LIGHTNING STRATEGIES
November 15th 2011 20:12
The recent meeting between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Tamp Bay Lightning had some very contorversial situations between the two clubs on the ice. It wasn't involving fighting, or hits to the head but it was to do with the Lightnings 1-3-1 defensive strategies.
The 1-3-1 that Guy Boucher has implemented in Tampa has some other teams really annoyed, it's a wonder how they are ranked #8 in the NHL in attendance. With some prolific scorers such as Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis, the 1-3-1 "forecheck" doesn't even seem to exist.
During the first period between the 2 clubs the Flyers decided to hold the puck in their defensive zone instead of making a break out pass, and the Tampa Bay Lightning stayed in their defensive 1-3-1 shell. Nothing happened, no one forechecked and the Flyers didn't take the puck out of the zone, the referees were forced to blow the play dead.
This is going to be a hot topic at the upcoming GM meetings in Florida, it'll be very unlikely to see any changes made to prevent this situation from happening, but even so isn't it a coaches right to try and win games? If that means putting yourself in a better defensive position when the team has the puck in their own zone then by all means do it.
Personally I don't think you can regulate how coaches tell their teams to play, and what strategies they use, every other sport has a defensive part of the game and making rule changes based on how your aloud to forecheck and not forecheck shouldn't happen.
What do you think about the Lightnings 1-3-1 shell? Do you think there will be future rule changes to make sure this doesn't happen all the time? Tweet me @Matt_Parnell
The 1-3-1 that Guy Boucher has implemented in Tampa has some other teams really annoyed, it's a wonder how they are ranked #8 in the NHL in attendance. With some prolific scorers such as Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis, the 1-3-1 "forecheck" doesn't even seem to exist.
During the first period between the 2 clubs the Flyers decided to hold the puck in their defensive zone instead of making a break out pass, and the Tampa Bay Lightning stayed in their defensive 1-3-1 shell. Nothing happened, no one forechecked and the Flyers didn't take the puck out of the zone, the referees were forced to blow the play dead.
This is going to be a hot topic at the upcoming GM meetings in Florida, it'll be very unlikely to see any changes made to prevent this situation from happening, but even so isn't it a coaches right to try and win games? If that means putting yourself in a better defensive position when the team has the puck in their own zone then by all means do it.
Personally I don't think you can regulate how coaches tell their teams to play, and what strategies they use, every other sport has a defensive part of the game and making rule changes based on how your aloud to forecheck and not forecheck shouldn't happen.
What do you think about the Lightnings 1-3-1 shell? Do you think there will be future rule changes to make sure this doesn't happen all the time? Tweet me @Matt_Parnell
| 63 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Greener
Interesting to see if they decide to play that way when down a goal or two...
Comment by Joe Soriano
Pro Sports Wrap
Orble Sport Blog