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NHL PLayoffs 2009

#461
Mike,

The visiting coach puts his line out first...then the home coach get's to match up his lines. That's the advantage of being at home. I'm not sure how long you have to get your line out on the ice, but it can't take too long or you'll get a delay of game penalty.

I've noticed; before a faceoff, one of the refs in sometimes in front of the bench with his hand up in the air. I think he is signaling to the coach how many men need to be on the ice for that team...IE if they are on the penalty kill, 4 on 4. Dawdling is not tolerated.

Basically you can put anyone on the Ice you want...If you want to put 3 centers and two D out there...you can. If one center is better at faceoffs than the usual center of that line...and it's an important draw...then you can put the better center on the faceoff dot...get possession and put the normal center out, being careful to avoid a too many men on the ice penalty. (I feel like we've talked about this before...maybe I suck at explaining this to you.)

Faceoff after an Icing. The players of the offending team have to stay on the ice for that faceoff. They can change anytime after the puck is dropped. The league changed the rules for this past season so that there are no TV timeouts after a faceoff. The idea is that it is a hockey game...not a puck clearing contest.

If you ice the puck after a long time in your own zone....your tired...so just icing the puck isn't going to get you any rest...unless the coach calls his one and only time out. If you are the offending team the idea is to gain possession...carry the puck out of your zone,...dump it and get a new line on the ice.

Just the opposite if you are the attacking team...the advantage is that you can put out a fresh line to generate offense against a tired D. The last thing you want to do while you are even strength in your own zone is try to make a line change.

~WH
 
#462
warwick.hoy said:
(I feel like we've talked about this before...maybe I suck at explaining this to you.)
Click to expand...

Yes, we have. You did a great job explaining face off strategy to me before, thanks.

This time, I was just more interested in the basics of making line changes, which you also did a fine job explaining.

So I get it straight, lets say I am playing you in a game.....my team ices the puck. My same five guys must stay on the ice for the face off, but you can make a line change. Right?

-Mike
 
#463
MJ5150 said:
Yes, we have. You did a great job explaining face off strategy to me before, thanks.

This time, I was just more interested in the basics of making line changes, which you also did a fine job explaining.

So I get it straight, lets say I am playing you in a game.....my team ices the puck. My same five guys must stay on the ice for the face off, but you can make a line change. Right?

-Mike
Click to expand...

Yes.

If you ice the puck shortly after a faceoff...I may decide to keep my line out there to keep the match-ups I want. If you ice the puck after a long time spent defending, then I'm going to want to get fresh legs out on the ice to take advantage of your tired players and hopefully generate more offense. You strategy is going to be to clear the zone and get your tired players off the ice.

Faceoffs are a highly overlooked; but they are one of the most important aspects of hockey. I attribute a lot of the Flyers failure due to lack of pride on the dot. They need to improve that stat. I mentioned the goaltender duel, but this series is probably going to hinge a lot on possession...and faceoffs are key to gaining possession. Watch the stats and I guarantee the team that has the better FOW (Faceoffs Won) at the end of the night will be team in the win column.

Also check the event summaries on you teams website (it says superstats on the Flyers website in the Game Recaps). If the commentary doesn't provide the FOW or FO% stat it will be on that sheet and it should look like this. :D

yes, yes, old stat sheet, just messing with ya.:D
 
#464
Warwick, great job explaining the icing and the line changes!

Faceoffs, imho are a VERY telling stat, as puck possession is huge. Winning a faceoff in your defensive zone while killing penalties is HUGE, since it give you a chance to ice the puck (no whistle for that when you're shorthanded) and clear the zone to get fresh legs if needed or kill the clock and force the offense to set up again. Winning an offensive zone face off helps to establish pressure.

As an addendum to Warwick's point, it's not an uncommon strategy to put 2 guys who are strong on faceoffs out there so if one gets thrown out, the other can take the draw. One other detail about faceoffs and home ice that the tactics of Babcock and Bylsma will factor into: the home team player taking the draw gets to put his stick down last, which is an advantage, as he gets a very brief preview of what the other guy is going to do - your stick positioning can be a reliable tell for how you're going to attack the faceoff. That can affect the matchup you may want to use for the draw. One thing that Yzerman used to do very well is to use his stick to knock the other player's stick away from the puck and use his foot to kick the puck to a teammate. Yannick Perrault was probably the best I've seen at that. Puck support on the face off is also important. It's not that uncommon for the centers taking the draw to neutralize each other so whatever winger can jump in first may win it for their team. (cue flashback to the days of NHL 93 and 94 on the Sega when you could pound the check button and level the center on a faceoff the simultaneously launch a shot :bassist: - yes, I put Bob Probert to take my faceoffs)
 
#465
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Mike, I figured you might want to check out this out since I made the comparison to Yzerman about Crosby a while back. Demers was Yzerman's coach early in his career, and actually named him Captain of the Wings.
 
