GDT: STORM FOLK @ PREHISTORIC KITTENS

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Nashville is doing what a lot teams did to us during our struggling streak during the season.

Preventing the break outs, playing compact defense, and playing a compact PP.

Will we respond? Get more bodies to the net? Our umbrella approach on the PP and ES O zone time didnt work then or now. We only lob low danger chances at the net (although a lot of our shots are missing the net entirely), if they blocked before it gets there. Lacking the dirty area players / mentality.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Nashville's a really difficult team to beat. Since mid-March they went 20-7-1. And they have a very good goalie. Playing against them is a lot like playing against the Canes. If the Canes look a little sluggish and like they can't hit the net, it's probably more about the quality of opponent than it is about hockey players suddenly forgetting how to hockey.

The upside from a Canes perspective is that in spite of all that, and in spite of missing arguably the team's MVP, they're still just two sudden-death goals away from being done with this series already. They're not playing badly right now, just needing a little nudge to get over the top. This is the way a hard fought playoff series is supposed to feel, right?

 

[hblueridgegal]

Damn lag. Must be that cheap Russian internet.

I have worried that Svech may have sacrificed his game and confidence early on for the betterment of the team when he was on the 3rd line for so much of the season. It certainly helped Staal's rebirth and even Foegs but at what cost to him? While the shots still are not going in, he hustles but looks like an easy read now for opponents.

While the effort will be there, I don't holdout much hope for him regaining his form before our season's conclusion. As someone else suggested, perhaps a good training offseason will help him regroup and he can start anew next fall.

 

[tarheelhockey]

he hustles but looks like an easy read now for opponents.

That's exactly what the issue is. Svech is not a deceptive player. He gets the puck on his stick and looks for 1 of about 3 shots at beating the goalie cleanly. Opponents get used to those looks and learn to cut them off before they develop -- it's the same reason Laine has faded so much since he took the league by storm.

If he's going to take the next step toward full-blown stardom, Svech has to 1) learn to use his linemates, and 2) learn to be a bit more deceptive and unpredictable. The raw skills are all there and I think he's got as good as shot as any 21-year-old at figuring things out. But that's not gonna happen in the middle of a playoff run. For now, we just have to hope his shots start falling.

 

[CanesFanBudMan]

It’s his 3rd year in the league, he’s only 21, and 2 of those years were shortened.

 

[3CanesInTheBox]

#Canesin6.

let's get it done.

then we can burn various players at the stake between rounds.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

It's not the potential for a 7 game series that I'm worried about. It's having to potentially go against a rested Tampa after playing the equivalent of more than 8 games over the span of 14 days where our top defensemen have multiple games of 30-40 mins per night that worries me.

Tampa has a war of their own to deal with. This is the playoffs.

 

[3CanesInTheBox]

 

[tarheelhockey]

Love the dramatic pause

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

Love the dramatic pause

YOU KNOW WHAT I LOVE?

WINNING.

LET'S DO THAT AGAIN.

 

[Chrispy]

That's exactly what the issue is. Svech is not a deceptive player. He gets the puck on his stick and looks for 1 of about 3 shots at beating the goalie cleanly. Opponents get used to those looks and learn to cut them off before they develop -- it's the same reason Laine has faded so much since he took the league by storm.

If he's going to take the next step toward full-blown stardom, Svech has to 1) learn to use his linemates, and 2) learn to be a bit more deceptive and unpredictable. The raw skills are all there and I think he's got as good as shot as any 21-year-old at figuring things out. But that's not gonna happen in the middle of a playoff run. For now, we just have to hope his shots start falling.

