I notice a LOT more passes in getting out of the zone. They aren't crisp, but they are indirect passes to guys breaking out of the zone with speed. Usually a D to D, up the board to the winger, and a drop pass off the boards to the player speeding out of the zone and then either that player takes it or goes hard cross ice to the other man breaking.
You actually see . . . 3-4 Flyers on screen during the breakout. With Stevens you were lucky to see 2 at a time and they were usually both the D men. One standing still behind the net and the other standing still on the half boards.
I notice a LOT more passes in getting out of the zone. They aren't crisp, but they are indirect passes to guys breaking out of the zone with speed. Usually a D to D, up the board to the winger, and a drop pass off the boards to the player speeding out of the zone and then either that player takes it or goes hard cross ice to the other man breaking.
You actually see . . . 3-4 Flyers on screen during the breakout. With Stevens you were lucky to see 2 at a time and they were usually both the D men. One standing still behind the net and the other standing still on the half boards.
EXACTLY!
The breakout is night and day to me. It really is. Not even comparable to Stevens "breakout".
Coburn's breakout passes are horrible. He should either skate it out or fire it high off the glass. Seems like he sees where he wants to go with it but takes way too long, then fires a rocket pass into somebody's skates.
It is very obvious that the defense is much more aggressive but what is really encouraging is the winger on the pinching side is doing a great job of rotating back. It's not a difficult concept but for some reason - under Stevens failed pinches always ended up in odd man rushes followed by Stevens' blank stare.
The breakout is night and day to me. It really is. Not even comparable to Stevens "breakout".
The other wasn't so much a breakout as much as it was a jail break down the ice and whichever guy could get slightly more open would get the home run pass.
Lavi incorporates that now, but there is a plan when they do it. It is more as a ploy to pull the D man to help get the puck out of the zone during prolonged stays in the defensive zone, as well as a way to get the puck up the ice quickly for a line change, which is something a lot of teams do.
good to see our better players step up tonite and have a nice game. Yes it was the Islanders and all but its something to build on and hopefully it gives some of these guys some positive vibes going forward. Many guys you know had been low confidence wise so nothing like a win to get these guys going.
I saw the highlights on NHL on the fly and after Carter scored his goal you could almost see the weight come off his shoulders.
I admit I had been very critical of Carter, and Richards of late and I am glad they stepped up and had the big games.
Richards shortie was nice.
Coburn's breakout passes are horrible. He should either skate it out or fire it high off the glass. Seems like he sees where he wants to go with it but takes way too long, then fires a rocket pass into somebody's skates.
It is very obvious that the defense is much more aggressive but what is really encouraging is the winger on the pinching side is doing a great job of rotating back. It's not a difficult concept but for some reason - under Stevens failed pinches always ended up in odd man rushes followed by Stevens' blank stare.
"I hit him in the first [Islanders-Flyers] game. He told me, 'Keep your head up.' I didn't realize he meant the whole season." ----John Tavares, speaking about Chris Pronger (via Lighthouse Hockey)
Welcome to the NHL, kid.
Chris Pronger gave the first overall draft pick a less-than-legal shove to the back on Tuesday night, causing the wunderkind to knock his skull into the glass, chipping a tooth. Islanders fans across the hockey world were furious at the hit, egged on by Pronger's little smirk as he skated away from the scene of the crime.
Yes, it was a crime. Pronger was given a two minute penalty on the play, but nothing more. Did he deserve a suspension? Do Isles' fans have a gripe? Sure, but they'll be over it in a week. Is Tavares going to keep an eye out for Pronger when the Isles play the Flyers between now and 2017? You bet.
