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Rhettzky · 02-18-2021, 07:36 AM

Two big things jump out at me about Ward from last night. First, you prepare for a game with set lines and lots of us disagreed with those lines but I can handle him making his own calls. But in a shortened season with no pre-season and no real chance for a team to bond you really need to work to build some consistency in the line-up. Instead he just mixes the lines all game long when faced with adversity. How can you expect Ritchie to have success playing on a line with Gaudreau and Monahan 15 games into a season that he hasn't even had a game in much less any practice time with those two?

Second, Vancouver played agressive and when they got a lead they just clogged up the neutral zone which is the same tactic they've used on every penalty kill. They have done this in every game, so how are we not prepared for it at this point? Last nights power play we kept trying to do the same cutesy drop back play against 4 guys holding the blue line. The problem with a drop back play against a team who is holding the line is that our forwards follow the puck up, then pretty much have to stop with the other team at their blue line. Then we drop the puck back to a forward coming with speed (when they actually connect the pass anyway) and he tries to dipsy doodle through 8 players standing between center ice and the opposition blue line. How the hell is this supposed to work and why are we beating it to death against a team that has clearly adapted to it? It's insanity to me that they don't have a plan 'B' on the power play against this tactic because we are going to see it a whole lot this season.

They really need a coaching swap and fast or this season could be lost. And the window is closing on this group so we can't really afford to waste anymore time with sub-par coaching.

02-18-2021, 07:36 AM	#355
Rhettzky Franchise Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Section 222 Exp:	Two big things jump out at me about Ward from last night. First, you prepare for a game with set lines and lots of us disagreed with those lines but I can handle him making his own calls. But in a shortened season with no pre-season and no real chance for a team to bond you really need to work to build some consistency in the line-up. Instead he just mixes the lines all game long when faced with adversity. How can you expect Ritchie to have success playing on a line with Gaudreau and Monahan 15 games into a season that he hasn't even had a game in much less any practice time with those two? Second, Vancouver played agressive and when they got a lead they just clogged up the neutral zone which is the same tactic they've used on every penalty kill. They have done this in every game, so how are we not prepared for it at this point? Last nights power play we kept trying to do the same cutesy drop back play against 4 guys holding the blue line. The problem with a drop back play against a team who is holding the line is that our forwards follow the puck up, then pretty much have to stop with the other team at their blue line. Then we drop the puck back to a forward coming with speed (when they actually connect the pass anyway) and he tries to dipsy doodle through 8 players standing between center ice and the opposition blue line. How the hell is this supposed to work and why are we beating it to death against a team that has clearly adapted to it? It's insanity to me that they don't have a plan 'B' on the power play against this tactic because we are going to see it a whole lot this season. They really need a coaching swap and fast or this season could be lost. And the window is closing on this group so we can't really afford to waste anymore time with sub-par coaching. __________________ Go Flames Go!!