Quote:
Originally Posted by mogg
I don’t think we talk enough about the team having to learn a new system; gotta think that’s part of why they looked so out of synch earlier in the season. It also seems Yegor needed some time to adjust to his new environment, first time being traded and all.
Also I think the ‘benching’ has more to do with shortening the bench in a tight game and using the guys that are going. Last night it was the kids who sat. The flipside is if you are going you’ll be trusted to close out a tight game, even if you’re a rookie with just a handful of NHL games under your belt.
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Definitely.
Early in the season, they were regularly getting hemmed in their end for very long stretches, resulting in a lot of goals against.
They still are somewhat, but if you look at last night's game as an example, the stretches were shorter, and they were kept to the perimeter for the most part, until the Flames broke the cycle and moved up ice.
They have improved their defensive zone coverage immensely, since the beginning of the season. Still not good. But getting much better.
And that is allowing them a lot more time in the offensive zone. And that is leading to growing confidence.