For the last several seasons, we see the same patterns emerging around this time of year... Of course, the team will be put on Crosby and Malkin's back and they will go on a winning streak, etc, and these weaknesses are covered up/forgotten.
Coverage breakdowns, lack of discipline and accountability, lack of skill in the top six, and the biggest one of all, the Crosby/Malkin blueprint.
Teams that smother Crosby and Malkin are using "layers" to accomplish it, and it has been the same story for awhile. Whether they are using a box/1 or more aggressive sagging zones, the goal is to play soft on Crosby and Malkin's wingers, and to aggressively attack Malkin/Crosby.
In the NZ, these teams generally have the first man back pressure Malkin/Crosby with the strong side blueliner. This is unusual because the first man back is suppose to cover up the middle and leave the puck carrier to the blueliners.
They are once again daring their wingers to beat them.
Most teams don't have the discipline/talent to smother both Malkin and Crosby, or those two use their talent to break these systems down.
But come playoff time, the Bruins, and I believe if the Wings sneak in, could beat this team using these strategies once again. The powerhouse teams in the West are ideally built to smother Malkin/Crosby.
The Leafs and Hawks broke down the Bruins layers because their talent was spread out on every line and both teams had very skilled top sixes.
Not only will the elite teams have the talent, but the coaching as well to exploit the disadvantages Crosby and Malkin are forced to play against.
So if we know how this story ends, why bother? I'm still hoping Shero finds a way to inject more skill and toughness in this lineup, but he is going to have to make roster players available that he isn't comfortable with.
This means he has to be willing to move Nisky, Orpik, Sutter, Martin, etc in an actual hockey trade and not just his "prospect assets".