#467
Just came back from reading TSN ;) It's one of my daily reads during my prep period. Yeah, I love how I say stuff then the "talking heads" say the same thing later. I've got a co-worker who tells me I should be at least doing an NHL blog if not trying to get picked up by one of the big sites. I don't know about that, though I do admit it'd be fun (and if I can swing paid travel and free tix to playoff games.... hrm, maybe I should if they'd let me do it around my teaching schedule)
 
#468
You could try that, or a hockey show on your local cable access channel. I think you would do a good job. Knowledgeable, yet unbiased in your opinions. That is hard to find. Most guys have an agenda or deep seated emotions that come out in their commentary.

I would be terrible. I can't separate my emotions from the games.

-Mike
 
#472
By Jacques Demers said:
Former Pittsburgh Penguins coach Michel Therrien and I talk a lot. We have one important thing in common. I named a young Steve Yzerman captain of the Detroit Red Wings in the 1980s. He named a young Sidney Crosby captain of the Penguins.
There are a lot of comparisons between the players. Just look at the unselfish play that Crosby made at the end of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals when he passed up an opportunity to score into an open net and gave the puck to Craig Adams instead. He's showing a lot of leadership, as Yzerman did. Both players also have exceptional offensive talent.

Nobody could stop Yzerman and no one can seem to stop Crosby when he's at his best, which he is at right now. But Yzerman at the time didn't have an Evgeni Malkin to complement him.
Click to expand...

Since some of you won't check the link... :rollno: And FWIW, capn sandwich I agree with you from the career perspective, but there ARE similarites between the two (though Yzerman never punched anyone in the pills ;) )
 
#474
TheXym said:
Warwick, great job explaining the icing and the line changes!

Faceoffs, imho are a VERY telling stat, as puck possession is huge. Winning a faceoff in your defensive zone while killing penalties is HUGE, since it give you a chance to ice the puck (no whistle for that when you're shorthanded) and clear the zone to get fresh legs if needed or kill the clock and force the offense to set up again. Winning an offensive zone face off helps to establish pressure.

As an addendum to Warwick's point, it's not an uncommon strategy to put 2 guys who are strong on faceoffs out there so if one gets thrown out, the other can take the draw. One other detail about faceoffs and home ice that the tactics of Babcock and Bylsma will factor into: the home team player taking the draw gets to put his stick down last, which is an advantage, as he gets a very brief preview of what the other guy is going to do - your stick positioning can be a reliable tell for how you're going to attack the faceoff. That can affect the matchup you may want to use for the draw. One thing that Yzerman used to do very well is to use his stick to knock the other player's stick away from the puck and use his foot to kick the puck to a teammate. Yannick Perrault was probably the best I've seen at that. Puck support on the face off is also important. It's not that uncommon for the centers taking the draw to neutralize each other so whatever winger can jump in first may win it for their team. (cue flashback to the days of NHL 93 and 94 on the Sega when you could pound the check button and level the center on a faceoff the simultaneously launch a shot :bassist: - yes, I put Bob Probert to take my faceoffs)
Click to expand...

Thanks XYM....the first part of the bolded text I was only subconsciously aware of.

I've seen a current player who walks that fine line....he'll position his skate in such a way that the puck angles off it from his stick. May have been one of the Stahl Bros. but don't quote me on that. He was a younger player that's for sure.
 
#475
warwick.hoy said:
Thanks XYM....the first part of the bolded text I was only subconsciously aware of.

I've seen a current player who walks that fine line....he'll position his skate in such a way that the puck angles off it from his stick. May have been one of the Stahl Bros. but don't quote me on that. He was a younger player that's for sure.
Click to expand...

It took me a couple of years of watching to figure it out. One of the subtleties of the game that makes it so great. Kind of the wheel within a wheel within a wheel thing if you know what I mean. I'm so glad that the advent of high definition TV has brought about the widescreen broadcasts - you can see so much more. If any sport was meant for hi-def, it was hockey, since so much happens away from the puck as plays develop. My wife always gets a kick of it when I'm coaching the TV then what I'm predicting is attempted.

As far as the younger player you mentioned, I know who you mean, and I can picture it in my head, but I can't tell you who it is.
 
