Yep, and that's because the first mistake has a habit of snowballing. It's the same thing with Bryzgalov. Every mistake he makes, or bit of bad luck that visits him, ends up turning into 3 or 4 things because it gets in his head and he's doubting himself...being unlucky is one thing. Thinking that your are unlucky is a bastard, because you start to beat yourself up.
But getting back to the defense, the failed clear or turnover leads to the opposing team getting more time in the zone. Which leads to guys getting stuck in a high intensity situation for an extended period. Tired muscles and desperate thoughts can sink a ship faster than anything. - Jsaquella
More time in the zone is the key. Which leads to more opportunity for deflections, rebounds, bad bounces, etc. And more opportunity for the opposition to crash your net. Crease clearing keeps being brought up. Best way to clear the crease is to keep the puck away from the front of your net in the first place.
Location: Be nice from now on, NJ Joined: 03.17.2006
Jan 15 @ 10:22 PM ET
More time in the zone is the key. Which leads to more opportunity for deflections, rebounds, bad bounces, etc. And more opportunity for the opposition to crash your net. Crease clearing keeps being brought up. Best way to clear the crease is to keep the puck away from the front of your net in the first place. - MJL
Absolutely you can. The best teams do. Both Boston the Rangers do both. But you have to recognize when to play the offensive side of the puck. And when to play the defensive side. Under Laviolette, they always play the offensive side. - MJL
More time in the zone is the key. Which leads to more opportunity for deflections, rebounds, bad bounces, etc. And more opportunity for the opposition to crash your net. Crease clearing keeps being brought up. Best way to clear the crease is to keep the puck away from the front of your net in the first place. - MJL
Exactly. And that is generally Laviolette's game plan. But, the dumb stuff, like trying to thread an 80 foot pass through three opposing players, or swinging a stick at a shot headed towards your own net, or picking up the wrong guy on an odd man rush need to stop.
IMaybe part of the reason Giroux has been so poor in his own end is that he's trying to do everything himself. - Jsaquella
It certainly explains chasing the puck carrier all over (ie. behind the net) and leaving someone open in front. I don't remember the exact game, but on the PK, he was, IMO, running around a bit too much, and Coburn looked like he was getting himself out in no man's land, but in reality he was sort of trying to cover for Giroux. Puck ended up in the net (maybe an Ottawa game?), Coburn was the guy who maybe looked like he wasn't really in position, but that was because he was trying to half cover for someone else not in the right position.
The defensemen take a lot of heat, and sometimes rightfully so, but there are times that they look out of position or whatever due to one or more of the forwards not doing their expected defensive job. Puck goes in and the defensemen get crucified, but if the forwards were doing the right things, the D would probably have stayed in the right position.
It certainly explains chasing the puck carrier all over (ie. behind the net) and leaving someone open in front. I don't remember the exact game, but on the PK, he was, IMO, running around a bit too much, and Coburn looked like he was getting himself out in no man's land, but in reality he was sort of trying to cover for Giroux. Puck ended up in the net (maybe an Ottawa game?), Coburn was the guy who maybe looked like he wasn't really in position, but that was because he was trying to half cover for someone else not in the right position.
The defensemen take a lot of heat, and sometimes rightfully so, but there are times that they look out of position or whatever due to one or more of the forwards not doing their expected defensive job. Puck goes in and the defensemen get crucified, but if the forwards were doing the right things, the D would probably have stayed in the right position. - eayost
It's an entire team issue. Part of it is playing 11 rookies. Part of it is just bad luck with injuries. Part of it may well be a need for another vocal leader.
It is fixable, just takes hard work and refocusing on the basic fundamentals. No matter what system you play, you have to have solid fundamentals or nothing will work as well as it can.
It certainly explains chasing the puck carrier all over (ie. behind the net) and leaving someone open in front. I don't remember the exact game, but on the PK, he was, IMO, running around a bit too much, and Coburn looked like he was getting himself out in no man's land, but in reality he was sort of trying to cover for Giroux. Puck ended up in the net (maybe an Ottawa game?), Coburn was the guy who maybe looked like he wasn't really in position, but that was because he was trying to half cover for someone else not in the right position.
The defensemen take a lot of heat, and sometimes rightfully so, but there are times that they look out of position or whatever due to one or more of the forwards not doing their expected defensive job. Puck goes in and the defensemen get crucified, but if the forwards were doing the right things, the D would probably have stayed in the right position. - eayost
There seems to be a lack of trust amongst the team in the D zone. The D doesn't trust Bryz and does too much. Bryz doesn't trust the D and does too much. The center (namely, Giroux) doesn't trust either the goalie or the D and does too much (see: Brad Richards' Winter Classic goal).
It certainly explains chasing the puck carrier all over (ie. behind the net) and leaving someone open in front. I don't remember the exact game, but on the PK, he was, IMO, running around a bit too much, and Coburn looked like he was getting himself out in no man's land, but in reality he was sort of trying to cover for Giroux. Puck ended up in the net (maybe an Ottawa game?), Coburn was the guy who maybe looked like he wasn't really in position, but that was because he was trying to half cover for someone else not in the right position.
The defensemen take a lot of heat, and sometimes rightfully so, but there are times that they look out of position or whatever due to one or more of the forwards not doing their expected defensive job. Puck goes in and the defensemen get crucified, but if the forwards were doing the right things, the D would probably have stayed in the right position. - eayost
Roo will be alright. As long as theres accountability going on. Hes not happy with his game now thats for sure. Jagr doesn't seem as interested in the 2 way game as he was earlier in the year. His groin prob. has a say in that. Teams are also suffocating giroux when he gets the puck. With a 75% Jagr its equalling doom right now
There seems to be a lack of trust amongst the team in the D zone. The D doesn't trust Bryz and does too much. Bryz doesn't trust the D and does too much. The center (namely, Giroux) doesn't trust either the goalie or the D and does too much (see: Brad Richards' Winter Classic goal). - Flyskippy
Roo will be alright. As long as theres accountability going on. Hes not happy with his game now thats for sure. Jagr doesn't seem as interested in the 2 way game as he was earlier in the year. His groin prob. has a say in that. Teams are also suffocating giroux when he gets the puck. With a 75% Jagr its equalling doom right now - Just5
I was not sure how to respond to this post, as there is no jab in it.
I agree with you. Once Jagr's 100% again, it will help G's game improve. Then the rest of the team will fall into place, like dominoes.
There seems to be a lack of trust amongst the team in the D zone. The D doesn't trust Bryz and does too much. Bryz doesn't trust the D and does too much. The center (namely, Giroux) doesn't trust either the goalie or the D and does too much (see: Brad Richards' Winter Classic goal). - Flyskippy
EA Sports really needs to update the online roster. I'm on a 6 game winning streak against faceless gamers and this is without the likes of Giroux, Pronger, Schenn and Lilja. Can you imagine the manicure if I had these guys in the line up? Instead I'm stuck with Shelley and Marshall. Take care of your own end first everyone!
