2/9 - Sharks @ Butch Cassidy & The Corsi Kids
- Thread starter PedroSpecialK
- Start date
Haggerty will, for sure. Claude must've kicked his invisible dog last year.
That was some amazing movement. I'll give them this, they're playing some inspired hockey right now.
They've given up some crazy, suicidal chances. Or at least I think they have, maybe I've just watched a Claude team for so many years I no longer recognize what is normal. But the scoring and passing has been great to see. Bergeron has sublime.
PP is 9-21 recently. They've been hot.
I'd have to look at the shot chart, but I think they've taken less point / perimeter shots tonight.
I'd have to look at the shot chart, but I think they've taken less point / perimeter shots tonight.
If firing Claude means they're going to increase the level of high value shots, and put less focus on firing indiscriminately from the point, I will totally be in favor of the move.
I fully admit, that looked like a different team out there. I didn't see it live, but watched the highlights and just rewatched the first two periods.
The sloppy play in their own zone was concerning, however.
The sloppy play in their own zone was concerning, however.
Marchand's goal and assist last night give him 57 points in 56 games this season. He's tied for 3rd in league scoring, trailing only Crosby and McDavid. Just an unreal year for him. Pastrnak has 46 points in 49 games, tied for 23rd in the league, and that's including like a 20 game goal less streak.
The thing I saw last night that was different in an incredibly positive way was the B's actually feeling comfortable taking shots when they get a good first look. Under Claude, I saw them give up a 7/10 opportunity to try and get a 9/10, but then settle for a 5/10 after the defense got set.
Last night there were a number of times that once the puck and positioning got established in the offensive zone, the first really good shot was taken, and there was usually a big guy (like Backes) in front trying to screen, and get rebounds. There were some easy saves, but also some iffy ones that gave up rebounds that could be taken advantage of. I thought the B's spent a lot more time below and between the dots than prior games this season.
Also, Paul Martin is a very nice person. I went last night with a friend who knows him and got to have a quick chat with him postgame.
Last night there were a number of times that once the puck and positioning got established in the offensive zone, the first really good shot was taken, and there was usually a big guy (like Backes) in front trying to screen, and get rebounds. There were some easy saves, but also some iffy ones that gave up rebounds that could be taken advantage of. I thought the B's spent a lot more time below and between the dots than prior games this season.
Also, Paul Martin is a very nice person. I went last night with a friend who knows him and got to have a quick chat with him postgame.
It's one game, so I'm not trying to infer too much from the game as far as philosphy/gameplan changes, but there were some positives offensively.
On the defensive side of the ice, there were a lot of concerns. They routinely got caught in their own zone for a minute at a time. That will not fly in the postseason.
I did like how Cassidy kept rolling all 4 lines like Claude would do.
On the defensive side of the ice, there were a lot of concerns. They routinely got caught in their own zone for a minute at a time. That will not fly in the postseason.
I did like how Cassidy kept rolling all 4 lines like Claude would do.
I'm interested to know why Backes was on the Bergy line. Did it have to do with Cam calling him out? Was Cassidy trying to hook him up by getting him on that line? Was it ordered from above in hopes of saving face on the signing? Just a shakeup? A way to get Spooner into his natural role? All the above?
Either way, it had a big effect across multiple lines in a good way (SSS of course).
Either way, it had a big effect across multiple lines in a good way (SSS of course).
We saw it in the first few games of the season. I'm not sure why Claude never went back to it, but I think he fits pretty well on that line as well.
My guess is it had more to do with getting Pastrnak with Krejci than anything else. They're trying to spread out the scoring. Krejci/Backes duo hasn't really worked all year.
This is just a guess, but my thought on it was that it was more about getting Pasta onto Krejci's wing and spreading the offense a bit more across the top two lines than having a juggernaut first line and not much else. By moving Pasta you have to fill that first line role with someone... Backes is the best candidate to fill the vacated top line RW role as Spooner is a left shot and would be exposed on the top line anyways.
*edit* what he said ^
I like Pasta with Krejci and Belesky. If Spooner doesn't work out at 3rd line C and we get a top six wing at the deadline, I would put Backes at C on the 3rd line.
After doing so well for so long. NESN had a 9/21 in their last 6 games stat, with at least 1 in all 6.