May 8th - Beard of the Day: Andrew Ladd
by Killion on May 8, 2009 10:41 AM CDT
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PrintI think it's a pretty safe bet that if you score the OT winner - you're the beard of the day here.
Great game for Ladd last night - 1 goal, 1 assist, 4 hits
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OK.
After the euphoria of last night, reality is setting in. The trapping defense of Vancouver damn near shut us out of the game, and the series.
We know that Luongo is human — Games 1 and 2 showed us this, and his SV% for Games 3 and 4 were nothing to write home about either. We know that when you get bodies in front of Luongo, good things happen. And we know, deep down, that the guys on the bench know this too. And the hitting and passing were much improved from Game 3 — not the best, but serviceable.
So: why the inability to get the puck to the net, and to keep a guy parked in the slot as opposed to the beltway of Hawks around the boards? This is Topic A for the flight over to Vancouver — or should be.
WAIT FOR THE WHISTLE!
by Sec 326 Bureau Chief on May 8, 2009 10:55 AM CDT reply actions
Errata
Actually, Luongo’s SV% was better than I had remembered — Game 3, 23 on 24 shots; Game 4, 24 on 26 shots. The defense in front of him was better than he was himself, but I’ll take a .940 SV% anytime.
Apologies for the error.
WAIT FOR THE WHISTLE!
by Sec 326 Bureau Chief on May 8, 2009 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions
Well
Game 3 scared me because the Nooks won pretty handily without really needing Luongo at all. The question is…are they going to continue to play the drawbridge-up style at home or are they going to go back to their method from games 1 and 2? The Hawks can skate with them, no question, but if they (Vanc) want to try to win with 14 or 15 SOG, I like our chances too.
It’s tough. Despite Couver’s trap, we haven’t really changed our style of breakout from our own zone; it’s still usually a quick east-west pass followed by an attempt to hit someone at the red line for a deflection deep, or to hit someone in stride closer to their blue line. This isn’t working, though, not with 3 fuckwads setting up shop on their cots at mid-ice, and we’re either caught with the puck at a dead standstill, or we’re getting beat to the boards deep and so losing most of those battles. Obviously, that makes getting a puck to the net, while someone is in front of Luongo, with someone else free in the slot, pretty difficult.
Craig Simpson belaboured this point on the CBC broadcast last night, and was perplexed why Q wasn’t keeping more forwards back in our d-zone to help with the breakout … our stretch passes were useless. I don’t know. Vancouver only seems to play this way when they have the lead, whether the lead comes in the first minute or the last. If we can just score the first bloody goal for once, then they’ll need to generate offense … which means sending more than a 1-man forecheck … which should open up the ice for us.
If they score the first goal, then I suspect it’ll be the exact same game as last night, with the Hawks hoping that their here-and-there pressure results in either a Canucks penalty or a mistake like Free Willie’s clear. It seems Q isn’t ready to change the system against the trap … if he didn’t after the Game 3 loss, he sure as hell won’t after the Game 4 win. I can’t say it’s a bad decision myself. Do we really want a team of very young players changing their game in their own zone? It might just as easily lead to bonehead mistakes as it would better rushes.
That’s a lot of writing. Now: I shut up.
by ChicoMaki on May 8, 2009 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don’t think that completely changing the breakout/regroup in their zone is necessary. With them only sending one forechecker, that east-west pass should still work. However, as has been opined, the forwards need to close their gap in neutral ice a little bit, and rather than trying to make the stretch pass, have the pass be caught at or just past the center stripe, and then immediately sent in.
As we’ve stated before, Bobby Lou isn’t going to wow anyone with his puck handling skills. Make him either hold onto it longer than he needs to, or make him make a shitty decision and subsequent pass.
Well said
Thanks for breaking down some of the finer points (and hystyk as well) since my most organized hockey was street hockey in 8th grade.
And as for the best way to break the trap, as you pointed out, for gods sake SCORE THE FIRST GOAL! Thats a real groundbreaking idea, scoring goals to win games, but I think we can agree the Hawks have been the much better team when the skating is free flowing. That would really change up the tempo of the game as the Nucks couldn’t go into their shell.
Thanks again for the technical looks
by ChargingMajor on May 8, 2009 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions
I don’t think too many changes are needed either. Certainly there are some adjustments they can make to help the breakout, but they outshot the Nucks last night and for the most part controlled attack zone time. If Van wants to play Minnesota Wild hockey, that’s fine. How did the Wild do in the playoffs?
