The breakout, earlier in year, was limiting CGY from getting into it to. Going strong side and just using that half of the ice was easy to defend. Plays/players getting rubbed out early against the walls.
It just didn't feel like it had any flow to it. It didn't look natural. It was a danger close situation with so many people close in and closing on guys - they just put their heads down and tried to get the puck away from the danger (flip it the nz).
CGY used the weak side a little more (as DM pointed out - early in the first of last game) and it worked. Build on that.
Use the width of the ice, trust your hockey iq, creativity, anticipation and abilities. This is their strength.
In the offensive zone, continue that creativity and have guys like Hanifin, Andersson to skate in there and scan the ice looking for openings. This team just needs to trust their abilities and flow. Movement and creativity:
Quote:
Offence is movement. Movement forces decisions from the defence and creates confusion in coverage. Breakdowns and scoring chances follow. It’s a formula — not infallible, but one that brings success through the course of a game.
It begins with using space. Players have to use the width and length of the ice to send the puck away from the defence’s grasp, especially right after they enter the zone to establish possession. The Leafs already do this well in the above sequences. But it’s not enough to use space. Even if it’s sometimes necessary to move the puck to the periphery to establish possession, it can’t stay there — shots from the slot score at a higher rate, and the little black disc has to find its way back inside.
To take it to dangerous areas, players have to move purposely inside the offensive zone.
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https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2...-sheldon-keefe
I don't think that detracts from being a good team defensively. The 18-19 team (after that 9-1 loss to PITT at home) limited the chances against but still were creative and flowing in their offensive game. Now you can do that with tremendous depth where you have smart, skilled and 2 way players on each line with centers: Monahan, Lindholm, Backlund, Bennett (he played well with Monny and Johnny too).
You can place guys like Gaudreu, Tkachuck, Mangiapane, Dube with those guys and get great chemistry with skill, iq, speed, forecheck too when needed and just make plays.
Defend fast, attack fast but play with your guts and passion and doing the things that got you there: smart, skilled, competitive, hard working (skating) etc.
Trust those attributes (and more) and let it flow. Show us how good you are and don't be afraid of mistakes. Be tenacious and get the puck back.