Credit has to be given to this defense. They are playing great while blocking tons of shots. Another game over 30 blocked shots? Wow.. The way they are playing this is a top 10 defense in the NHL.
They are criticized when things are not going well so they need to be given major props for the way they are playing now. I have no idea how they are not getting any type of injury from all the blocked shots... Hopefully, I am not jinxing them.. LOL... Players such as Staal, Rozy, Girardi, MDZ, Eminger, Sauer, Gilroy round out a very solid defensive corp. They are minimizing a lot of big scoring chances against Hank.
Also, the forwards are getting in the action by blocking shots and just playing great team defense also.
They're exectuing the plan as good as we could possiblly hope for
our style of game allows the other team to enter the zone with a head of steam, our D need to keep their forwards to the outside as they attack our zone and they've done that. Let them take the outside shot all day long henrik SHOULD stop everyone of them (except last night's little "whoops") They need to keep driving attackers wide, blocking passes and shots, and keep their gaps close enough that the puck carrier cant cut into the slot and make a play.
They've been playing lights out at the point. I cant even count the amount of times a scoring oppritunity has been extended by our Dmen. Additionally, i can count on one hand (ok maybe two...) the amount of times we've gotten caught pinching and its ended badly. But make no mistake, the ability to extend plays in the offensive zone against tired defenders is a difference maker
look for them to start getting some more point shots in the future as opponant's dmen start collpasing to the crease to stop the quick pass to the low slot (see dubi's 2nd goal and many other close ones) The lanes are going to open up more for guys to step in and drive it home (like sauers near goal last night)
rosi and staal's play behind the net has been amazing....they make the hit and take the puck almost everytime...thats HUGE for this team...the less time in our own zone the better
i've been very critical of girardi in the past, but i think he has as many saves as henrik so far this season...gotta love that
Blocking shots should be credited to forwards, as they do the majority of it.
Except Dan Girardi has 41 blocked shots, Del Zotto 24, Rozsival 22, Staal 17, Eminger 16. Only Callahan with 20 is in that group. Otherwise next forward is Boyle with 13.
They remind me right now of the travel soccer team my second son plays on. Much of the time, they're good and steady, and give maximum effort. But for 10 minutes a game, they start to scramble around, making sloppy passes, losing the puck, not picking up their defensive assignments, etc.
If they can cut that loss of focus, they might really be something...
The shot blocking percentage is unreal. They have shown to the league and everyone that they are committed to it.
That is a statistic that I actually believe in...so many are just window dressing.
One thing I hope they improve on is getting out of their zone, with the puck on their stick if possible, but chipping or slamming it out when necesary.
It's an area of their game that, if improved, would yield immediate benefits, and truly at no cost. It's a bit too chaotic back there lots of times when it doesn't need to be.
That's truly the only thing that I can see as being something identifiably wrong. They are busting their butts and it shows.
I hope the icetime load on Girardi, MDZ and Staal doesn't lead to burnout, but i'm getting ahead of things on that.
The shot blocking percentage is unreal. They have shown to the league and everyone that they are committed to it.
That is a statistic that I actually believe in...so many are just window dressing.
One thing I hope they improve on is getting out of their zone, with the puck on their stick if possible, but chipping or slamming it out when necesary.
It's an area of their game that, if improved, would yield immediate benefits, and truly at no cost. It's a bit too chaotic back there lots of times when it doesn't need to be.
That's truly the only thing that I can see as being something identifiably wrong. They are busting their butts and it shows.
I hope the icetime load on Girardi, MDZ and Staal doesn't lead to burnout, but i'm getting ahead of things on that.
This is an area that definitely needs improvment. Fact is,... our insane amount of blocked shots is inflated because we can't clear the puck, giving them second, third and forth chances. Which is also why our PK is suffering. But all in all, we are still a sound team defensively. The backchecking of our forwards has been excellent.