Playing that style requires getting the lead, which they’ve done unfortunately, and then it requires an outstanding effort from your goalie as he gets peppered. Not that Luongo can’t do that and they could win this series by having him steal a couple of games just like that what’s his name Minnesota goalie stole one from the Hawks in the regular season. But I like the Hawks chances if they’re allowed to use their speed and skill to hang out in the attack zone and are able to fire away.
You’re right on though in that if the Hawks can actually get a 1 or 2 goal lead, you force Vancouver to play run-and-gun instead of slalom course pylon and an up tempo game plays right into the Hawks strength.
My goal? World domination.
by stickhandler on May 8, 2009 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions
I do think the shots last night are misleading. Vancouver would have had more were it not for the complete switch to shut-down D. You’re not ever going to generate a lot of shots playing road games the way Vancouver does; in game 3 they only had 21 to our 24, but you could hardly say we carried the play.
McClure, yep, agreed. A big change at this point would be bad; I don’t want anything making this young team uncomfortable, and wholesale changes would do that … just get our forwards a little less deep than they have been, and we should be able to generate more offensive rushes and chances; it won’t be a storm of Hawks pressure or anything, but we should at least be able to gain momentum through the game more by wise decision than by luck.
I agree with that
Maybe attack time is a better indicator. Because you’re exactly right about Game 3. The Hawks outshot them, but Vancouver spent a whole lot more time on the attack. Different story in Game 4 as I felt the Hawks did a much better job of pressuring and keeping it down in their end.
My goal? World domination.
Bob needs to stop blowing leads. I’m surprised he isn’t getting any blame from Nucks fans. 4 leads in 4 games with a stud goaltender and its a 2-2 series??? Have to think Bob is starting to feel some heat
by ChargingMajor on May 8, 2009 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Another thing that might help is getting more of their shot attempts on goal, especially considering the amount a rebounds that Bobby love to give up. In Game 3 there were a ton of blocked shots by Vancouver (credit them for that), but last night, the Hawks missed the net on so many chances when they were able to get through the shooting lanes. The offensive pressure is going to be fairly staggered when a team is mucking it up defensively like Van has the past two games, so it becomes even more important to take advantage of what opportunities do present themselves.
That said, I still like the Hawks chances whether the Canucks continue to trap and bore their home faithful, or if they decide to open it up a bit (which I think they will).
Sweet
Ladd was a force last night right outta the gate. He was hitting, skating and in on a bunch of near misses early in the game. I thought he stood out from the crowd pretty much immediately. I expect Vancouver to change… NOTHING. This could make for a couple more sluggish games as we attempt to solve their circa ‘03 Devil’s trapdoor style. An optimist would suggest this shows how scaredy the Willies are of the Hawk’s furious offence. I have to admit I spent much of the game in a kind of deppressive lull, but as most of my Canucklehead friends mentioned – it was only a matter of time before we scored. Time we damn near ran out of. Overall, I like it though. Hawks can & will do this thang. Go Ladd!
"Call Detroit, tell dem... BULLSHIT!"
I called Bollie...
and asked him if I could practice that same deflection that Ladder got a piece of last night. He said sure but he warned me that his shot sometimes rises up towards your face and it helps to have a nice playoff beard like Laddie’s so that maybe if he hits you with a 100mph shot it might deflect off the playoff beard into net behind Luigi. He also said that it would take about 400 practice shots to get it right. I decided not to take him up on it. Nice work boys! Laddie with the GW goal, cajones of steel, and awesome playoff beard!
Victim was found murdered with a Chelsea Dagger.
Fans "sat on their hands" all night?
I’m a little annoyed by Pierre LeBrun’s new column. He claims the fans were quiet the whole night. I couldn’t disagree more. I thought the crowd was way more behind the team this game than they were Tuesday night.
Also, I wrote about this on the game write up post but wanted to bring it up over here as well. How have the coaches completely stopped emphasizing the importance of getting in front of the net? I barely saw anyone in front of Luongo last night, yet the game winning goal was a result of having a body in Luongo’s grill. Why do they keep abandoning the game plans that work?
that's what she said
Couldn't agree more
Like i wrote too. there was NO ONE during regulation play in front of the net to block Luongo’s view
I feel like the only Hawks fan
who didn’t think we dominated the play for the entire night. It seemed like we were making line changes at curious times as opposed to actually trying to get some offense going. Between that and the trap we often didn’t have enough time to get anybody actually in front of the net.
