ap3lovr
Registered User
I've noticed this as well. The Habs D invariably cheat down toward the Bruins forward on the wall when the Bruins D gets the puck, and it really stifles the breakouts. They seem to do it more than most teams against the Bruins (I was amazed watching Phoenix the other night - their D would habitually back off, which payed right into the Bruins breakout). I have also thought of the high dump in the middle against the Habs - would only take a few times before the Habs D would think twice about cheating. Not the greatest puck possession strategy, though, but at this point try anything.
I hate the high dump up the middle as I feel it is so disruptive to the flow of the game, but against a fast team it really takes away any speed through the nuetral zone they would have on re-entry. They are forced to dump and chase and as long as we anticipate that we should be ok.
I understand why you would play an unaltered game plan against them in the regular season. You want them to expect one thing and then do another in the playoffs. I just honestly wonder if the coaching staff simply believes the issue to be a "compete" issue and not an issue with the system they are executing.