Leafs @ Flames - Nov. 28th, 9:00pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

[herman]

Penguins did similar things last year with their weaker defense corps. Hyper aggressive gapping on turnover rushes to give time for their much better forwards to motor back into recovering the puck in the NZ.

So were the Leafs trying this earlier, and it just took time for them to get it, or is this a change in tatic during the season?  They seemed to be way more effective the last couple of games in limiting odd man rushes.

Honestly, I only noticed the North-South aggression and didn't realize it could be applied East-West until Bourne pointed it out. I'll certainly be watching for it now.

What I did notice was Polak on the left wall pinching down to the goal-line last game, which was crazy cakes. I wondered how he ended up there, and now I have an idea why. It's not optimal that it's Polak, but the fact that a turnover rush turned into Roman Polak forechecking deep in enemy territory sort of speaks to its effectiveness (or at least surprise factor).

 

[Frank E]

Penguins did similar things last year with their weaker defense corps. Hyper aggressive gapping on turnover rushes to give time for their much better forwards to motor back into recovering the puck in the NZ.

So were the Leafs trying this earlier, and it just took time for them to get it, or is this a change in tatic during the season?  They seemed to be way more effective the last couple of games in limiting odd man rushes.

Honestly, I only noticed the North-South aggression and didn't realize it could be applied East-West until Bourne pointed it out. I'll certainly be watching for it now.

What I did notice was Polak on the left wall pinching down to the goal-line last game, which was crazy cakes. I wondered how he ended up there, and now I have an idea why. It's not optimal that it's Polak, but the fact that a turnover rush turned into Roman Polak forechecking deep in enemy territory sort of speaks to its effectiveness (or at least surprise factor).

Yeah, I noticed that too...I think that was on the Kadri goal.

 

[herman]

Yeah, I noticed that too...I think that was on the Kadri goal.

Polak went deep on that play, but he was on the right wing boards off the faceoff. The one I'm thinking of was earlier in the game. L K and I noted it at around 10:19, and Hyman connected with Zaitsev a few shifts later.

 

[Frank E]

Yeah, I noticed that too...I think that was on the Kadri goal.

Polak went deep on that play, but he was on the right wing boards off the faceoff. The one I'm thinking of was earlier in the game. L K and I noted it at around 10:19, and Hyman connected with Zaitsev a few shifts later.

Yeah, it was the Kadri one I was referring to...Polak going in to pinch in deep'ish on the boards makes me nervous, but that play worked out as he forced a turnover there.