Why people are complaining about Keith not taking the body is laughable, that isn't how he plays, it would be like complaining about Kane not playing like Bolland.
I can't speak for other posters, but I was never advocating that Keith should lay down a monster hit on Ovie, far from it. All I ask, from any defenseman, is at the very least get body positioning and stay in front of him. Let the puck go by and play the man, allow your D partner or the goalie to pick up the puck. Its pretty simple. Playing the man is a part, or at least should be a part of every defenceman's "game".
For those saying "but it was OV!" as a reason why it is not Keith's fault, I really don't understand it. Its not as though Keith played it perfectly but OV just physically out-muscled him and powered around him anyways, if that were the case I would agree: not Keith's fault, evidence of how dominant OV can be. But that was simply not the case. Keith played the puck instead of the man and got burned, its as simple as that.
Normally, I wouldn't be harping on a single play like this as much as I am. Part of it is because I am bored at work, and part of it is because Keith made several other horrible defensive plays in that game in addition to the one that directly led to that goal. And yet he has numerous people falling all over themselves trying to defend him. I just don't get it.
Normally, I wouldn't be harping on a single play like this as much as I am. Part of it is because I am bored at work, and part of it is because Keith made several other horrible defensive plays in that game in addition to the one that directly led to that goal. And yet he has numerous people falling all over themselves trying to defend him. I just don't get it.
It is the nature of many fans to only see what they want to see. I wouldn't sweat it. The truth always comes out over top of illusions in the long run.
It is the nature of many fans to only see what they want to see. I wouldn't sweat it. The truth always comes out over top of illusions in the long run.
I get this, and agree to a certain extent. It would be one thing to be having this discussion during his Norris season, but this poor defensive play has been going on for almost 2 full seasons.
I can't speak for other posters, but I was never advocating that Keith should lay down a monster hit on Ovie, far from it. All I ask, from any defenseman, is at the very least get body positioning and stay in front of him. Let the puck go by and play the man, allow your D partner or the goalie to pick up the puck. Its pretty simple. Playing the man is a part, or at least should be a part of every defenceman's "game".
For those saying "but it was OV!" as a reason why it is not Keith's fault, I really don't understand it. Its not as though Keith played it perfectly but OV just physically out-muscled him and powered around him anyways, if that were the case I would agree: not Keith's fault, evidence of how dominant OV can be. But that was simply not the case. Keith played the puck instead of the man and got burned, its as simple as that.
Normally, I wouldn't be harping on a single play like this as much as I am. Part of it is because I am bored at work, and part of it is because Keith made several other horrible defensive plays in that game in addition to the one that directly led to that goal. And yet he has numerous people falling all over themselves trying to defend him. I just don't get it.
He was playing with Leddy who is defensively retarded and Crawford who let what should have been a fairly easy save eat him up. This is one of the issue with Keith, he is being asked to cover for everyone and when he doesn't he takes all the flack.
He was playing with Leddy who is defensively retarded and Crawford who let what should have been a fairly easy save eat him up. This is one of the issue with Keith, he is being asked to cover for everyone and when he doesn't he takes all the flack.
I have never seen so many people reach so far to make excuses for a player that was so clearly in the wrong. Ask any Atom coach across canada who caused that goal and what he should have done instead and the answer would be unanimous: Duncan Keith, should have played the man and not the puck.
This. Everybody remember when Dave Bolland absolutely undressed Ryan Suter? I'd say that's infinitely more humiliating for a d-man of Suter's caliber than having Ovechkin pull an incredible move like that.
It happens all the time, great defensemen are going to get beaten by great forwards.
What about what Lemieux did to Bourque? I'd say that's the most famous example.
I have never seen so many people reach so far to make excuses for a player that was so clearly in the wrong. Ask any Atom coach across canada who caused that goal and what he should have done instead and the answer would be unanimous: Duncan Keith, should have played the man and not the puck.
Problem is many people associate "playing the man" with throwing a shoulder or hip into a guy and laying some monster hit, which doesn't have to be the case at all. Simply having your body in the way and impeding progress and thus not allowing a completely free shot on goal counts as taking the body, strictly generally speaking, not even having to refer to this exact play with Keith.
Also, I'm not on either side of the argument but simply saying because someone is a Norris Trophy winner doesn't mean they are good example of how to teach young players to play a game. Players in all sports win awards and are great at that level by doing things that aren't necessarily fundamentally correct in how you'd teach a young player growing up to play. That can go from NHL defensemen, to quarterback play/mechanics, to batters' batting stances, you name it.
I have never seen so many people reach so far to make excuses for a player that was so clearly in the wrong. Ask any Atom coach across canada who caused that goal and what he should have done instead and the answer would be unanimous: Duncan Keith, should have played the man and not the puck.
True, but Keith doesn't 'play the man' really ever. It's part of his style: use your stick and body positioning to eliminate passing/shooting lanes and force them to the outside. It's actually a huge strength of his. With his talents, he doesn't need to ride a player to the boards in order to be effective (although he should've in this case).
Anyways, he was doing the whole 'body positioning and stick position' thing until he just left his stick out at full-arm's length and let Ovechkin know, "Hey, I can't reach any further... so all you have to do is pull the puck to the backhand to get around me".
And I mean, even in that case, Ovechkin wouldn't have had room to charge the net like he did if he didn't do that sweet pass through his own legs. So yes, Keith's fault a bit but give credit to Ovechkin for reading that play well and capital-izing on it.
