faster because the Stars are making the Flames pay when they don't.
On the play where Pavelski scores the game tying goal, it starts with the flames not collapsing fast enough and Klingberg splits the D and almost ties it up himself. The Flames are scrambling to keep the box tight now because holy #### the stars are absolutely feasting on the centre of the ice.
Reider has to respect that Klingberg is going to walk right in again, he's not scoring off slappers, he's walking right in with the puck and firing wristers and snap shots.
If I had a critique of the flames defensive strategy against the stars it would be that they aren't collapsing
fast enough, getting routinely out-manned below the hash marks for second chance opportunities.