"No Red Line" defensive system...

[Johnny Engine]

I'm not sure if this is the exact forum I should put this in, but...

A few years ago, at the Salt Lake City Olympics, I remember hearing a lot about Canadian defensemen (particularly power-oriented guys like Rob Blake) having to adjust to playing with no red line, and using some sort of defensive system the announcers were calling "4 across center" or something like that, used to deal with long-bomb passes from the opposing defense.
Since the NHL has done away with the red line, I've heard nothing about it. Anyone know what this system actually entails, and why it was used in European/International hockey but not the "New NHL"?

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[Razzmatazz]

I think part of that is because the ice is so much wider in international. That didn't come up in Vancouver because they were using NHL rinks.

From 2002, I remember the Germans were not at the level of talent as most of the other clubs, so they just played quarters across the neutral zone with one forechecker.