His job shouldn’t be at risk, he should be fired already.
There is structure but it’s just a wrong approach in the Dzone because this hybrid system abandoned clogging up the neutral zone. He can fix this if he just tries to play a traditional defensive system like every other team in the league. They can’t play 1/2 Trotz system. Either go at it 100% or abandon it completely. They need to do the latter and just completely shelf Trotz system but this might be all Lambert knows.
and this is why Lambert, or the system, has to go....has had to since the start of the season (at least). I still maintain we are more lucky than good in too many areas and while that is an admirable trait, well at least a nice one to have, it is not sustainable. This team has not played good defense since game 1 and i tend to feel that the coaching staff is responsible more so than the players.
It's not just one game unfortunately. The Carolina game was a D zone disaster. And in many cases it's not the defenseman that are an issue. Zeke's line on for zero goals and Nelson line on for one. The other two lines had defensive liabilities at RW last night and neither of those 2 back check worth a damn.
They had more coverage in the D zone because Trotz system had all the players on the ice back providing coverage but this puts us back on square one - no offense. So we essentially have 1/2 of Trotz system in the dzone with the 2 defenders running back towards the goaltender and opposing teams just flying into the defensive zone unimpeded. If they just switch to a traditional man in man defense and just stop the players along the boards like every other team in the league does they will be fine. It’s like the Isles don’t even have a D or are a perpetual penalty kill just boxing out in front of the goaltender. It’s just ridiculous. Why can’t Lambert see this? Why is this team giving the other team a power play that lasts the entire game? Yesterday was this system at its worse he’s got to abandon Trotz system completely or they are going to continue to get slaughtered like last night or continue to lose leads late in the game. This system puts too much pressure on the goaltenders.
Back checking- yes that’s needed the only problem is the league is calling hooking penalties so closely that it’s difficult to back check.
When the Isles play well, it is proof that Lambert is a brilliant coach and the team is finally "unleashed." When they don't play well it is proof that Trotz and his system suck.
I guess, maybe, but try explaining that to my 12 y/o who gets to go to maybe 2-3 games per season.
If that's your interpretation of what I've been consistently saying since day 1 go ahead and think that. As I've said, the pusher mentality or basketball defense will work if you have enough men back to provide coverage. Either stay with Trotz system 100% or abandon it completely. As I said just days ago, you can't have one foot on the boat and one foot on the dock it's a dangerous place to be. This is a far cry from saying "Trotz and his system suck". As I've also said the team is going through a transition. There will be growing pains. Beyond a doubt they are playing better hockey on the PP and offensive zone. They just got to get back to the basics on D and they will be fine. Yesterday was just one game. I would be worried if they don't make system changes on the D in the long run however.
Game was fine really until pens scored first goal, pretty low event game and wheels fell off. The three man high thing gives a lot of teams problems, the Horvat line does it and gives teams problems. I’m not sure what it is, suspect it’s indecision on defenseman’s part to go out that high. Recent play allows you to just chuck it out and get ready for Friday and pay them back sunday in their building. It annoyed me a minor bit that Dobson olayed 25 mins, I would have just let him sit down last ten of third.
Ilya and Igor both haven't been good goalies this season. Ilya played a great game against Edmonton. Problem is that this team lets teams linger now. Its their biggest kryptonite
One would think that was the center's responsibility, and you are right that was a big problem.
I hear ya. The vast majority of the games where he's given up 4 or more, he has "played well" and "looked good" and "can't blame him on any of those" but how many times are we going to say that? I do consider yesterday an anomaly and we still sit in a pretty good position. But some big concerns remain, for sure.
Can't blame you I too never leave a game early but this one would have definitely tested that.
There was a game a few years back where the isles were on NBC and got spanked by Tampa at Barclays. I was at that game and left after the second period as well.
