Bruins X's & O's

[PIMsCup]

Is there a better way for the wings to posture without the puck in our end when they're waiting for the play to evolve up the boards towards them? The bump passes to center and chip outs along the boards are improving this year, but I'm still not seeing much controlled skating of the puck out of our end by the wings.

 

[Era of Sanity]

I think pretty much the guy closest to the puck, pressures the puck. The center pretty much is all ways has to play deep is the zone no matter the system. Could you explain further what you mean. I think we may have a different concept of the box+1.

You have a point re: the c playing deep in every system. I think the box + 1 is more compact and deeper than most systems because of the box they form with 4 guys fairly close to the net/middle so the c is more inclined to be deeper and interchange with the d around the net or be the one pressuring the puck. I could be off tbh but that is what I meant.

 

[Stevedave]

You have a point re: the c playing deep in every system. I think the box + 1 is more compact and deeper than most systems because of the box they form with 4 guys fairly close to the net/middle so the c is more inclined to be deeper and interchange with the d around the net or be the one pressuring the puck. I could be off tbh but that is what I meant.

Yeah that make sense. The B's do play a much lower tighter box than most teams (or so it seems from watching it on tv). I've heard the term "protect the house" used mostly by the broadcaster but also from players and coaches. I think that's referring to the area between the dots out to the tops of the circles. If your main focus as wing is to prevent shots, block shots or deflect shot from that area you are going to end up playing a smaller box.

 

[headflop]

It's been discussed a lot here:

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1847357&highlight=

 

[Stevedave]

It's been discussed a lot here:

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1847357&highlight=

I just read the entire thread. Good read, but honestly not much in the way of what the B's system is. A lot of talk about very specific plays that certain players should be making. I may be wrong but I think the intent of this tread is slightly different.

In both threads there is a lot of talk about the box+1. I play hockey, and it seems to me, that is pretty much the default in zone defense. Essentially all in zone defense breaks down to man on man. I just comes to where and when you pick up your man. Aside from collapsing a bit more then other teams I'd say the B's play a pretty regular in zone D.

To my untrained eye the most significant thing the B's are doing different is in their back check. The B's seem to keep the defense man inside the dots and put back pressure from the center (or who ever 3rd man back is). When the defense man has the ability to stand up at his blue line he has the freedom to do so, with the center coming back if he get beat.

I'm going to watch the B's very closely on my dvr. I believe they play a 1-2-2 forcheck with a variation of the trap behind it. By definition those are two different thing that don't work together, but that's why what they are doing is out of the ordinary.

I don't at all know what I am talking about so any input from others would be greatly appreciated. These are just my observations.

 

[Danton Heineken]

I just read the entire thread. Good read, but honestly not much in the way of what the B's system is. A lot of talk about very specific plays that certain players should be making. I may be wrong but I think the intent of this tread is slightly different.

In both threads there is a lot of talk about the box+1. I play hockey, and it seems to me, that is pretty much the default in zone defense. Essentially all in zone defense breaks down to man on man. I just comes to where and when you pick up your man. Aside from collapsing a bit more then other teams I'd say the B's play a pretty regular in zone D.

To my untrained eye the most significant thing the B's are doing different is in their back check. The B's seem to keep the defense man inside the dots and put back pressure from the center (or who ever 3rd man back is). When the defense man has the ability to stand up at his blue line he has the freedom to do so, with the center coming back if he get beat.

I'm going to watch the B's very closely on my dvr. I believe they play a 1-2-2 forcheck with a variation of the trap behind it. By definition those are two different thing that don't work together, but that's why what they are doing is out of the ordinary.

I don't at all know what I am talking about so any input from others would be greatly appreciated. These are just my observations.

Tell 'em, Stevedave!

 

[ap3lovr]

Just trying to understand what you mean. So the two wings would both play the one d-man with the puck? B/C if not I don't really see what the difference would be between a triangle+2 and a box+1.

