They always play dump and chase, no matter if its 5v4, 5v5 or 6v5. Thats why I hate Berube. He doesnt have an idea on controlled entries.
What you've described isn't what I've seen most of this season. The Blues were dumping tonight because The Stars were outskating them, and playing really good position in The Neutral Zone, and collapsing towards their own Blueline when The lead Blue approached.
In most of the other games this season, I've noticed The Blues making solid entries by sending two of the first three lead skaters to one side, with the 2nd skater just behind the leader with the puck. When the 3 nearest opposing defenders collapsing towards the pair (2 around the puck carrier), the puck carrier drops the puck back to his trailer, who usually has a clean entry. When the other defenders see the puck enter on the other side, the 3rd Blue enters on the opposite wing, and is clear enough from the opponent trying to skate with him, that he can reasonably safely receive the puck on a long, rinkwide pass from the trailer, and The Blues can start to set up the cycle, towards moving closer towards the net, and getting off a good shot. I've seen very little dumping and chasing by The Blues this season. But, that might be because they haven't faced a lot of teams with great team defence, who choke off their opponents' skating through The Neutral Zone, and who set up along their Bluelines. We will soon see how they fare entering The O-Zone against The Knights, The Wild and some other teams. I don't remember them having had trouble against The Avs.
