WHAT A GAME! Benn and Sequin coming through. Marchment is frustrating and then scintillating. This series is a barn burner - but I can't help but think what we would be like with Robertson, Heiskanen and even Lundqvist playing. I think our depth is a big key to the series along with DeBoer's strategy.....
The Val goal is a consequence of the same Ted Lasso Carousel that lost them 7 games in a row to end the season. For whatever reason they treated 4v4 exactly like it was 3v3 OT, constantly resetting in the neutral zone for entry and devolving to man on man. They squandered possession in the neutral zone with their constant resets (always under pressure because Colorado realized it's 4v4 not 3v3 OT) and when they were forced to defend, their defensemen chased "their guy" all over the ice. You'll notice that immediately before the goal, Lyubushkin was chasing his guy at the point and was trying to chase him back down low, then Harley chases his guy to the point where he gets picked. Yes, the pick is what caused the opportunity, but Harley should never have been at the point to begin with. If it's Dutch that gets picked you still have two Dmen in the right spots (assuming they're doing what they're supposed to be doing). Play your position and hand off responsibility. No one on Dallas both skates well enough and understands efficient angles to take to cut off a speedy attacker (other than Miro) to effectively play man on man. I'm pretty sure it was the only sequence in the game they tried it and got burned.
Great post. I think one of the reasons why Dallas always seems to look like ass at 4 on 4 is that their defensive structure - which used to be a swarm/zone blend - has gone to a man on man/zone blend. Being used to defending low to high puts their habits on blast at 4 on 4 because there's no low to high nonsense: just east west rotations.
I think we saw the Stars of March in the 3rd game. I also think McKinnon without Rananten shows how important he was to the Avs. Maybe it didn’t show so much in the regular season but it sure does in the playoffs. If Miro is back does Petrovic sit out? He has been better than Dumba for sure. All in all the Stars don’t need to back off any. Win Saturday and then finish the Avs in Dallas in game 5.
still think that val goal isnt harleys fault. brock set a massive illegal interference pick on him. i was beyond frustrated at that missed call
otter has been great and so has the PK. i think if those two keep going we can weather the storm till we get miro and robo for full strength
curious if you think mack and makar looking extremely timid (imo) is a result to the stars play or maybe they actually are a little banged up ? feel like im seeing them be extremely mortal...lots of losing pucks on their sticks, etc. Or maybe it might not be a good thing to rest your players for like a week before the playoffs after all. not sure but this series could easily be 3-0 stars (and should be) because of their bad play
Meh. I wish the NHL would crack down on picks but I can see a place for tactical...creativity, if you will. To that end I think Harley just has to fight through that better. Besides: picks never get called.
Re: Mak and Mak. MacKinnon has always been defensively lax. Some of this is not surprising. But he's been worse than usual, so yea: feels like a bit of both - nagging injury, and Dallas playing him tough. Makar I have no idea. Seems super unsure, but the Stars have been supper aggressive at crowding him at the point. Not sure how much of that is consistent or just my eyes seeing what they want to.
WHAT A GAME! Benn and Sequin coming through. Marchment is frustrating and then scintillating. This series is a barn burner - but I can't help but think what we would be like with Robertson, Heiskanen and even Lundqvist playing. I think our depth is a big key to the series along with DeBoer's strategy.....
The Val goal is a consequence of the same Ted Lasso Carousel that lost them 7 games in a row to end the season. For whatever reason they treated 4v4 exactly like it was 3v3 OT, constantly resetting in the neutral zone for entry and devolving to man on man. They squandered possession in the neutral zone with their constant resets (always under pressure because Colorado realized it's 4v4 not 3v3 OT) and when they were forced to defend, their defensemen chased "their guy" all over the ice. You'll notice that immediately before the goal, Lyubushkin was chasing his guy at the point and was trying to chase him back down low, then Harley chases his guy to the point where he gets picked. Yes, the pick is what caused the opportunity, but Harley should never have been at the point to begin with. If it's Dutch that gets picked you still have two Dmen in the right spots (assuming they're doing what they're supposed to be doing). Play your position and hand off responsibility. No one on Dallas both skates well enough and understands efficient angles to take to cut off a speedy attacker (other than Miro) to effectively play man on man. I'm pretty sure it was the only sequence in the game they tried it and got burned.
Great post. I think one of the reasons why Dallas always seems to look like ass at 4 on 4 is that their defensive structure - which used to be a swarm/zone blend - has gone to a man on man/zone blend. Being used to defending low to high puts their habits on blast at 4 on 4 because there's no low to high nonsense: just east west rotations.
I think we saw the Stars of March in the 3rd game. I also think McKinnon without Rananten shows how important he was to the Avs. Maybe it didn’t show so much in the regular season but it sure does in the playoffs. If Miro is back does Petrovic sit out? He has been better than Dumba for sure. All in all the Stars don’t need to back off any. Win Saturday and then finish the Avs in Dallas in game 5.
still think that val goal isnt harleys fault. brock set a massive illegal interference pick on him. i was beyond frustrated at that missed call
otter has been great and so has the PK. i think if those two keep going we can weather the storm till we get miro and robo for full strength
curious if you think mack and makar looking extremely timid (imo) is a result to the stars play or maybe they actually are a little banged up ? feel like im seeing them be extremely mortal...lots of losing pucks on their sticks, etc. Or maybe it might not be a good thing to rest your players for like a week before the playoffs after all. not sure but this series could easily be 3-0 stars (and should be) because of their bad play
Meh. I wish the NHL would crack down on picks but I can see a place for tactical...creativity, if you will. To that end I think Harley just has to fight through that better. Besides: picks never get called.
Re: Mak and Mak. MacKinnon has always been defensively lax. Some of this is not surprising. But he's been worse than usual, so yea: feels like a bit of both - nagging injury, and Dallas playing him tough. Makar I have no idea. Seems super unsure, but the Stars have been supper aggressive at crowding him at the point. Not sure how much of that is consistent or just my eyes seeing what they want to.