Leafs @ Predators - Mar. 30th, 8:00pm - TSN4, Fan 590

[bustaheims]

His partner, Zaitsev, wasn't covering anybody.

He went to the front of the net, which is the right play if Martin takes Forsberg. He would have been in position to cut off the cross-crease pass to the open Pred on the other side of the net. Of course, Martin didn't take Forsberg, so, it left Zaitsev without anything to protect against.

 

[Kaberle15]

Showing off the "We Rule Playoff Edition", Barney ?  ;D

 

[CarltonTheBear]

He went to the front of the net, which is the right play if Martin takes Forsberg. He would have been in position to cut off the cross-crease pass to the open Pred on the other side of the net. Of course, Martin didn't take Forsberg, so, it left Zaitsev without anything to protect against.

I think it feels that way from the gif above, but I think the mistake was made before that gif started. Zaitsev should have identified Forsberg at his guy before then. The second the Preds got into the zone Zaitsev started backing off toward the net and there wasn't a threat there at that point. That's way too early to do that.

https://www.nhl.com/video/forsbergs-sweet-snipe/t-283442228/c-50968903

 

[bustaheims]

I think it feels that way from the gif above, but I think the mistake was made before that gif started. Zaitsev should have identified Forsberg at his guy before then. The second the Preds got into the zone Zaitsev started backing off toward the net and there wasn't a threat there at that point. That's way too early to do that.

https://www.nhl.com/video/forsbergs-sweet-snipe/t-283442228/c-50968903

That's fair. He didn't a great job. I just think his decisions were made to look worse because of Martin's non-decision.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I think it feels that way from the gif above, but I think the mistake was made before that gif started. Zaitsev should have identified Forsberg at his guy before then. The second the Preds got into the zone Zaitsev started backing off toward the net and there wasn't a threat there at that point. That's way too early to do that.

https://www.nhl.com/video/forsbergs-sweet-snipe/t-283442228/c-50968903

That's fair. He didn't a great job. I just think his decisions were made to look worse because of Martin's non-decision.

That's how I saw it too.

 

[herman]

He went to the front of the net, which is the right play if Martin takes Forsberg. He would have been in position to cut off the cross-crease pass to the open Pred on the other side of the net. Of course, Martin didn't take Forsberg, so, it left Zaitsev without anything to protect against.

I think it feels that way from the gif above, but I think the mistake was made before that gif started. Zaitsev should have identified Forsberg at his guy before then. The second the Preds got into the zone Zaitsev started backing off toward the net and there wasn't a threat there at that point. That's way too early to do that.

https://www.nhl.com/video/forsbergs-sweet-snipe/t-283442228/c-50968903

I'm still leaning towards it being a forward issue. It was a 4-on-3 zone entry of their first line catching our 4th line,
- Boyle being slow to get back, he tried to hit someone at the red line, and could not offer any backside pressure
- Kapanen being far away, down at the boards in the OZ, but still back before Boyle, looking to cover Bitetto
- Martin forced to pick between Forsberg (puck), Arvidsson (middle), and Bitetto (streaking down the left wing) chose no one, but backed right up against...
- Zaitsev, who floated back thinking he would take whoever Martin didn't (Arvidsson)

 

[CarltonTheBear]

That's fair. He didn't a great job. I just think his decisions were made to look worse because of Martin's non-decision.

But I feel like Zaitsev's poor decision is what sort of forced Martin into a non-decision. This is Forsberg skating into the circle:

The Preds have 4 players in the offensive zone now, and the Leafs have 3. Martin's essentially defending a 3-on-1 there. Yes, he was in a bit of no-mans land, but if he makes a move closer to Forsberg that's an easy drop pass to the Pred behind him and the team is still in trouble.

Also, as the Preds enter the zone it actually looks like Zaitsev is pointing toward the blue line at centre ice. That's generally how a defenceman communicates with his forward as to who to cover so he's telling Martin to watch the guys coming in. I really think Martin assumed Zaitsev was going to cover the puck carrier and was caught off guard when that didn't happen.

 

[Boston Leaf]

Right now? Who cares we won ;D

 

[wnc096]

Right now? Who cares we won ;D

Exactly...they gave up one goal.  So lets analyze it to death

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Nope. The shooter was on Gardiner's side of the ice. I don't know why he would cover the guy on the far boards with no angle and leave the guy to walk into the slot.

Johansen was along the far boards because of Gardiner. He did the right thing, and filtered his man out of the play. If Gardiner takes Forsberg, Johansen is free to cut to the net, and there's a clear passing lane to get him the puck. Martin needed to get into Forsberg's path there - he's the one who really misread the play.

If that's how easy it is to pull a dman away from the net and into the corner, you figure we'd see this a lot more often. Gardiner is outside the Rink within the Rink. A dman needs to keep players to the outside but shouldn't do it by sacrificing the middle of the ice. He over committed to the Preds player in the corner and gave a lane to Forsberg that should never be given.