I don’t think it’s abandonment of game plan as much as it is Vancouver playing incredibly sound defensive hockey. They just haven’t made a lot of mistakes the last two games. You need that body on the boards gaining control of the puck first, and once you have control then you can send him in front. We didn’t really have the chance to set up like that too often, let along with the time for someone to station themselves in front. Lost a lot of board battles deep last night … except the most important one with 2:52 remaining.
As to the crowd, I can only go by the CBC broadcast … it didn’t sound raucous from the nuck goal onward, but the CBC sometimes mics the crowd low.
So you're saying
when the Hawks were on the Powerplay in their Zone that they didn’t have control and didn’t have time to have someone posted in front of the net? I completely disagree about your statement of them not having control lasty night,
I thought the Hakws took it ot them and had alot of control in their zone, winning battles in the corners and forcing the Nucks to take Icing calls. During all this i failed to see anyone in front of the net
PP
I’d like to take this opportunity to bitch about the power play. To wit:
1) If you dump, you better chase and be prepared to outman them on the puck.
2) Don’t let Kane carry the puck into the zone. Ever. Just stop.
3) Someone please give Campbell a subliminal tape that repeats “Shoot the puck on net.” I guarantee there is an infinitely better chance of scoring on a deflection, weirdo bounce or rebound than there is of getting a miracle tip in from someone drifting ten feet from the net.
4) Stop passing up shots to make a cute pass.
Seriously, what's wrong with Kane?
He makes the SAME move with the puck going into the offensive zone every single time! I don’t know why he’s so afraid to take a shot. It would be a hell of a lot better than carrying the puck off to the side only to get pushed off it a second later.
that's what she said
Yep
He sure ain’t playing his best puck right now. I understand he’s usually got one or two knuckles right on his ass, but he still seems a little out of sorts, not shooting, trying too hard to make an Ovy style goal, generally floating around lost. He should be the wheels making the “chase” part happen – recovering all those “dumps.” Let’s hope we get firing on ALL cylinders for the next one.
"Call Detroit, tell dem... BULLSHIT!"
Not talking about the power play, no, of course not, but we only had two power plays last night! There were 56 other minutes in the game that more or less fit the description, though.
And sportsgal, I gotta disagree. I don’t think the shot differential showed that at all. I mentioned it above, too: in Game 3 we outshot them 24-21, but that was as one-sided a game as we’ve played so far; the shot differential would suggest it was a pretty even game, though. Vancouver’s road games are always stale; they force you to the outside extremely well and they win board battles as well as anyone when they play this style. There just weren’t very many extended plays in their zone where we had complete control of the puck, the key that allows us to get someone in front; that body couldn’t get there because he was battling for control along the boards the whole night.
agreed
scoring chances are a much better gauge than shots. You can pepper the goalie with shots from the D-men from 50 feet all game but if there are no rebounds or scoring chances it doesn’t mean much.
by Crease Monkey on May 8, 2009 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree
Although my uninformed opinion was to just have Buff out there for a full 60 minutes parked in front of Luongo. And that might not be what you’re talking about.
If I can't be a good example, I'll just be a horrible warning
LeBrun blows
that pissed me off also. Yeah, it wasn’t nutso all game long, but it wasn’t exactly quiet either. I think they’re just trying to emphasize the boring style Vancouver is playing and maybe trying to shame them for trying to take the game back to the lame, trap era. If that’s the case, more power to him.
My goal? World domination.
Honestly
If that trap style gets rewarded they’re going to set the league back ten years, because every team that is short on talent is going to bore us to death with it.
It’s exactly what nearly killed the league in the 90’s. That style of play was rewarded once the Devils started winning with it. The new rules post-lockout were supposed to open the game up and minimize the trap’s impact. The problem is, in the playoffs the refs tend to swallow their whistles a little more and non-calls on things that would be regular season penalties end up making that style more effective again. It doesn’t take long for the guys to realize they can start getting away with some of those things again and next thing you know the game’s back to a water-skiing exposition with all the hooking and interference.
Minnesota is the prime example of one of the last teams to play the full blown, mind numbing trap. The rules worked in the regular season because the Wild didn’t even make the playoffs despite having one of the best goalies statistically.
It’s really a tough deal. I don’t want to see the refs all whistle-happy and determining playoff games with tons of power plays, but I also don’t want to see the game degenerate again.
My goal? World domination.
agreed
exactly my sentiment and good assessment. While I’ve been trying to watch all the other series going on, catching some here and there, it still seems this series gets the most leeway in terms of penalties enforced or not enforced in this case.
by Crease Monkey on May 8, 2009 8:39 PM CDT up reply actions
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