The Definitive NHL 2012-2013 Season Thread - Page 18

Sohel · #**426** Yesterday, 02:56 AM

@Beamer: Bylsma is a great young coach with emphasis on "young". Granted I'm partial to Michiganders (even when they beat us in game 7 at the Joe to lift the Cup), but he IS a great one in the making. Just look at everything he has done right so far in his career with the Pens. Of course having proven performers like Malkin, Crosby, Iginla, Morrow, Kunitz, Neal, Letang and Orpik can make one feel more invincible than he is and that can lead to careless tactical adjustments. Water under the bridge if he can learn from it.

He has had early success and that also may have contributed to some of the awkwardly timed tactical experiments we've seen in the series, including the one you've pointed out. MacLean was mentored by Bowman and knows how to play his lines according to what he has and what's out there. Bylsma, as you pointed out, must be at his best to match him in critical situations even with far superior players.

Handling the press with poise is an important part of one's development at this stage. I hope we're not witnessing another Marc Crawford type scenario in the making after he had won the Cup with Sakic, Forsberg, Kamensky, Keane, Deadmarsh, Yelle, Claude LeThug, Foote, Krupp and Roy. I don't think Mario is likely to make the mistake the Avs made back then, and will persist with Bylsma who like Bowman, can learn from his mistakes and become the stuff of legends. Persisting with a great coach, provided he learns from his mistakes, is integral to building a dynasty. Yawl have the players, fans, GM, owner AND the coach to do it in a great American city.

Sohel · #**427** Yesterday, 06:32 AM

Thinking about the Leafs as we've already begun to end our rivalry with Chicago one way or another. Looks like the Leafs haven't had a Cup appearance since 1967, or even been relevant through the league's many expansions. Not sure how that's even possible really. Odds are because there are only 30 teams any team should make the cup final about once every 15 years. How they haven't been there in almost 50 years is hilarious.

Hilarious and also a statistical anomaly. As was the epic meltdown of this year's game 7. No team has ever blown a 3 goal lead in the third period in game 7 of the playoffs. EVER. Looking forward to next year guys

Beamer · #**428** Yesterday, 08:57 AM

Bylsma is a quality guy. He is a good guy. I wish him success but at the same time he needs to smarten up. His players love him. He never whines about refs ( though our superstars do from time to time : ). He is great with media. He treats them with respect. He never engages in war or words with other coaches. He massages egos well. He has all the qualities. But, tactically he is lacking. Hopefully, like you said, he will learn in time, because he must. Ownership, Shero, Players love him. But, he needs to educate himself. In the end, we are in the business of winning. After watching Wings last night ( first full game I saw of Wings ), I am more than convinced that Babcock is the best coach in business. He has a plan for Chicago. Q is just reacting. Bylsma gets outcoached too often. Capuano did it to him too. Sure we are talented and have won a lot of games in regular season under him. But, in a seven game series, a coach needs to adjust because you are seeing the same team over and over again. In regular season, its a different team every day and how much home work a team does before they face each other? not that much. Bylsma won the cup with MT system. After the cup we won in that summer, he ditched it and implemented his north-south-dump-chip-of the wall-stretch pass system. That gave us - Loss to Montreal in game 7, loss to Tampa in game 7 following year ( minus Crosby or Malkin though, so he gets a pass ) and then last year loss to Philly in 6. This is unacceptable . So, great regular season each year, followed by sad exits in playoffs, every year since he has been in charge of a full season.

Beamer · #**429** Yesterday, 09:50 AM

That non-call that led to Kane goal ( brilliant move BTW ) was brutal. I thought the offending team can not touch the puck once a player lay prone on the ice. Of course, they have to call the penalty first, which they didn't. There is no consistency. Every ref calls differently. But, that was as clear a boarding call as there is. He hit him right between the numbers when he couldn't ( Franzen ) protect himself.

