This is the first entry in a new partnership between the Huntington News and the Husky Hockey News blog. The opinions expressed herein are those of writer, not necessarily The News. For more from Husky Hockey News, visit their website at huskyhockeynews.com and follow them on Twitter at @HuskyHockeyNews.
It’s easy to be impatient with a new-look roster’s flaws.
There have only been three games for the men’s hockey team’s young roster, and flashes of brilliance should help the team, as new players discover their roles and settle into them with comfort. Obviously no team is perfect and it will have to be accepted that some of those flaws will be here to stay. One loss on the road against the ghost of the 2011-12 Boston College Eagles won’t change that.
The Huskies lost their step in several aspects during what was an understandably tough first road game of the year against a defending national champion. But one thing has stood out to me in particular: The coaching staff has done a remarkable job in slotting together some dangerous offensive weapons and intelligent players with great instincts. So, why is the power play still ineffective?
It’s still very early, but one has to question if a man-advantage that’s been 1-for-21 to start the season is rooted in a fundamental issue that has carried over to the new season, or just growing pains for a roster of college kids still getting used to one another. Admittedly, it’s not like BC’s elite penalty kill made things any easier. The Huskies never really put anyone well out of position on the attack. It is understood that the two-minute period of time has a partial purpose of not allowing the other team to put shots on goal and to tire them down. This is something head coach Jim Madigan and company have appeared to adhere to in the interest of having success over a full 60 minutes of hockey. I feel that with a lead and/or control of the pace of the game, this viewpoint makes a good deal of sense. But in close and losing situations, a power play needs to pack a punch and be used as a weapon for a team that has an arsenal of offensively gifted players.
So what do the Huskies need to do to take advantage of their gunslingers, playmakers and puck-battlers? The answer could lie in a sustainable, basic concept that can be applied to each power play unit, something that allows players to be active yet patient with their options.
We’ll start off with the setup: It looked much better the first two games, despite BC bringing back old memories during the last game in Chestnut Hill. Older players showed less poise than the younger ones at times, but it looks like this team is shifting to a more organized and layered entry into the offensive zone. This is great, but the faceoff wins need to come more frequently in support of this well-timed entry.
As for pressure and scoring chances, last year’s (and sometimes, this season’s) umbrella setup was ineffective. The occasional flurry can produce some well-earned goals, and the setup virtually eliminates an opposing goal. But the umbrella doesn’t encourage enough movement to guide defensemen out of passing lanes and move the goaltender into an unfavorable position. To put it simply, it isn’t dangerous enough, and entails the offensive players settling for some less-than-ideal scoring chances. From a defensive standpoint, predictability and stagnation of movement around the point makes penalty killers more comfortable with moving in one-on-one and disrupting the attack. Very rarely will you see a goalie lose his bearings with this setup.
The main setup this season is what I call a “reverse umbrella”, a spin-off of last year’s formation. Instead of the traditional three point men and two corner players, there are two point men and a player in the low slot near the net. It’s a nice change, but doesn’t exactly force a low defenseman to stay locked into position. A good penalty kill will force a team to spread out.
The Huskies hadn’t trailed in a game until last weekend, which means that they should get the benefit of the doubt here numbers-wise, given the strategy employed. But for an observer who has followed this team closely, the struggles here hold too much semblance to those of last season. Success is often characterized by effectively gauging risk versus reward. Ushering in a riskier attack with more scoring potential could be what makes this skilled offense soar. There are many possible formations to experiment with, like an overload that reduces the usable space a defender has, and can throw a goaltender around the crease like a slinky. Again, it’s probably too early to judge, but the fact is an umbrella is for those who don’t want to risk getting wet. It’s time to go out in the storm and take some chances, and this year the Huskies could have the lineup to get away with that and more.
– Cory Bigda can be reached at [email protected]
