here's my game 5 improvement idea
1) Wings need to improve their PP. yes they scored last game but still we can all agree that it could get better. First thing Wings should do when they get PP is that they have to be willing to engage and win battle. It's not just the Wings, this happens to all 30 teams. When they are awarded PP, all of sudden they start losing 80% of the battle and the PKers always gets the puck. We've all seen 1 PK winning the puck against 2 or sometimes 3 PP. If they do that maybe they won't be so afraid of PK forechecker and 4 PP guys converge into defend just 1 PK guy like bunch of dumb *****. That's a small moral buster right there.
This kinda applies to defending 1 goal lead in last minute. I've heard all kinds of excuses from different coaches after they lose a game by allowing a tying goal. 'oh maybe we shoulda done this or done that'. NO. that's because your team lost all the battles and gave the puck away to the other team.
2) Still about PP, it has to get more dangerous. It's not just Wings. Right now, PK around the league are doing a very good job. I think part of the solution is quicker movement of the puck. Right now, sometimes I feel that point man wastes too much time thinking about play that's not there. It gives enough time for PK + goalie to adjust and block whatever they are trying to do. Moving the puck fast is not always the best or safest idea but if nothing's there, unless they throw the puck at the net, they should at least try to move the puck quicker (while being safe) or create some motion during PP
3) Last pt about PP, I think Wings could maybe setup one timer set pass play or something to guy in middle or to net front guy. At least that will disrupt PK and create some sort of chaos. Even if they pull it once in a while, it might put some uncertainly into PKer's head and maybe they will react slow or overreact.
4) Hawks will be coming out with more of everything. More desperation, more drive to the net, more skating. They might get little pumped up at the beginning what with their rowdy crowd behind them and everything. I thought Wings did an excellent job in forechecking and made their D really uncomfortable. Wings should keep doing that. But also, we have to win the major battle. The battle of the will. At this point, I think this series is all about winning the puck. Naturally, Hawks have more to give tomorrow as it's their do or die game and it's their home game. Plus they are quicker so they can get to dump ins and loose puck faster. However, Wings have to dig deep and impose their will on these elite BlackHawks. They can not let Blackhawks impose their will on them. How do we do this? Getting momentum in anyways helps. Winning a small puck battle, forechecking duncan keith or making a nice skill play. If Wings start losing these battles, soon or later, the flood gate will open and it will get very very difficult to close it back at that point. Especially in Chicago. If Wings lose momentum, they have to try hard to get it back right away. Hawks are an elite team and they will inevitably win their share. But Wings can't let them win many consecutively.
5) Hawks had pretty good scoring chances in game 4 while sneaking behind our D. Any of their top 6 guys are capable of doing this and they have speed to make it work. Our D man has to be aware of all time where their man is and who's coming out of the bench during line change.
