Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperMatt18
The chart above shows their stats. They were 27th in shots against down the stretch but had the 9th best save percentage in the league, Talbot was great to end that season before Covid struck.
And a couple of things:
1) Peters said in the lead up to 19-20 that they were going to try to play a bit of a heavier style that they thought was more suited to success in the playoffs, so not making it up.
2) Its very clear from watching the games that the structure they play, especially in the defensive zone in how they collapse in front of their net and their breakout is a lot different to 18-19.
and to your last post - this team is not aggressive in the offensive zone at all and plays very passive under Ward in all three zones.
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Does your chart account for how the game generally changes down the stretch at all? How games are generally tighter checking which is a disadvantage for the Flames as their top line generally feasts on run and gun, but can't ever seem to figure it out in the playoffs? I'd say the swing is pretty big when your first line looks like the Harlem Globe Trotters at times but when the calendar flips over they look like a 3rd grade gym class.
In regards to Peters, playing a so called "heavier" style doesn't mean they needed to completely revamp their systems. They had 50 wins the previous season, why would anyone completely trash a seemingly successful system? Playing heavier could've just meant finishing your checks more instead of flying by.
We're going to have to disagree on the defensive schema because I don't remember seeing a significant difference there. This team doesn't even struggle immensely when their defense is set and allowing lower percentage shots. This team struggles when they're turning pucks over due to the opposition's pressure or when they're being over aggressive in the offensive zone and not paying attention to the details or not being above the puck. This absolutely is an aggressive team offensively, that's why they give up the line so easily and get torched so much on odd man rushes.