Towes is frustrated. I have not seen him barking at the refs in years past, though he can and has the right to talk to refs because he wears the 'C', if he dislikes something. I don't have a problem with a captain trying to talk to refs during a game. Its part of the game and little gamesmanship is needed from time to time. All captains have the privilege. He is frustrated because Babcock has a plan for him. He has been denied time and space and also at the end of some physical beating. Plus, Zetterberg is possibly the best defensive two way forward in game, with all due respect to Bergeron. He is hounding him. He has done that to Crosby. 21 yr old Crosby was frustrated beyond in the SCF, but, we had Malkin and Jordan step up that year. Hawks need Hossa/Kane etc to step if they fancy themselves moving on.

Beamer · #**430** Yesterday, 10:04 AM

Another lunacy of Bylsma :

A HOF worthy RW named Iginla has been moved to LW for the first time in his career. He looks lost out there. To accomplish that brutal decision, he also moved James Neal to LW, a 40 goal scoring RW last year. So, neither is producing with Geno anchoring the line. Shero got Iggy to play RW with Sid with this in mind : Dupuis-Sid-Iggy, Kunitz -Geno-Neal ( best line last year ). This year Kunitz-Sid-Dupuis has been money, but we are sacrificing two potentially dynamic goal scorers in Neal and Iggy by misplacing them. Complete head scratcher. Iggy, the ever professional has been a true soldier and still having a good playoffs, but Neal looks lost, and that line has become a -/minus machine, because guys simply get confused where they are supposed to be.

All right..my Bylsma rant for the day appears to be over. But, he is way over his head. He has become stubborn. He has a few favorites and he will play them no matter what at the expense of younger players who are clearly better. He treats Joe Vitale with contempt. Best face off guy, speedstar, plays with ton of energy in 4th line. Didn't play him first four games vs Isles. Finally, to counter speed with speed, he inserted him in Game 5-6 - both wins. First two games vs OTT he played- both wins, then for some reason only known to him, he sat him down last game for his favorite Tanner Glass. We lost the game. Lost the face-off battle. Lost a good penalty killer. He continues to hamper Simon Depres. He is Letang 2.0. But, Bylsma hates him...

Beamer · #**431** Yesterday, 11:31 AM

Just saw the replays of the events from last night. Clearly the refs dropped the ball. The Kane goal should have never happened. It was a boarding, and if it wasn't if you argue that Franzen was trying to move sideways, it is cross-checking in that case. Either way, the whistle should have been blown dead. To make up for that, I think refs awarded the no goal to Shaw. It was interference by letter of the law, but Shaw wasn't touching Howard, and I have seen plenty of goals awarded in such a situation. I have also seen goals nullified. So, it was a make up call. In the end, if all the correct calls were made, the game still ends in a 3-1 W for Wings. Kane goal never should have happened. Shaw goal probably a go ! So, move on Chicago ..

Sohel · #**432** Yesterday, 11:02 PM

I expected the Rangers to make some adjustments and take game 3 at home. Apparently Boston made some smart adjustments of their own to go up 3-0. Will the Rangers get out of this hole? Not with this horrible PP. Terrible puck movement and useless one-on-one battles. What a way to waste a great game from Lundqvist, AGAIN! Tort isn't getting his best forwards to play their best. Barring a miracle, I'd say both the Rangers and their coach is DONE! Tort didn't really get tactically outcoached here. He just didn't get his players to execute and therefore allowed Boston to execute their plan well. That in many respects is worse once you lose.

Here's what a friend from NYC had to say about Julien's highly effective tactics in game 3:

Quote:

Part of what is winning this series for Boston is how Julien has the Bruins dealing with Tortorella's defensive zone scheme of having five men low. The Bruins are keeping three men high and only two forwards low. It allows the high three to control the puck, creating shooting-lane options. It's almost like being on a power play when five-on-five. When the puck is drifted through to the net, the forwards crash and bang, the Bruins' size playing to their advantage. Even with the terrible ice at the MSG, the Bruins seemed to have the puck all night long, leaving the Rangers with little energy left for the attack. Credit Julien and his assistants for figuring out how to dominate puck possession in the offensive zone, and the Bruins' depth for wearing out the Rangers and pocketing another win.

