While the main complaint and potential mental block for the Dallas Stars may be their offensive game, there are also defensive changes that could help them win this series.
To summarize the most glaring issues on offense, the lack of urgency on the power play and low puck movement in the zone has allowed Edmonton to play a bit passive and simply have to challenge each ‘first attack’ from Dallas and avoid over-committing, and the lack of offensive engagement by Dallas in high-danger zones, as high-danger zones are harder to reach, has forced Dallas to shoot from distance, making it easier for Stuart Skinner to react, among other issues.
Overall, offensive changes can be made, but I believe two defensive issues have limited the Stars’ offensive advantage: Issues with ‘Return of the First Man’ And consider hand motion In both areas.
The saying ‘the best offence is a good defence’ is often overused and overlooked, but it holds true in ice hockey for a number of reasons, including these two:
- Odd-man rushes are one of the most effective offensive attacks in modern ice hockey.
- Playing behind the puck never surprises the team on defense and they are able to take advantage of turnovers because of their body position.
A good defence is proactive on turnovers because the majority of your team is facing the ‘attack net’ when playing behind the puck, with no need to turn 180 degrees to start the play with forward momentum. From the opponents point of view, they are now looking backwards without motionBecause they are facing their ‘attack net’ they were not expecting a turnover.
This common post-turnover scenario usually gives counter-attacking teams the time and advantage to create chaos. Dallas has been effective in this regard throughout the season, spreading the ice and moving from defense to offense as efficiently as possible.
Don Waddell, recently hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets as president of hockey operations, general manager and alternate governor, said it About rebuilding the team (this also relates to making adjustments):
“Cleaning up your defensive zone is a lot easier than finding pure goal scorers, I think that’s where our focus should be from the start.”
, Don Waddell, Columbus Blue Jackets
The Stars can clean up their defensive zone, even if they can’t get consistent goal scoring from their forwards other than Wyatt Johnston. Defensive Tips Can help expose the crime of stars:
In past minor hockey circles, when backchecking as a forward, the ‘centreman’ was usually assigned to defend the bottom end of the defensive zone by running backwards, which was part of their normal coverage. This means that the ‘winger’ who drops back first would usually take care of the opponent’s first attacking chance, but then move into the normal ‘winger’ board position.
For teams like the Dallas Stars, who rely on their defenders and emphasize ‘positionless hockey’, they use a ‘first man back’ form of coverage where the first available forward must cover the center’s role until a switch can be made. This usually helps stop early rush attacks and reduces ‘first in’ opportunities, but it only works if all forwards are willing to be the ‘first man back’ when it’s their turn.
The issue in this ‘tight-checking’ playoff series against Edmonton has been a lack of accountability from the forward group, where Edmonton’s speed is spoiling the ‘first man back’ policy where few forwards are willing and able to catch the high-flying Edmonton skaters based on turnovers.
For example, over the course of two periods against Edmonton in Game 5, the Oilers ran six odd-man rushes against the Stars. There were clear examples of forwards who were either nearing the end of their shifts or not putting 100% emphasis on the backcheck, which led to two Dallas defenders having to deal with players like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and others while all being held to low numbers on six separate occasions. This lack of back pressure from the forwards is putting pressure on the defensive corps, which currently consists of Chris Tanev with one good left leg and Miro Heiskanen, who is tasked with playing more than 10 minutes of ice time in select periods and nearly half the games.
The Stars need to emphasize ‘first man back’ accountability for all forwards or shift their centers’ depth to cheat on offense. This could help Dallas defend against Edmonton’s counter-attack since McDavid and company will score on odd-man rushes when they get many opportunities. This would help take some of the pressure off a taxed defensive corps and put more pressure on Edmonton’s skaters to make plays.
The debate over hand use in hockey has been going on for a long time, with notable success stories from players like Alex Ovechkin and Mackenzie Weegar who played the majority of their careers on their ‘weaker side’ (right handed shooters playing the ‘left’ position). Miro Heiskanen is a local case, and debate has been going on for years as to whether he plays his best hockey on the right hand as a left handed shooter.
