Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski
IMO the team has a great style of play. I like Ward's approach obviously when things are clicking the puck support, the short passes, the zone entries etc. The puck moves fast. Opponents are very good in the NHL so it isn't going to be dominant all the time.
The only concern is the period to period (and last game after tying up in third, within period) changes in play. I would like to see them stick to their game no matter what - there will be ebbs and flows but stick to the fundamentals of their team play: structure, puck support, relentlessness etc. They know what it looks like. Each guy has to commit.
They are really talented and skilled but the effort has to be there first, the will. Establish that - that is the key to focus on, their will and all else will flow from that. Those short passes lead to rhythm, that rhythm leads to timing and timing leads to execution. You get confidence from that. Confidence plus rhythm is swagger.
But don't get too ahead of it. Effort and will is the straw that stirs the drink. And yes it is all a process. To win games you need to do certain things (how they play) but all of those things need to be animated by effort and will. Early in games play simple, fast, direct hockey and get those shots on net - CGY gets established skating downhill from that. Establish the check to score mentality early, that Ward preaches.
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I believe that they are. IMO, it isn't that they are changing the way they play so much as the way they play results in wildly inconsistent results.
The short passes are great when they are tape to tape. And it results in good transition. But when they aren't, everyone has to stop. And the play usually ends up going the other direction.