we're at a point now, 2 games into the series, where VGK D (5-man unit) has established dominance and we haven't inflicted any pain. we simply have not had success with the forecheck because we have no speed and we have no speed because we are being hemmed in and cannot get quick transition. we were getting in on other team's D because we were able to exit our zone (controlled or not) consistently.
after 2 games, I think we can see that's going to be tough to reverse. we don't look comfortable with the puck, we don't look confident in our reads at either end of the ice. we aren't winning enough races or battles and aren't managing the puck very well. (it sounds dire because it is.)
I think we need to be a little smarter when deciding when commit aggressively to a forecheck. not necessarily a passive trap but a soft(er) 1-2-2 unless we have some speed and get the puck to a winnable area. just pick your spots a little more. make them go 200ft against a forecheck instead of getting easy exits and entries because our Fs are peeling themselves off the end boards after trying to run someone. play smarter and more consistently on the defensive side of the puck.
going balls to the wall could be like .. flailing in quicksand - we're only going to sink faster. VGK have been doing this to every other team. now we're seeing it up close. I don't think there's any chance at changing the dynamic without a change in our approach. maybe the team is fine failing with their identity but I say who knows when we'll be back - I'd rather try something a little different here.
I'm not disputing that Vegas has been the better team, but Panthers haven't been able to establish their game and rhythm.
Take Game 1, they started out really well and Panthers were the better team. Goal mouth scramble, a bunch of back and forth, and only Cousins goes into the box. That already starts changing the rhythm. Then add basically a weird phantom call on Mahura that leads to the VGK goal and they're going "wtf". And its not like Mahura did anything we haven't seen done countless other times by both teams. Vegas won period 3 and Tkachuk/Bennett did dumb stuff. So yeah, Vegas was the better team, but the whole rhythm of how the game started was changed.
Game 2 is the same, they started ok, then Lomberg gets called for something we've seen let go many times while Barbashev gets nothing with Gudas gone. Then Monty gets another one of those weird penalties, which also made no sense because play kept on going and then refs decided to call it for some reason. Vegas exits the period up 2-0.
So yes, Vegas has been the better team. They've capitalized on their chances. Been better defensively. Hill has played well. Not disputing any of that. Not even saying the refs have been biased, just that they've been inconsistent and calling it different this series which has screwed with the Panthers way of playing. And now we're down Luostar and Gudas, its a tough hill to climb with all that.
Now we go into Game 3. There's a certain way we have to play to be successful. Will that be allowed? I have no idea and the Panthers probably don't know either. If this won't be called like all other Cup Finals and the rest of the Playoffs have been called, I don't like our chances. Its technically correct, but it's also incredibly frustrating. If I'm any of the teams we eliminated, I'd be pissed too because we got away with way more the other series.
Exactly. The officiating whining is so cringe inducing.
Always wary of teams that rely on astonishingly great goalie play. Never lasts.
Not over yet.
Call me whining or complaining, I don't care. Games are just being called differently and its pretty clear to not just whiny Panther fans. I'm not even saying its biased, its just inconsistent and not being called the same.
Maybe I shouldn't complain because how the games have been called has helped us get to the Cup Final, but its frustrating to let Panthers develop and win with a certain play style and now they break out the rule book.