Btw I always called it a box in one. But more often then not I hear it called a Box and one. I think they are sorta interchangeable but to me box in one is a more accurate description of what the concept of the defense.

They actually deployed the triangle + 2 several times last night to combat the player carrying the puck behind the net. Your 2 forwards up high stayed up high, and 1 D stayed in front of the net. One winger pinched in from one side, and the D from the other side. It did a great job of disrupting the cycle, but still a terrible job of breaking out of the zone. Not sure how to get those top 2 forwards moving their feet more.

 

[ap3lovr]

I just read the entire thread. Good read, but honestly not much in the way of what the B's system is. A lot of talk about very specific plays that certain players should be making. I may be wrong but I think the intent of this tread is slightly different.

In both threads there is a lot of talk about the box+1. I play hockey, and it seems to me, that is pretty much the default in zone defense. Essentially all in zone defense breaks down to man on man. I just comes to where and when you pick up your man. Aside from collapsing a bit more then other teams I'd say the B's play a pretty regular in zone D.

To my untrained eye the most significant thing the B's are doing different is in their back check. The B's seem to keep the defense man inside the dots and put back pressure from the center (or who ever 3rd man back is). When the defense man has the ability to stand up at his blue line he has the freedom to do so, with the center coming back if he get beat.

I'm going to watch the B's very closely on my dvr. I believe they play a 1-2-2 forcheck with a variation of the trap behind it. By definition those are two different thing that don't work together, but that's why what they are doing is out of the ordinary.

I don't at all know what I am talking about so any input from others would be greatly appreciated. These are just my observations.

Seems to be a situational variant of the left win lock. If the other team is in a controlled break out they play a 3-1-1 system and try to force the puck to the boards to pinch it off. In a turnover situation or a quick breakout, they simply back-off the shooter trying to keep the angle to a low % shot. It works well, occasionally those low % shots beat Rask, but that is simply a numbers game.

 

[Stevedave]

Seems to be a situational variant of the left win lock.

I respectfully disagree, The most noticeable defining characteristic of the left wing lock is having 3 players standing up at their own blue line. Its what the Redwings did for years and to me It looks very different than what the B's are doing now.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_wing_lock

In my opinion they the look like they are playing more of a neutral zone trap.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutral_zone_trap

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEWHTOvriHo

. If the other team is in a controlled break out they play a 3-1-1 system and try to force the puck to the boards to pinch it off.

Again, respectfully disagree. I saw the break down Brickly did the other night on the 3-1-1 and although the do use it, obviously. I don't think its a staple of their game plan. I think the B's default forcheck is the 1-2-2. I think this video does a good job of explaining how it works and to me it looks like what the B's are doing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8URiYylC7lc

Although we may be comparing apples and oranges depending on your definition of what a controlled break out is.

This video is very basic but I think it does a good job of linking the forcheck with the neutral zone trap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq4Q6XKZx_w

 

[Stevedave]

The more closely I watch these games, really trying to dissect them from an X's and O's stand point the more I realize that a high level hockey player is more like a musician playing jazz. Altho every move has ingrained into it an overall concept of a bigger whole. Every move is impromptu and dictated by an infinite number of variables that arise in the great game of hockey. The more that I have an understanding of the system the more I can see the creativity in the system. Hockey is a beautiful game.


The more I watch the games from this perspective The more I realize how much of the X's and O's is situational and dictated by the circumstances of the game. I propose that a good start to having a productive convocation is to start by braking down these circumstances. I'll start a list that can be add to later.

Forcheck.
Backcheck.
Neutral zone coverage.
D zone coverage.
Regroups.
Break Out's.
In zone offense.
Dump in's.
Carry in's.

I suppose all of these would pertains to either even strength, power play or penalty kills situations. B/C there is different tactic implemented in different man power situations.

Any help filling in the list would be greatly appreciated.

 

[PIMsCup]

Found this site. Some really interesting stuff that shows how the team should be deployed.

http://hockeyviz.com/teamHtml/teamDash-1516-BOS.html