Quote:
Originally Posted by Infinit47
You really think defensive zone pressure is an elite skill? You think our team is two slow to pressure players in the defensive zone? Standing up at the blue line instead of always backing way in?
They absolutely slow their forecheck when they get a lead, and turn it up when they are chasing. Not super unusual, but their forecheck is pretty pedestrian to begin with and they convert to a full blown trap and defend only system when up by one goal.
Falling back on them not having the skill for basic systems play is tired. Look at what Sutter got out of many under skilled teams. If anything playing uptempo pressure can be part of the equalizer when there is a skill mismatch...giving skilled teams lots of time to make plays is the opposite of what the Flames should be doing.
And the results are exactly what Huska has had in every year as a pro coach: a winning percentage under .500.
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You want guys like Hanley, Pachal, Andersson, Miromanov to stand up at the blue line. They don’t have the foot speed to recover if they get beat.
They had the better of chances last night even with the lead but the lack of skill in the lineup prevented them from finishing chances.
Sutter was coaching the same low scoring type teams he just had the save %.