Quote:
Originally Posted by GullFoss
The problem isn't the quickness of the Avs players. Its that the flames are playing slow and letting the Avs play fast. Playing fast isn't really speed of the players. It's four components:
(1) Quick transitions
(2) Tape to tape passes
(3) Direction of play (North-South) vs (East-West)
(4) Skating fast
The flames look slow and the Avs look fast because:
(1) Avs are breaking up the flames North-South passing and transitioning up ice quickly with numbers
(2) Avs are clogging up the center of the ice and are forcing the flames to dump pucks in
(3) Flames are not on the ball - bad pinches, terrible turnovers in vulnerable spots
(4) Flames first line is playing like dog ####
Whats the answer?
(1) Coaching - Flames has to respond to what the Avs are doing. If the Avs are scoring on transition, then flames need to play more passive and have the center play more defensively. The flames have to play more patient. Slow down the Avs - don't let them transition by ensuring a tighter gap between offence-defence by having a less aggressive offence. Clog up the neutral zone to limit the ability for Avs to go North-South
(2) Players have to dial in - Stop making mistakes. Play with more intensity. Play with more focus.
Come on guys - this isn't rocket science why the Avs looks so good. The Avs didn't turn into the Harlem Globetrotters. The answers for the flames are within the room and Avs are solvable.
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Completely agree. The Avs are clogging up the middle and forcing the Flames to dump pucks in, so why aren't we doing the same thing? The Flames scored the most shorthanded goals this season by sitting 4 guys at the blue line and feasting off of turnovers. Why not do the same thing in the neutral zone?
Matt Nieto or JT Compher want to rip through all 3 zones with speed? Not unless they go through a wall of players first. Turn the puck over, counter with an odd man rush that way. It won't be pretty, but at least Mike Smith and the defense won't be completely overwhelmed on every Avs rush. At this point, I don't even care if it's entertaining, we're not losing to the worst seeded team in the playoffs in 5.