Crowding McDavid is key part of Flames strategy

[Steve Macfarlane]

Chris Tanev is a huge loss, and the chemistry for consistency is a bit off as a result. But while they wait for his return, they need to find a better way to defend Connor McDavid.

Keeping him crowded is one of those (many) factors.

https://calgaryhockeynow.com/calgary...m-chris-tanev/

[DeluxeMoustache]

Avoiding being down skaters, which opens up ice that disproportionately gives McDavid an advantage, isn’t necessarily ‘crowding’

[Dion]

Avoid taking penalties or creating 4 on 4 situations that gives McLovin room to skate.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Dion

Avoid taking penalties or creating 4 on 4 situations that gives McLovin room to skate.

Unfortunately that can be more up to the stripes than even to the Flames

[OldSam]

Maybe if they actually called McBaby a couple of times for holding the stick, it wouldn't be as difficult.

[Winsor_Pilates]

4 on 4 is almost worse than a pk because you can't ice the puck and there's 1 less skater overall getting in the way of his skating.

The refs turning the Nurse high stick into a 4 on 4 was basically a complete penalty reversal for game management's sakes.

[Manhattanboy]

The fix is in. We are going to get shafted.

They’ve been gifted power plays and resulting wins all year long.

They lobby and wine after every whistle and during every time out and it works. It’s part of their game plan.

There is no doubt in my mind that the refs cost us game 2.

[Manhattanboy]

Originally Posted by OldSam

Maybe if they actually called McBaby a couple of times for holding the stick, it wouldn't be as difficult.

Ha never going to happen.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

There is no doubt in my mind that the refs cost us game 2.

They didn't help but giving up two horrible breakaways in the third with the first being while on the powerplay cost them the game.

[oldschoolcalgary]

I feel like Calgary has been too aggressive at times with McDavid.

sounds weird, but if you try to make a move first, he'll just go around you... almost like a shooter waiting for the goalie to make the first move... or a defender reaching in in basketball and the guard just crosses you over or spins around you.

staying out of the box and controlling the cycle game and TOI is really the best way to limit his touches... they do need to hit him when they can however... Like body blows in boxing, the hope is that the effect manifests in the 6th or 7th game.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

I feel like Calgary has been too aggressive at times with McDavid.

sounds weird, but if you try to make a move first, he'll just go around you... almost like a shooter waiting for the goalie to make the first move... or a defender reaching in in basketball and the guard just crosses you over or spins around you.

staying out of the box and controlling the cycle game and TOI is really the best way to limit his touches... they do need to hit him when they can however... Like body blows in boxing, the hope is that the effect manifests in the 6th or 7th game.

It’s been the best way to defend McDavid. Too aggressive does not work just keep him in front of you. Flames need to back off a bit

[blender]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

The fix is in. We are going to get shafted.

They’ve been gifted power plays and resulting wins all year long.

They lobby and wine after every whistle and during every time out and it works. It’s part of their game plan.

There is no doubt in my mind that the refs cost us game 2.

Nah. Lazy excuse for a team that isn't good enough, and that's why Sutter's boys will never believe it. Fans can say what they want, but the amount of moaning about the refs is a bad look. Yes, the reffing is a bad look, too, but we can't control that and neither can the Flames.

I believe the Flames can find another gear and lock this thing down. Going on the road will be good for them as they can simplify their game, and if they play clean there us only so much the refs can actually call.

I actually feel they have good chance of winning 2 in Edmonton and closing it out in 5.

Go Flames, Go!

[NegativeSpace]

Originally Posted by blender

Nah. Lazy excuse for a team that isn't good enough, and that's why Sutter's boys will never believe it. Fans can say what they want, but the amount of moaning about the refs is a bad look. Yes, the reffing is a bad look, too, but we can't control that and neither can the Flames.

I believe the Flames can find another gear and lock this thing down. Going on the road will be good for them as they can simplify their game, and if they play clean there us only so much the refs can actually call.

I actually feel they have good chance of winning 2 in Edmonton and closing it out in 5.

Go Flames, Go!

I agree. Also, there is nothing the Flames can do about it. The reds being a factor was as predictable as anything in sports. The team isn’t going to get the benefit of the doubt and there will be game management calls. That has to be part of the game plan going into the series.

I never thought we got calls when we had arguably the best player in the league. If we weren’t going to get calls with Iginla then we never were going to get them in this series.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by blender

Nah. Lazy excuse for a team that isn't good enough, and that's why Sutter's boys will never believe it. Fans can say what they want, but the amount of moaning about the refs is a bad look. Yes, the reffing is a bad look, too, but we can't control that and neither can the Flames.

I believe the Flames can find another gear and lock this thing down. Going on the road will be good for them as they can simplify their game, and if they play clean there us only so much the refs can actually call.

I actually feel they have good chance of winning 2 in Edmonton and closing it out in 5.

Go Flames, Go!

Agreed with the bolded. If the Flames can't contain McDavid, they don't stand a chance against McKinnon and the Avs' vastly superior defense.

I like this route to the cup though. Dallas gave the Flames a good primer on grinding playoff hockey and succeeding against an otherworldly goalie. The Oilers are giving them a taste of playing against an all-star (i.e. in prep for McKinnon and Kucherov). If they make it to the Avs, they'll essentially be playing a "lite" version of the Lightning.