I think he's done a very good job of #1 in his first few seasons. His passing is better than I anticipated coming straight out of the draft, but he has been focused on shooting during the playoffs for whatever reason. Some of the best plays we've had have been passes from Svech (the game 2 PP goal, for instance.) Maybe it's that Nashville is taking away the pass and daring him to shoot, feeling confident Saros can stop his typical shots with clear vision of the shot.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I think he's done a very good job of #1 in his first few seasons. His passing is better than I anticipated coming straight out of the draft, but he has been focused on shooting during the playoffs for whatever reason. Some of the best plays we've had have been passes from Svech (the game 2 PP goal, for instance.) Maybe it's that Nashville is taking away the pass and daring him to shoot, feeling confident Saros can stop his typical shots with clear vision of the shot.

If so, I agree with Nashville’s approach. Much like Mrazek and Ned, trusting Saros to make the first save while eliminating passing and rebound threats is the way to go.

 

[GoldiFox]

To me it looks like Nashville is shutting down just about 100% of Carolina's set plays by collapsing into the slot and clogging the middle. Whether by design or current levels of confidence, nobody on the team is willing to skate the puck to the middle and make a play. Without an individual stepping up they will have to rely on a lot more net-front, rebounds, and chaos to score. They should still win the series playing that style. However they have to stop spreading 5 guys out on the perimeter and just passing around, it isn't working at all.

 

[3CanesInTheBox]

same, Sara, same

 

[hblueridgegal]

So nice to hear how they lift each other up.

I had my moment of mourning for the easy road..on to the next one...we ain't dead yet.

 

[tarheelhockey]

same, Sara, same

I really do hate how TV schedules mess with important games. 9:30pm EST against a team playing on CST is absurd.

 

[Roboturner913]

I mean, I don't see the issue, it's not like this is going to go to double overtime and keep people up to 1 or 2 a.m.

 

[Lempo]

It would be horrible if game ended at 2 a.m.

 

[ClarkBolzano]

I mean, you score three, decent chance to win. Hamilton played very badly and contributed to all the goals against. Ned certainly not playing at his highest level. But even with that and some other big issues to fix, they lost a couple of double OT games. I think the Canes will still win the series.

I Would try Aho -Necas-svech

 

[ClarkBolzano]

If so, I agree with Nashville’s approach. Much like Mrazek and Ned, trusting Saros to make the first save while eliminating passing and rebound threats is the way to go.

Svech has a lot more than his shot. Rod should consider to fna put him back on his natural Position which is RW. All goals He scored and all the things which made him the second Overall in the draft was him playing RW.

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

I gotta say I’m loving being out west during the playoffs. Games start at a reasonable time and are done early enough that I can still get a good sleep

 

[Tryamw]

I gotta say I’m loving being out west during the playoffs. Games start at a reasonable time and are done early enough that I can still get a good sleep

/rude

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

I mean, I don't see the issue, it's not like this is going to go to double overtime and keep people up to 1 or 2 a.m.

*ANGRY EUROPEAN NOISES*

*SUDDEN MOMENT OF CLARITY*

WAIT A MINUTE.

I ACTUALLY WANT THAT. I COULD WAKE UP AT 6 O’CLOCK, MAKE A BREAKFAST, WATCH THE END OF THE GAME…

 

[Stickpucker]

To me it looks like Nashville is shutting down just about 100% of Carolina's set plays by collapsing into the slot and clogging the middle. Whether by design or current levels of confidence, nobody on the team is willing to skate the puck to the middle and make a play. Without an individual stepping up they will have to rely on a lot more net-front, rebounds, and chaos to score. They should still win the series playing that style. However they have to stop spreading 5 guys out on the perimeter and just passing around, it isn't working at all.

I'd agree and then when I look at the roster of guys who could/should be trying to get to the interior of the ice I start looking at Svech, Nino, and Foegele. I'll add Tro to that list, but sometimes you see Foegele or Tro with really nice stickhandling through one or two guys to set up a big play. I realize that kills possession sometimes but when teams are playing like Nashville if you can draw a second man to you and get them out of their structure it will lead to more high quality shots. In those cases I'm cool with going away from our 100% cyle and forecheck gameplan.

 

[Tryamw]

Apparently Slavin is paired with Hamilton (Unsure if pig) in morning skate.