KillerMillerTime
Registered User
- Jun 30, 2019
- 6,892
- 5,490
Yeah I think that's worth trying. More low to high, and some quicker puck movement. You need to stretch and shift around the defenders more before you go for that east-west pass or send it into the slot or crease. Seems at the moment like there's too much just working the puck around the umbrella and then trying to force a setup pass that hasn't been earned and isn't there.
Also I often wonder how the Caps get away with the same old play of having Ovi basically standing in the circle game after game and looking to tee him up for one-timers. Been doing it for years and its utterly predictable and yet its success rate is still pretty high. Pasta's shot isn't quite as heavy as Ovechkin's but it's not that far off. To me that position on the left half wall is his spot for PPs. Doesn't mean you try to overuse him but that's where he should be hovering 80-90% of the time. He's got a weapon that the opposition has to respect and can't afford to cheat on, so to me having him there gives you an advantage - even if he's not getting a lot of shots off he's probably still going to be creating a little more space elsewhere simply by posing a threat. Conversely when he's wandering the blue line or carrying the puck he's much easier to nullify.
I think Backstrom and Carlson are better passers than Bergeron and McAvoy\Lindholm. Not a lot better but better and Carlson can shoot it which makes the PK more honest.