I'm looking forward to witnessing his plan for the Pens, a team with a wholly different set of vulnerabilities, and I'm sure it would involve not allowing their top forwards enough time to attack through physical positional play eating up time. Bylsma must counter that with proper and timely utilization of the Pens superior speed and puck control executed through forcibly created mismatches from smart line changes.

Sohel · #**433** Yesterday, 11:16 PM

The Sharks are well on their way to tying this series at 2. Leading 2-0 after 2 ATM with Thorton having a great game. They're trying to protect a 2 goal lead with lots of hockey left to play in the 3rd. Not wise. Couture just drew a penalty and the Sharks better try and get the insurance goal here and not just kill time.

Sohel · #**434** Yesterday, 11:19 PM

Tonight's game: I'm sure Anderson and the Sens would want to play their best game of the playoffs to date, and the Pens must find a way to prevent them from doing that and beat the American netminder. Great game ahead. Echoing what Beamer said, Bylsma should stick to basics and get his players to do what they do best: build on rather than simply protect a lead if it's there.

Sohel · #**435** Yesterday, 11:25 PM

The Kings just scored on the PP halfway in the 3rd and halved the Sharks' lead. Beautiful puck movement. The Sharks need to go for it. Playing tentatively and just trying to hold on to a 1 goal lead won't do the trick.

Sohel · #**436** Today, 12:15 AM

Sharks hold on to the 2-1 lead to tie the series at 2. Thorton had a great game and I hope he builds from here. He has a tendency to fade after a great game and it's about time that stops. The Sharks won't lift the Cup until he does. Now they gotta hold game 6 at home and steal one in LA. Definitely possible.

A Red Wings-Sharks WCF would be a total bummer for Buttman. A Sens-Bruins ECF may drive him to deeper therapy and harsher meds. That being said, I still believe it will be Pens-Bruins in the ECF simply because the Pens superstars are simply too good not to solve Anderson tomorrow. Unsure about the WCF at this point but I like our chances if we play like the way we played game 2 in Chicago. Sharks-Kings is still too close to call. Could go either way.

It is way too early to talk about this seriously, but won't it be great to have a tie-breaking rematch with the Pens, even with our depleted team packed with overachieving AHLers? The confidence our youngsters may gain if we take the current series will put us in a much better position to compete against all subsequent opponents. And if by the Supreme grace of GOD we manage to lift our 12th Cup with these guys, we'll be THE Cindarella story of hockey for generations to come. Just talking out loud about my fantasies here

Sohel · #**437** Today, 05:46 AM

We need to see Hossa and Kane get Kronwalled tomorrow. We need to Kronwall Kane more but Junior has issues with leveling small guys. He's also a good friend of Hossa's believe it or not. I hope he overcomes these personal issues and approaches the business of hitting as strictly business. Helm is out and both Abdel Kader and Andersson have long ways to go before learning to execute legal hits like that on open ice. Miller, Eaves, Cleary, Filppula and even Nyquist can hit, but not like THAT. Won't comment on Big Boy Franzen and his lazy aversion to hitting. Defensively Dekeyser is out so maybe Ericsson or Smith ought to try and take care of business. Smith is certainly fast enough to pummel Kane in the neutral zone with a vicious hip check. Just make sure it's legal.

Beamer · #**438** Today, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sohel
I expected the Rangers to make some adjustments and take game 3 at home. Apparently Boston made some smart adjustments of their own to go up 3-0. Will the Rangers get out of this hole? Not with this horrible PP. Terrible puck movement and useless one-on-one battles. What a way to waste a great game from Lundqvist, AGAIN! Tort isn't getting his best forwards to play their best. Barring a miracle, I'd say both the Rangers and their coach is DONE! Tort didn't really get tactically outcoached here. He just didn't get his players to execute and therefore allowed Boston to execute their plan well. That in many respects is worse once you lose.

