Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
This game was a great showcase for Gaudreau's two-way game. He was defending just as hard as he was attacking and always making the smart play. If you told me a couple of years ago that Gaudreau would emerge as one of the league's best 200 foot players, I wouldn't have believed it, but he has done it.
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I don’t think it’s necessarily that Gaudreau has completely altered his defensive game, he’s always had the ability to backcheck and strip players from the puck. I think it has more to do with how connected the top line is now and how they’ve changed their strategy on the backcheck. It’s the biggest structural change I’ve noticed from Peters/Ward to Darryl and it has altered everything.
The way that line always has the F3 positioned is a thing of beauty. It’s usually Lindholm since he’s so smart and has such great defensive acumen, but occasionally Gaudreau and Tkachuk are thrusted into that role and they do just fine.