Rink inside the Rink: http://howtohockey.com/the-rink-within-the-rink-using-the-markings/

 

[Guilt Trip]

Nope. The shooter was on Gardiner's side of the ice. I don't know why he would cover the guy on the far boards with no angle and leave the guy to walk into the slot.

Johansen was along the far boards because of Gardiner. He did the right thing, and filtered his man out of the play. If Gardiner takes Forsberg, Johansen is free to cut to the net, and there's a clear passing lane to get him the puck. Martin needed to get into Forsberg's path there - he's the one who really misread the play.

If that's how easy it is to pull a dman away from the net and into the corner, you figure we'd see this a lot more often. Gardiner is outside the Rink within the Rink. A dman needs to keep players to the outside but shouldn't do it by sacrificing the middle of the ice. He over committed to the Preds player in the corner and gave a lane to Forsberg that should never be given.

Rink inside the Rink: http://howtohockey.com/the-rink-within-the-rink-using-the-markings/

Winner

 

[Zee]

Nope. The shooter was on Gardiner's side of the ice. I don't know why he would cover the guy on the far boards with no angle and leave the guy to walk into the slot.

Johansen was along the far boards because of Gardiner. He did the right thing, and filtered his man out of the play. If Gardiner takes Forsberg, Johansen is free to cut to the net, and there's a clear passing lane to get him the puck. Martin needed to get into Forsberg's path there - he's the one who really misread the play.

If that's how easy it is to pull a dman away from the net and into the corner, you figure we'd see this a lot more often. Gardiner is outside the Rink within the Rink. A dman needs to keep players to the outside but shouldn't do it by sacrificing the middle of the ice. He over committed to the Preds player in the corner and gave a lane to Forsberg that should never be given.

Rink inside the Rink: http://howtohockey.com/the-rink-within-the-rink-using-the-markings/

I once saw a video called Kink inside the rink, but it wasn't hockey related at all.  :-X

 

[Kin]

If that's how easy it is to pull a dman away from the net and into the corner, you figure we'd see this a lot more often. Gardiner is outside the Rink within the Rink. A dman needs to keep players to the outside but shouldn't do it by sacrificing the middle of the ice. He over committed to the Preds player in the corner and gave a lane to Forsberg that should never be given.

Whether he covered Forsberg or Johansen, someone was going to be left wide open with a clear path to the net. The idea that Johansen was harmlessly in the corner is a result of Gardiner covering him, not incidental to the fact.

The difference is that either Martin or Zaitsev could have covered Forsberg, neither could have kept with Johansen.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

If that's how easy it is to pull a dman away from the net and into the corner, you figure we'd see this a lot more often. Gardiner is outside the Rink within the Rink. A dman needs to keep players to the outside but shouldn't do it by sacrificing the middle of the ice. He over committed to the Preds player in the corner and gave a lane to Forsberg that should never be given.

Whether he covered Forsberg or Johansen, someone was going to be left wide open with a clear path to the net. The idea that Johansen was harmlessly in the corner is a result of Gardiner covering him, not incidental to the fact.

The difference is that either Martin or Zaitsev could have covered Forsberg, neither could have kept with Johansen.

They're outmanned. You don't cover individuals, you play the zone. If Gardiner is 2 feet to his right, he takes away the lane, he remains inside the dots and Johansen is still in the corner.

You can't play a 3 on 2(or for this matter a 4 on 3) by skating one player to the corner. You're then creating a more dangerous odd man situation. I mean we can agree that a 3 on 2 is more dangerous than a 4 on 3 and a 2 on 1 is more dangerous than a 3 on 2 right?

They all made errors on the play. My only point was Gardiner overcommitted and there was no real need to.

 

[McGarnagle]

If that's how easy it is to pull a dman away from the net and into the corner, you figure we'd see this a lot more often. Gardiner is outside the Rink within the Rink. A dman needs to keep players to the outside but shouldn't do it by sacrificing the middle of the ice. He over committed to the Preds player in the corner and gave a lane to Forsberg that should never be given.

Whether he covered Forsberg or Johansen, someone was going to be left wide open with a clear path to the net. The idea that Johansen was harmlessly in the corner is a result of Gardiner covering him, not incidental to the fact.

The difference is that either Martin or Zaitsev could have covered Forsberg, neither could have kept with Johansen.

They're outmanned. You don't cover individuals, you play the zone. If Gardiner is 2 feet to his right, he takes away the lane, he remains inside the dots and Johansen is still in the corner.

You can't play a 3 on 2(or for this matter a 4 on 3) by skating one player to the corner. You're then creating a more dangerous odd man situation. I mean we can agree that a 3 on 2 is more dangerous than a 4 on 3 and a 2 on 1 is more dangerous than a 3 on 2 right?

They all made errors on the play. My only point was Gardiner overcommitted and there was no real need to.

I'm thinking you've done some coaching in your past, OTH!