There's lots of incremental learning in each round that should serve the team well for the rest of this playoffs (if they can beat the Oilers) and for next year.

[kipperiggy]

Flames didn’t play well enough in the third to win after the penalty parade in the second. But re watching the game tonight, McDick holds Ras’ stick on the first goal… like McD is good enough to score on us without being a ####ing cheater. Wonder if he would rack up the points as much without the free pass from the refs?? Loser.

[Northendzone]

After watching these past two games I realize how good my daddy is. If he is not the mvp then some type of inquiry should be launched.

The oilers would be nothing without him

[FireItUp]

Refs need to start calling McDavid for holding sticks. Anytime a player is close to McDavid he keeps on grabbing their sticks which makes it nearly impossible to defend.
If I were Sutter, I'd be talking with the Refs every time he does it, which would be at least 10 times a game.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1528043526054785025

https://twitter.com/user/status/1528128014294216704

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

I feel like Calgary has been too aggressive at times with McDavid.

sounds weird, but if you try to make a move first, he'll just go around you... almost like a shooter waiting for the goalie to make the first move... or a defender reaching in in basketball and the guard just crosses you over or spins around you.

staying out of the box and controlling the cycle game and TOI is really the best way to limit his touches... they do need to hit him when they can however... Like body blows in boxing, the hope is that the effect manifests in the 6th or 7th game.

Yep, I agree. Just off the top of my head I can think of 2 Oiler goals that resulted because of the Flames’ over pursuit of McDavid.

1. The play in game 1 where the Flames’ defensemen skated hard towards McDavid only for him to spin right off him upon contact and find Bouchard? for a goal.

2. In game 2, Zadarov leaves his post to pursue Mcdavid who has the puck, McDavid passes it, easily gets around Zadorov, receives the puck back and basically goes in on a breakaway and undresses Markstrom to cut their deficit to 1.


There’s probably more examples out there. But basically, the Flames’ need to understand that McDavid is a special player and you don’t need to hit him every time he has the puck. Similar to Gaudreau in that they can make you look foolish if you attack them one on one.

It’s smarter to just front him, keep an arm’s length away and keep him to the outside. If there’s a situation where there’s support and/or he’s in the defensive zone, then sure, lay a hit. But for the likes of Zadorov to abandon his post just to run after him...you’re just going to end up looking foolish in the his highlight reel and he did.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Yep, I agree. Just off the top of my head I can think of 2 Oiler goals that resulted because of the Flames’ over pursuit of McDavid.

1. The play in game 1 where the Flames’ defensemen skated hard towards McDavid only for him to spin right off him upon contact and find Bouchard? for a goal.

2. In game 2, Zadarov leaves his post to pursue Mcdavid who has the puck, McDavid passes it, easily gets around Zadorov, receives the puck back and basically goes in on a breakaway and undresses Markstrom to cut their deficit to 1.


There’s probably more examples out there. But basically, the Flames’ need to understand that McDavid is a special player and you don’t need to hit him every time he has the puck. Similar to Gaudreau in that they can make you look foolish if you attack them one on one.

It’s smarter to just front him, keep an arm’s length away and keep him to the outside. If there’s a situation where there’s support and/or he’s in the defensive zone, then sure, lay a hit. But for the likes of Zadorov to abandon his post just to run after him...you’re just going to end up looking foolish in the his highlight reel and he did.

its a tough ask of course...

never liked McDavid before, but he has looked impressive from about game 5 of LA onwards.

gotta get the puck off his stick somehow as he is doing a lot facilitating and single handedly breaking down the Flames defensive structure by pulling guys to him in the zone, like gravity, and that is leaving guys wide open.

Not sure what the answer is...taking away his passing targets first and letting him try to shot himself? or being aggressive and leaving guys more open by cheating to McDavid?

His passing has been on point, so I am leaning to the former, and hoping Markstromm can make the save, and the defenders taking out their man so they can't get the easy rebound (which did happen on a few occasions)

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

its a tough ask of course...

never liked McDavid before, but he has looked impressive from about game 5 of LA onwards.

gotta get the puck off his stick somehow as he is doing a lot facilitating and single handedly breaking down the Flames defensive structure by pulling guys to him in the zone, like gravity, and that is leaving guys wide open.

Not sure what the answer is...taking away his passing targets first and letting him try to shot himself? or being aggressive and leaving guys more open by cheating to McDavid?

His passing has been on point, so I am leaning to the former, and hoping Markstromm can make the save, and the defenders taking out their man so they can't get the easy rebound (which did happen on a few occasions)

I would simply defend him as teams do against Gaudreau, front him, keep him within an arm’s length and cut off his passing options. With a guy like McDavid, his line mates almost become as dangerous as he is simply because of the double teams he draws.

But defending him in layers in the neutral zone and keeping him to outside is key. The second you make contact and he spins or gets by you and accelerates, you’re in trouble because your structure will be broken and chaos will ensue.

Patience and discipline is paramount. I know the Flames want to lay the hits on McDavid like in game 1, but the risk of him getting past you is too high. Stay above him, shadow, box him out, I’d much prefer this strategy over him burning our defense enroute to another addition to his highlight reel. If it means a more boring series like we saw vs Dallas, whatever, the W is what matters in the BoA.