GDT: GDT Game #III Pens vs Flames 1900hrs EST: The BlindWillyMcHurt Banishment Edition

[Ryder71]

If Hextall was still here he would have given Carter a two-year extension by now.

Lifetime contract like Bobby bo

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Why does Sullivan give the line with already poor offensive zone play more opportunity? Of what value is that to the team and game? You put your offensive threats in the best opportunity to score.

Already explained that. There will be nights where L1 and L2 will be worse than L3 or L4. As a coach, you adjust at that time.
Sometimes we get our top guys ghosting or being such big defensive liabilities where their offense isn't worth it. That was the case with Malkin's line last year in the 2nd half. Fat minuses.

But this also gets more to the point of Jesse's post about shifts beginning more on the fly than via faceoffs. The GF% doesn't start and stop only when there is or is not a faceoff in a particular zone. Realistically, it's only a single factor in a multi-factor analysis of a player or line's overall play.

Single factor, yes. Huge factor, also yes. Not to mention GA% gets impacted by these changes too.

 

[SEALBound]

Already explained that. There will be nights where L1 and L2 will be worse than L3 or L4. As a coach, you adjust at that time.

I think that's a good internet reply that doesn't have any basis in reality, no offense. If the team is down 1-2 goals late in the game and L3 and L4 are carrying the play and you get an offensive zone faceoff...do you really think Sullivan is putting out Nieto-Accari-Carter over Jake-Sid-Rust? Over any sample size that is meaningful, I say no.

Sometimes we get our top guys ghosting or being such big defensive liabilities where their offense isn't worth it. That was the case with Malkin's line last year in the 2nd half. Fat minuses.

Which is why you then keep that line in the offensive zone and play the L3/4 guys in the defensive zone.

Single factor, yes. Huge factor, also yes. Not to mention GA% gets impacted by these changes too.

Not a huge factor. At all. A factor yes. Huge? No.

Zone-Starts – Hockey Graphs

Posts about Zone-Starts written by Matt Cane, Benjamin Wendorf, Garret Hohl, and garik16

hockey-graphs.com

How much do zone starts matter part I: (Maybe) not as much as we thought

In 2013-2014 Boyd Gordon and Manny Malholtra were two of the worst players in raw CF% across the league at 42.3% and 41.6% respectively. Most people would argue that their results were not all that…

puckplusplus.com

How much do zone starts matter part II: A lot on their own, not that much in aggregate

In Part I of our review of zone starts, we looked at the how the traditional definition of zone starts varied from what most people would consider a “true” zone start, and found that when we applie…

puckplusplus.com

 

[RSPens]

Yes cause that would mean the cup

Not exactly, see Roger Crozier (1966), Glenn Hall (1968), Reggie Leach (1976, only skater), Ron Hextall (1987), J.S. Giguere (2003)

 

[BusinessGoose]

Not exactly, see Roger Crozier (1966), Glenn Hall (1968), Reggie Leach (1976, only skater), Ron Hextall (1987), J.S. Giguere (2003)

Yeah. Youre arguing against an comment that was TOTALLY serious...

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

 

[Shrimper]

I'm confused, I thought our season was over after we lost to Chicago? That's what I was told anyway

 

[BusinessGoose]

I'm confused, I thought our season was over after we lost to Chicago? That's what I was told anyway

I mean, it was the also geriatric Caps...

 

[Zirakzigil]

What did I miss that @BlindWillyMcHurt did something that he gets publicly banned in title and thread????? but BWMH is here posting now?! WHAT DID I MISS outside of the pens giving the capitals a good old fashion schlacking

Openly admitted last night to being outside for the first 2 goals in the GDT. Then voluntarily suggested to go back outside for the rest of the game. I’m not superstitious….

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I'll be using my time in exile well. Gonna do fajitas on the new Blackstone.

...with the game on my phone. Beers will be sporadic to plentiful depending on how the game goes.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

I think that's a good internet reply that doesn't have any basis in reality, no offense. If the team is down 1-2 goals late in the game and L3 and L4 are carrying the play and you get an offensive zone faceoff...do you really think Sullivan is putting out Nieto-Accari-Carter over Jake-Sid-Rust? Over any sample size that is meaningful, I say no.

This is not a discussion about what Sullivan will do. If we limited ourselves to that, for the sake of realism, there'd be almost nothing to discuss here, ever. He's completely stuck in his ways, no matter what happens.
This is about what I think should be done, on a case by case basis, depending on the flow of the game. Sullivan coaches every game the same. We saw where that leads to last year.

Which is why you then keep that line in the offensive zone and play the L3/4 guys in the defensive zone.

If you need a goal and L1 and L2 look unlikely to produce one, you use the lines that have more offensive jump on the given night. At least, that's what I'd prefer to be done.
You also boost L3 and L4's minutes if they are outplaying the top-six, to encourage the concept of performance dictating usage. The players need to believe that matters.

This isn't just about goals for or against either. Morale is important. It impacts performance. Playing 80% D-zone start hockey all year wears you down emotionally. We saw this happen last season.
L3 and L4 sometimes need to feel like they have a little more to offer the team than just shutdown hockey.
Players feel better when they're scoring.
It's an intangible, but it's something you gotta pay attention to as a coach, to keep the atmosphere healthy.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

I mean, it was the also geriatric Caps...

Pens doomed

 

[DesertedPenguin]

As expected...

 

[Ignatius]

Personally I think that EK65 needs to get back to his Pirates of the Caribbean look with the long hair, I'm not sure if Kristopher wants that much competition though...

 

[Jobeycool]

I'm going way out on a limb and picking the guy who is not going to even make it very long in the NHL to get junky deflection goal... Harkins.

 

[chethejet]

Pens back to back. Caps are not good but the Flames can be hard to beat here. Pens at home and see if they can get on a run here.

 

[cygnus47]

I vote Smith.

We’re way better than the caps. We’ve got the same kind of team makeup but all our best players are significantly better than theirs.

 

[Ugene Magic]

It's linked... Not adding play now. lol

 

[66-30-33]

Lindholm gets first goal 5 minutes into the 1st period.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

This game's going to be a big test to see how this team performs on back to back nights, as well as how they perform against a team that isn't dogshit.

Also forgot that Noodle Jack-O-Lantern was our backup. We found a guy even smaller than DeSmith to replace our diminutive backup.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

This game's going to be a big test to see how this team performs on back to back nights, as well as how they perform against a team that isn't dogshit.

Also forgot that Noodle Jack-O-Lantern was our backup. We found a guy even smaller than DeSmith to replace our diminutive backup.

They're the same height. Nedeljkovic is 27lbs heavier.

 

[Headshot77]

I'll be using my time in exile well. Gonna do fajitas on the new Blackstone.

...with the game on my phone. Beers will be sporadic to plentiful depending on how the game goes.

More beers if we're doing well or more beers if we're doing terribly?

 

[Andy99]

All You need to know, folks…I’d do something else tonight lol

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

More beers if we're doing well or more beers if we're doing terribly?

Yes.

 

[Andy99]

Also not so good lol