It still seems to me - and this is especially apparent on the Power Play, but also on 5v5 - that we don't seem to know what to do AFTER we get into the Offensive Zone. Our procedure is to simply cycle the puck until we are forced into taking a shot, rather than trying to create a shot.
If we were to engage more in the center of the ice, I think this would draw defenders, open up the point, and give meaning to puck movement (assuming that we actually move the puck to the OTHER half of the ice, and not just mostly on the strong-side). In order to "create the shot", we have to force the opponent to make a mistake, and then capitalize, and that's just not going to happen when they can sit uncontested in the middle of the ice and block chances from the perimeter. I suppose we could get lucky that Rinne gets screened by his own players, but I think it's worth losing an extra man along the board (both on 5v5 and the PP) to create a net-front presence. The player along the boards has to drive HARD towards the center of the ice and threaten to shoot. If the shot just isn't there, we need to pass to the point and make a quick D-to-D pass while that original winger continues to drive the net and create havoc. Then the Strong-side D has the opportunity to make a point shot, pass down low to the strong-side winger, or pass back to the weak-side Dman and continue to work the play.
I'm tired of seeing cycling along the boards to maintain possession only to funnel it back to the point. What did that change in the defense? Nothing. Nothing was accomplished other than eating time and maintaining possession (which is an awful strategy on the PP and a weak strategy the rest of the time. I think this is why we are so successful if we score first, and subsequently why we seem to "turtle" and eventually lose our lead after the winger has completely dizzied himself from over-cycling and then makes a bad pass to one of our Dmen. Breakaway ensues, our players are tired and dizzy, and we either get scored on on the breakaway, or the following sustained pressure.
Sure, our zone entry is sloppy, and of course this is so - only AP is left from our regular season zone-entry success (Parayko still needs work if he isn't given/allowing himself to carry the puck at least as an option), but I think it's far more troubling, and easier to fix, our game plan AFTER we get in the Offensive Zone. I actually think the STRATEGY of our zone entry is just fine - we just are missing some key players to make it most effective (Fabbri, Shattenkirk, a healthy Steen and Stastny). Fix what happens IN the zone after entering, and I think we'll start decisively winning some games.
