I disagree -
The Blues came out with a game plan to screen Helle -
Throw the stats out the window - what they don't tell you is how the other team is executing their offense.
It's pretty obvious that the way to score on Helle is to screen. They did it LY pretty much the exact same way.
And we continue to struggle with keeping that middle ice clear.
Helle's wheels fall off when he isn't seeing the puck - and it impacts the rest of the game for him, and for the team.
That's the problem - our blueline cannot clear the middle ice - none of them. All the Blues need to do is review LY's tape to see how our D and Helle, struggle when things are clogged up down the middle.
So what's the answer? How do we convince our d to do the work needed to win those battles? Or can they? I really don't know. All I do know is that our guys do not look like they are working in over drive - I don't see that extra gear engaged. Is it compete? Do our guys lack that edge you need to fight those battles? And here's the kicker - PO's is all about the battles that you don't necessarily see in the reg season. And that is why you see teams with less talent, battling hard in the PO's - they know it can be the difference maker when you are out skilled. And they know which teams are most susceptible (and are proven susceptible).
So why are we losing the battles?
Side note: Helle is not going to bounce back if we continue to allow teams to screen him. He does not do well when screened and then it snowballs to the point everyone is rattled - and I don't see that changing in the next 2 days. We can continue to call him out when it hits the fan (again) - or we can deal with the issue that he has already called out in LY's season ending presser.
