Take Me To The Other Side....

was to limit your yelling from the bench to a repetoire of no more than 7 simple commands (preferably 1 word ones) – all other player interaction is 1 to 1 on the bench after the shift.

Rather like obedience training for dogs

I was thinking of AO/Backstrom/Knuble and Marleau/Thornton/Heatley in the regular season. A couple of yours can contend as well.

the second line being as good as any other team’s top line was, I’d have to say, a stretch.

But it would not be unreasonable to say that the top 2 lines are as good or better than any other team’s top 2 (the Wash combos you note would be there up there too). It isn’t like so many teams where covering the #1 line leaves one safe.

johnny likey, and somehow, im rec’ing this

I can see what you’re saying. We’re good.

Again, TBH, I just want the damn puck to drop so they can settle this on the ice.

You are correct. That was over the top. It was more the reception to the comment that rubbed me wrong. An isolated comment is different than one that gets lit up with community approval.

There are ignorant comments here. And we don’t have Thor to point them out anymore. But they can turn green. So, being a newbie of sorts yourself, perhaps you aren’t the best at explaining what the “usual” is here.

if they want to continuosly toss up idiocies, and put up with the replies, so be it

I understand the left wing lock history, but I dispute that it’s a trap. One of the big virtues of the LWL is that all 3 forwards know which guy is going to be high and defensively responsible. That allows the other two forwards to actually forecheck more aggressively. That is in strict contrast to the trap. The dynamics have also changed with the rule changes because the two-line pass rule allowed the D to step up further in the neutral zone and make it even tighter. You can’t do that now.

When I’m looking for a trapping team in the post-lockout NHL I look for two things. First, when you turn over the puck in the offensive zone, what happens? A trapping team will immediately have at least two forwards retreat to the neutral zone and the third forward applies only a passive forecheck. The forecheck doesn’t even try to force the puck carrier to move the puck; they just try to make the puck carrier pick a side of the ice. Once that happens the trap is set. Second, when not setting up after offensive zone possession (say, after a dump and change) where does the first forward commit to the puck carrier? Do they hang around the blueline and try to split the ice in two halves, or do they skate right after the puck carrier and force a decision. Trap teams do the former. It’s not an exact definition, but that’s how I see it. I don’t think DET plays like that at all. I don’t watch NSH at all but when I have I don’t get hit with the “it’s a trap!” conclusions that I get with NJD and some other teams. Also, from reading what Dirk and Chris say about NSH, it looks like they like to get the puck deep and forecheck. That may or may not be a trap strategy (dump and chase frequently goes hand in hand with the trap) but I tend to take their word that it’s not a trap since they watch them most.

I had initially posted the entire entry, but decided it was too long.
Mom always says “Preview before you post”

How else are you going to stop an NHL team from gaining your zone?

This is my problem; that people seem to think you can’t play D without trapping. NJD fans say that crap to the Caps all the time. The Caps attack the puck carrier all over the ice. If you get the puck behind your goal line, the Caps are coming. Blueline? Caps are coming. They’ll never concede an entire zone so that they can set up a trap in the neutral zone. I think most teams have the trap in their repertoire, and that most will use it in certain situations, but I don’t think it’s a primary strategy for more than 3 or 4 teams anymore. I also don’t think all teams actually do use it with any regularity.

as opposed to the 2 – 1 – 2 (or 2 – 2 -1) schemes that are more entertaining to watch.

And yes, when sitting on a lead later in a game, even non-trap team’s will place a high forward further back so as to slip into a sort of practical ‘trap’ effect. But there is a difference when a team starts out with a 3 player back base as a defensive scheme

Pretty much.

Monkeys throw their POO!!!!!

Cause I have an open mind, we’re playing the Hawks, and y’all are funny.

The leader of the Hammer of the Gods line? Was that your creation?

I covered my ears and I bowed when I read this.

Screaming Superior

He is risen. He is risen indeed.

Game time beer and feeds coming back for the playoffs, good sir?

Especially since you refuse to meet us for any events. And have left me to try to clean up the shit around here, which I suck at.

figuring I had not chance once I retrieved it, but seats were still available. I may have gotten some of the very last few seats because I tried at least 5 times with no luck, then got through the very last time I tried. And that was at about 2:10 p.m. Thanks again

Hey are you still in Guatemala right now?

I fail English. At least I work in payroll where I deal with money, my favorite.