So I finlaly got to catch a whole game (got to catch 1 period since it was midterms week) and the biggest thing I notice was that this team doesn't know how to make use of the big ice. You see them in the offensive zone and the team is stretched out from forwards to defense. The shots are all coming from the point or short passes down low, and they - for whatever reason - seem to play alot along the boards. With the much wider ice surface, your gonna have alot of trouble scoring when the plays along the boards and you cycle it below the goal line. There's enough space that you should be able to get a shot from the slot alot easier with the big ice, not harder - yet the shots are still coming fron almost the blue line. The big ice - you think - should be able to break down defensive setups more, not less. And, until players get bigger and faster again, it should overcompensate for the distance it takes to get the puck to the slot.
I'm watching Switzerland right now, and they just seem to know how to use the ice surface. Team Canada doesn't. Canada has the skaters, but either they have trouble gaining speed or they can't keep up. Or a little of both. If the play is constantly behind you, you have trouble moving hte puck up ice. Swiztzerland just seems to use their "gears" better.
I get that Team Canada has the size, ect ect but you won't score if you're behind the goal line.
You also see the break-out attack... too NHL-esque. With the bigger ice surface, its alot easier to gain speed through center ice, but forwhatever reason, the dump-ins and chip-ins don't work well, and often off target. This team has the skill to make the passes, ect... but don't, for whatever reason. IIRC, this was Team Canada's problems in 2002 early on, was it not?
A team like Switzerland that knows how to use the big ice surprise would have a huge benefit over Canada, unless the coaching staff can learn the big ice. Against a US, it'll be level. Maybe that's why your seeing some surprising upsets and whathaveyou.
Anyways, my random late thoughts.
