GDT: Carolina @ Buffalo, 1/15/2025, 6 pm ET, TNT, truTV, MAX

[DarthEbriate]

5 minutes ago, Doohicksie said:

In football terms they should be zone blitzing rather than dropping back into coverage.

Or rushing 5 instead of 2 on a Hail Mary attempt. Don't even give the receivers time to get downfield.

[Doohicksie]

Preczactly.

[JohnC]

29 minutes ago, Doohicksie said:

I mentioned it upthread I think, but there was a point where the Sabres were in their defensive alignment, taking the middle away, and all the Sabres were just watching the puck get passed around.  As the puck got passed to the point/high slot, Peyton Krebs suddenly sprinted at the guy and forced the puck over the blue line for a much needed clear.

I get wanted to stick with your defensive alignment, but I also think the Sabres need to do much more of what Krebs did there:  Whoever's covering the puck carrier needs to rush at them and take their time and space away.  This is what the Sabres consistently don't do.  I think it's the fundamental reason for their late collapses:  They're too content to just let the opponent pass the puck around in the Sabres zone and too often there's that guy open for just an instant that cashes in a goal.  Break up the play before that pass.  Pressure the puck carrier ALWAYS.  Don't let him think.  If you look, that's what teams do to the Sabres when they're in the offensive zone.

I know nothing about hockey but geez this seems obvious to me.

In football terms they should be zone blitzing rather than dropping back into coverage.

Even if the intended strategy is to be more aggressive when the other team is in your zone, it is an absurdity to not have a shot on goal in a period. By having a reasonable time of possession in the opposition's (even if it is less that the other team's time of possession) you are cutting the time and place for the other team to make a push. The Sabres were on their heels for a full period. That's not acceptable. 

As I said in a prior post, I'm not going to be dismissive of any win, especially against a better team. But the Carolina possession domination in the third period was ridiculous. 

[inkman]

1 hour ago, DarthEbriate said:

Or rushing 5 instead of 2 on a Hail Mary attempt. Don't even give the receivers time to get downfield.

Holy ***** does McDermott need to learn this.  The Bills have easily been the worst defensive Hail Mary team in the league under his tenure and he hasn’t changed it up.  

[LGR4GM]

39 minutes ago, inkman said:

Holy ***** does McDermott need to learn this.  The Bills have easily been the worst defensive Hail Mary team in the league under his tenure and he hasn’t changed it up.  

He does the same thing on 3rd and long where he has his corners play way way way off the line, rushes 4 and then expects idk what but teams basically just do crosses underneath for 12yards because the DB was 15yrds off the line on 3rd and 9. The Broncos game was the first time all year they stacked guys at the line on long 3rd downs. 

[Pimlach]

 

2 hours ago, Doohicksie said:

I mentioned it upthread I think, but there was a point where the Sabres were in their defensive alignment, taking the middle away, and all the Sabres were just watching the puck get passed around.  As the puck got passed to the point/high slot, Peyton Krebs suddenly sprinted at the guy and forced the puck over the blue line for a much needed clear.

I get wanted to stick with your defensive alignment, but I also think the Sabres need to do much more of what Krebs did there:  Whoever's covering the puck carrier needs to rush at them and take their time and space away.  This is what the Sabres consistently don't do.  I think it's the fundamental reason for their late collapses:  They're too content to just let the opponent pass the puck around in the Sabres zone and too often there's that guy open for just an instant that cashes in a goal.  Break up the play before that pass.  Pressure the puck carrier ALWAYS.  Don't let him think.  If you look, that's what teams do to the Sabres when they're in the offensive zone.

I know nothing about hockey but geez this seems obvious to me.

In football terms they should be zone blitzing rather than dropping back into coverage.

Its called pressuring the puck and they don't do it.  They don't win loose puck battles nearly enough, and they panic and ice the puck way too much.  The icing leads tired players and more lost D zone face-offs.  

Hence the excessive number of blown leads.  

 

 

Edited 23 hours ago by Pimlach

[Doohicksie]

36 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Its called pressuring the puck and they don't do it.

I KNOW.  And it's damned frustrating.

[ska-T Palmtown]

2 hours ago, Doohicksie said:

I KNOW.  And it's damned frustrating.

They do need to do it well, tho. Throughout the season, we have seen what happens when our PK'ers got too chasey-wasey and the whole D structure turns to pudding. But, they DO need a few more quick darts to the puck when the opposition makes a bad or lazy pass. Too often the defenders just hold their spot.

In fairness when COL had MacKinnon, Makar, and Raaaannttaananananen (sp?) slinging the puck all over - not much you can do there but hope your goalie can see the shot. Oh, and not leave Druin wide ferking open in the bumper ...