GDT: Game 23/82 Blues @ NYR 6PM CST FDSNMW

[PanniniClaus]

I think many of the Blues are going to love Monty's O zone system.

Monty's plan is to make the most of the O-zone by keeping forwards between the dot lanes and d on the flanks/walls. Forwards are able to stay off the walls, find interior plays and be first on loose pucks near the net. Ds have the green light to pinch down on 50/50 pucks and to attack down the wall with possession. So a Perunovich and Broberg should really benefit... Parayko and Faulk could find some joy here too.

Downside is that there is a great deal of possession in the high ice so teams that start to watch video and have a well timed man to man up top can create turnovers and high danger scoring chances.

 

[Blanick]

I didn't mean to imply that he won't be great for the franchise. But this game is not evidence of that one way or another. A coach can't fly in that morning or the day before or whatever, have a morning skate and suddenly he fixed the team and made meaningful change.

The players are playing hard for the new coach, or shocked and scared cause their play cost the old coach, but it's not a indication of anything sustainable. As I said, the true test is if they can keep playing hard and keep showing improvements.

Oh of course in any coaches tenure there is going to be peaks and valleys in play. New coach bump usually last 3-5 games and then things start to normalize in my experience. What I am looking for is change in strategy and structure. Is the shot first mentality going to continue? I want to see the Blues adapt a Canes like strategy up pucks and bodies to the net. Yes there will be games where we make the opposing goalie look like prime Hasek but it's the best strategy in my eye. Create chaos, win battles.