Here's what a friend from NYC had to say about Julien's highly effective tactics in game 3:

I'm looking forward to witnessing his plan for the Pens, a team with a wholly different set of vulnerabilities, and I'm sure it would involve not allowing their top forwards enough time to attack through physical positional play eating up time. Bylsma must counter that with proper and timely utilization of the Pens superior speed and puck control executed through forcibly created mismatches from smart line changes.

I didn't expect anything different from Torts. His style of play is antiquated. He expects everyone to block shots, and that includes his forwards. So, when they have sustained pressure in their zone, they are too busy laying their body on ice to block shots instead of trying to retrieve and quickly exit the zone. This is his style. When you keep leaving your feet, you put yourself in vulnerable position and not to mention the zero ability to counter attack upon retrieval. Gaborik was their premier forward, a goal scoring threat, but Torts wanted more plumbers and he got them from Coloumbus. It seemed like Boston had the puck all the time, which they did. Bostons game is grind low, get the puck to the point, get the forwards make a bee line to the net and have the D men find a lane and shoot. They are patient. They won't shoot until a lane opens ( Rnagers laying on the ice makes it easier ) while forwards screen the goalie. Rangers have good players. They need a different coach. No question about that. That said, its not over, though I think it is. ( Bruins have a tendency to let teams climb back into a series )

P.S- Right now the AHL semis between Providence Bruins and W-B/S Penguins are tied 3-3. Game 7 tonight. Would you know the Bruins were up 3-0 ! Baby Pens forced a Game 7 by winning last 3. Weird..

Bruins-Pens, You say ??.Dude way to premature. This Anderson dude is gonna be pain in the a**. OTT has momentum from that great win in game 3. They are gonna come hard at us tonight. If we lose, this will go the distance.

Beamer · #**439** Today, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sohel
Tonight's game: I'm sure Anderson and the Sens would want to play their best game of the playoffs to date, and the Pens must find a way to prevent them from doing that and beat the American netminder. Great game ahead. Echoing what Beamer said, Bylsma should stick to basics and get his players to do what they do best: build on rather than simply protect a lead if it's there.

Yup. Prevent defense doesn't work. Doesn't work in football or in hockey. You gotta play your game. Bylsma wanted to turn the Pens into Devils in last game at the start of third period. Inexplicably we went to a 1-1-3 protecting a one goal lead. What a losing idea. We are not Devils. We can not play that game. You don't expect the Devils to play a wide open up and down game with Pens and win ! That loss was set up by Bylsma way before Alfredsson tied the game. All on him..

Beamer · #**440** Today, 10:23 AM

Sharks only lost two games at home during regular season. It showed why. This series has Game 7 written all over it..

Sohel- Man..please stop with you fantasies ! We have to beat Sens first. Even in that case, no cake walk to get by Bruins. In your case- the Hawks are not done. They are very capable of winning game 4 too. Lets say you do, getting by LA or SJ is no mean task. It will be awesome if your fantasy comes true. Can we call it the Trilogy?

Its hard to hit a player like Kane. Very slippery. Hard to hit Crosby as well, unless its illegal. Those players rarely put themselves in vulnerable position.

Are you insinuating Buttman would like a Hawks-Pens SCF? Now now..Forum world be damned. That's not how it works. Sens would have better ratings. Only team from Canada! Besides, Pens are universally hated except in Pittsburgh. Not that we care. If you are hated, you must be good. Its a badge of honor. Lol...

Sohel · #**441** Today, 12:59 PM

@Beamer: I hope your AHLers win and then beat Syracuse next. It's Oklahoma City next for our Griffins. There's a chance that our AHLers would meet in the Calder Cup finals. How cool would it be if our NHLers also meet in the Stanley Cup finals!

BTW, some unexpected good news today: Danny DeKeyser expects to get his cast off today. Moving closer to possible return at some point in playoffs.

Sohel · #**442** Today, 02:46 PM