#476
TheXym said:
It took me a couple of years of watching to figure it out. One of the subtleties of the game that makes it so great. Kind of the wheel within a wheel within a wheel thing if you know what I mean. I'm so glad that the advent of high definition TV has brought about the widescreen broadcasts - you can see so much more. If any sport was meant for hi-def, it was hockey, since so much happens away from the puck as plays develop. My wife always gets a kick of it when I'm coaching the TV then what I'm predicting is attempted.

As far as the younger player you mentioned, I know who you mean, and I can picture it in my head, but I can't tell you who it is.
Click to expand...

Faceoffs are definitely the game within the game...as I like to call them.

Here is another subtlety that cracks me up

 
#477
Bad Brains said:
Yzerman also never whined like Crosby, and he would never have the audacity to complain to the ref that too many people are throwing hats on the ice after the opposing team's most popular player scores a hat trick.
Click to expand...

True, but when you look at how he actually plays the game, the comparison is valid. I'm no Crosby fan, partly for the reasons you mention, but as a longtime hockey fan who loves the game first, I can't help but agree with the on-ice comparisons as far as gameplay goes, which is the point Demers was making. Yzerman was the epitome of class, and is a role model for any pro sports captain, regardless of the league. If Crosby matures and starts drawing comparison to Yzerman for the total package then he'll have earned my respect.
 
#478
Bruce MacLeod's last blog from Wings Practice:

Lidstrom is practicing with Rafalski in his regular spot, Datsyuk and Draper are subbing in on lines. Lilja is practicing on the 3rd pairing with Lebda, though afaik he isn't symptom free yet so I'd guess he's placeholding for Ericsson.


EDIT:

Invalid Link Removed

This is good news on the Wings front. My honest guess: Lidstrom and Ericsson play game 1, Datsyuk plays game 2. As I've said all along, as much as I want the Wings to repeat again, I want them to be completely healthy (well, keep Kopecky off the ice PLEASE - the nightmare on Helm street is a HUGE upgrade) as well as the Pens so win or lose there can be no excuses and we have the greatest finals ever.
 
#479
Sorry about the triple post, but I had to get this off my chest. Anybody listen to NHL Live on XM or watch the simulcast or rebroadcast on NHL Network? Yesterday some yahoo calls in saying the league needs to change the schedule so the Wings only play the tough teams all year so a team like the Blues which hasn't made the finals in 40 some years can get in. Same thing to help the Islanders in the East. The NHL needs parity like the NFL.

I was shocked at the stupidity of the comments, and on the TV feed EJ Hradek (GREAT hockey writer and commentator, imho - I'd LOVE to talk hockey with him and/or John Buccigross sometime over a few cold ones) and the woman who was co-hosting both had to hold back laughter. She commented about parity like the Steelers winning 2 of the last 6 or so championships? Hradek added a comment about the Patriots with 3 recent championships.

I'd LOVE to see a writer like Hradek be given free reign to totally rip idiots like that.
 
#480
TheXym said:
Sorry about the triple post, but I had to get this off my chest. Anybody listen to NHL Live on XM or watch the simulcast or rebroadcast on NHL Network? Yesterday some yahoo calls in saying the league needs to change the schedule so the Wings only play the tough teams all year so a team like the Blues which hasn't made the finals in 40 some years can get in. Same thing to help the Islanders in the East. The NHL needs parity like the NFL.

I was shocked at the stupidity of the comments, and on the TV feed EJ Hradek (GREAT hockey writer and commentator, imho - I'd LOVE to talk hockey with him and/or John Buccigross sometime over a few cold ones) and the woman who was co-hosting both had to hold back laughter. She commented about parity like the Steelers winning 2 of the last 6 or so championships? Hradek added a comment about the Patriots with 3 recent championships.

I'd LOVE to see a writer like Hradek be given free reign to totally rip idiots like that.
Click to expand...

I didn't hear it but I'll weigh in with my two cents.

Was he trying to superimpose a BCS style of scheduling on the NHL?

The caller must not have been watching the past two seasons.

Last year the parity was in the east...this year it was in the west. Teams are bunched up all season long espescially heading down the stretch and honestly...the Pens almost didn't make it to the PO's...the Flyers could have easily lost ground and not made it PO's. Next year there is no telling who will make it to the finals and I don't see how making one team play only "tougher" teams is going to change anything.

From what I can tell...the teams that don't win are losing by 1 or 2 goals at the most (usually the 2nd being an EN goal). Very rarely are there blowouts...so I have trouble seeing how any one team is any harder than any other team. There are different styles for sure...and certain styles match up better, but if you go into a game with the attitude of "oh we got these guys"...you've got another thing coming.
 

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