Savard?s philosophy is to trust his higher-skilled, offensive-minded players to be creative and free while in attack. He wants players consistently moving in order to find open spaces and constantly anticipating where their teammates will be. On breakouts, speed is the name of the game, whether that?s in transition as they rush the blue line or race to the corners off a quick, short dump-in.
Savard also wants his players ready to attack off faceoffs, too. Instead of passing the puck to a defenceman so he can blast a bomb from the point, it?s about working pucks to high-danger areas with quick passes. In Savard?s offence, two seconds is an eternity.
?I don?t like guys holding onto the puck long,? Savard said.
And if the opposing team has the puck, Savard?s players will work to regain possession and quickly turn them into offensive chances.
?It starts on defence, right? You?ve got to make teams turn the puck over,? Spitfires forward Oliver Peer said. ?And then once we got it, we were gone.?