There are two areas on the ice that I believe are important to have a ‘strong side’ hand: high OZ and high DZ. Specifically, both areas, between the top of the circle and the blue line, are areas susceptible to dangerous turnovers and can be areas of the ice where offensive pressure threats begin for some teams. This leads us to two cases:
The case for wingers on the breakout
In Dallas’ modern defensive philosophy, which includes ‘first man back’, they want their forwards to support the DZ side who has the puck. This sometimes results in loose breakouts from their ‘weak side’ wingers. For example, if a right-shot winger is waiting for a pass from a defender behind the net on the left-hand boards, the winger must turn his body to face the puck and receive the puck on his forehand.
This prevents clean breakouts as the winger now has to turn 180 degrees to push the puck into the middle (without being surprised by opponents from a blind spot) or chip the puck to his backhand against the boards (without being pinched by the opposing dman). If Dallas sets their line so the lefty can play ‘left board defense’ and the righty can play ‘right board defense’, their body positioning will allow for multiple passing options on breakouts as they are no longer forced to face the boards to receive a pass or make unreliable backhand passes in key situations. This change in lineup management and defensive coverage can help Dallas become a better threat in transition and on counter-attacks.
The case for the defence in Australia
Similarly, when a lefty has to pinch to the right boards in the OZ, it usually comes with a backhanded ‘poke’ rather than a forehanded ‘push’. A right-sided lefty like Miro Heiskanen cannot control the puck in this way because his upper arm must extend out to contest the puck, or else he must fully dedicate his body to contesting the 50/50 boards on his backhand. Conversely, if Heiskanen were on the left boards as a left-handed player, he would have a better chance of collecting, controlling and passing the 50/50 puck to the wall because he is on his forehand or ‘strong side’.
In addition, a player’s body in high OZ better oriented To accommodate your fast-paced game deep side Because on a pinch his back is against the boards, whereas on a weak-side pinch he has to close the front of his body. Turning your body toward the boards on a pinch leaves little room to turn around if the pinch fails or to make a play if you catch the puck yourself.
Overall, ‘mental forecasting’ is not a given for hockey players who don’t have time to think much in the playoffs. Star players can’t resort to ‘strong side’ and comfortable habits because they’ve been taught to analyze the ice as they see it, playing the role of a weak side winger despite obvious issues with transition play.
This resulted in ‘old players’ like Matt Duchene and Joe Pavelski being unable to learn ‘new tricks’ and adjust in high-stress moments. This led to the Stars suffering heavy losses against dynamic opponents like the Oilers, who won’t let you get going It’s time to think About how to play the puck on your ‘weak side.’ Defenders like Thomas Harley don’t have to play hockey on their backhand all game, which is vital to the D Corps’ confidence and playmaking ability, which helps the team as a whole.
I emphasize back pressure Now onwards, Arbitrary in the defensive zone, and Playing behind the puck Because these ideas have helped hockey teams like the Dallas Stars play smooth hockey all year long and directly lead to scoring goals.
For example, The only goal The Stars scored against the Oilers in Game 5 for the following reasons:
The game started with aggressive back pressure from Jamie Benn, Taking away time and space From the Oilers, Wyatt Johnston then emphasized aggression by driving high-hazard area, And Logan Stankoven put on a great show on the ice improvisation to spot the panicked Oilers defenders who had gotten too low in the zone.
It was a ‘team-first’ and well-executed goal.
We’ve seen the defensive back pressure and offensive rush ability of the Dallas Stars team from that goal sequence throughout the season, but now it’s less prevalent. It could be fatigue issues, lazy wingers, tight-checking hockey or something else, but if the team’s forwards can’t score and backcheck until it’s too late, the Stars’ hockey season could be over sooner than expected.
The Stars will not win the Western Conference Finals by simply “playing their game.” Adjustments, including those noted above, could be key to keeping their 2023-2024 season alive. Will the Stars be a desperate club that moves forward with the same team philosophy but with a last-minute adrenaline boost? Or, will the team pause to consider if changes are needed Wonder For the Edmonton Oilers, this was a time when the Oilers’ confidence and momentum combined to become a very passable team that outnumbered you in all situations, much like what has been Dallas’ identity this season?
Best of luck to the Stars, who are in their final playoff spot.
