Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out.
- jmatchett383

Alright
1, 2, 5
no, 3 my liege
ah yes, 3!

Jake Voracek will be referred to from here on out ONLY as Pork Chop

http://www.csnphilly.com/...-combs-his-hair-pork-chop
- jak521

As long he plays well they can call him whatever they want!

Never mind. Tis a silly place.
- MBFlyerfan

Look, you stupid bastard, you've got no arms left!

Look, you stupid bastard, you've got no arms left!
- jmatchett383

Its a flesh wound.

Its a flesh wound.
- MBFlyerfan

Has to be the most quoteable movie of ever.

Has to be the most quoteable movie of ever.
- jmatchett383

I don't think its even close.

I don't think its even close.

- MBFlyerfan

I can quote a good portion of Army of Darkness, but yeah, that's a far, far distant second.

Agreed that there are other ways to improve this function as a team overall.

However, I do believe it's also an individual skill that some defensemen are good at, and others not so much.
- bradleyc4

In the same vain, defenseman that aren't good at it, can improve at it. But a defenseman can't stand up and challenge at the blueline without support.

I can quote a good portion of Army of Darkness, but yeah, that's a far, far distant second.
- jmatchett383

I can quote a good amount of Life Of Brian, for me that is second....

I can quote a good amount of Life Of Brian, for me that is second....
- MBFlyerfan

You know, I've never seen it all the way through.

In the same vain, defenseman that aren't good at it, can improve at it. But a defenseman can't stand up and challenge at the blueline without support.
- MJL

Luke Schenn disagrees. I mean, it sometimes ends up in his net, but he's been willing to throw himself at a guy without support.

In the same vain, defenseman that aren't good at it, can improve at it. But a defenseman can't stand up and challenge at the blueline without support.
- MJL

I think that goes to some of the analytics for AMac. Most of the video they used as "proof" showing that AMac backs off too much, just showed me he has to back off because there is no support coming from anywhere else.

I think that goes to some of the analytics for AMac. Most of the video they used as "proof" showed me that AMac backs off too much just showed me he has to back off because there is no support coming from anywhere else.
- MBFlyerfan

That's the whole "context" bit that gets thrown about. Looking at pure data without context tells only a part of the story.

Thanks Bill, great article as usual. I agree with some other comments that you can't put all the problems of 5 on 5 on the D. Too many times, I have seen the forwards hanging out at the blue line, and waiting for the puck to come to them. When the opposing D dipped into the Flyers zone, this created problems for the two D guys. Nobody, picked up the guys up top, and thus a lot of scoring chances against Mason were created. I really question the defensive capabilities, or willingness to play defense by the forwards. Once you get the lazy guys, or guys in a hurry to get to the other end of the ice to come back, and help the D out, you will see better 5 on 5 results. Maybe it's a youth issue, but someone has to get on their butts, and remind them that it's a two zone game.

I think that goes to some of the analytics for AMac. Most of the video they used as "proof" showing that AMac backs off too much, just showed me he has to back off because there is no support coming from anywhere else.
- MBFlyerfan

That's your interpretation of the video.

Sometimes that's true, but all too often it's not - in my opinion.

That's the whole "context" bit that gets thrown about. Looking at pure data without context tells only a part of the story.
- jmatchett383

I agree with you completely, literally, and blindly.

That's your interpretation of the video.

Sometimes that's true, but all too often it's not - in my opinion.
- bradleyc4

And that right there, is why we have Hockeybuzz!

I think that goes to some of the analytics for AMac. Most of the video they used as "proof" showing that AMac backs off too much, just showed me he has to back off because there is no support coming from anywhere else.
- MBFlyerfan

I would agree if Schenn, Timonen, Coburn, and Grossmann didn't keep tighter gaps with the same amount of support (some being much less fleet of foot). When you are the most targeted player, allow the most carry-in entries, and break up the fewest rushes, you might be too far back.

EDIT: And that, my lord, is how we know the earth to be banana-shaped.

I think that goes to some of the analytics for AMac. Most of the video they used as "proof" showing that AMac backs off too much, just showed me he has to back off because there is no support coming from anywhere else.
- MBFlyerfan

Noticed the same thing. But that's just par for the course in some cases.

I agree with you completely, literally, and blindly.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Do you mean that literally?

I would agree if Schenn, Timonen, Coburn, and Grossmann didn't keep tighter gaps with the same amount of support (some being much less fleet of foot). When you are the most targeted player, allow the most carry-in entries, and break up the fewest rushes, you might be too far back.

EDIT: And that, my lord, is how we know the earth to be banana-shaped.
- aflyerpower8

Can you quantify that they had the same amount of support?

I would agree if Schenn, Timonen, Coburn, and Grossmann didn't keep tighter gaps with the same amount of support (some being much less fleet of foot). When you are the most targeted player, allow the most carry-in entries, and break up the fewest rushes, you might be too far back.

EDIT: And that, my lord, is how we know the earth to be banana-shaped.
- aflyerpower8

Tell me again how sheep's bladder can be used to prevent earthquakes.

Can you quantify that they had the same amount of support?
- MJL

Yes. They each had 4 units of support.

That's your interpretation of the video.

Sometimes that's true, but all too often it's not - in my opinion.
- bradleyc4

And it's also the interpretation of the author posting the video. And in far too many cases, in my opinion, it often shows that the author doesn't know a lot about hockey, and just likes to look at stats.

I would agree if Schenn, Timonen, Coburn, and Grossmann didn't keep tighter gaps with the same amount of support (some being much less fleet of foot). When you are the most targeted player, allow the most carry-in entries, and break up the fewest rushes, you might be too far back.

EDIT: And that, my lord, is how we know the earth to be banana-shaped.
- aflyerpower8

This new learning amazes me Sir Bedevere. Tell me again how sheep bladders can be employed to stop earthquakes.


HAA! edit: Leight