The Will Smith goal illustrated what Sharks should be doing more: when the path to net is blocked by bodies, a bank shot off back boards designed to bounce in front of net has a good chance of getting through for a scoring chance when your own players are expecting it and opponents are waiting for a direct shot on net to be blocked instead. These snooker-type shots are what high hockey IQ players can pull off because they require faking a direct shot while passing to your players using correct angling techniques and then fishing for rebounds in the scrum. Perhaps Coach Ryan Warsofsky could hold a pool tournament for the team and make them all practice banking shots off the boards and deflections more. All this requires element of surprise also so it never works all the time, and other teams adjust to the passing plays. Using the boards correctly for bank shots can also result in fewer icing calls because players shoot the puck diagonally to other side of ice off the boards rather than straight down ice which gets called back. Last night Sharks put in a respectable effort but were obviously outclassed by a genuine Stanley Cup contender that just bulldozed them into submission with their depth and skill and steady pressure. The Florida Panthers appear headed for another Stanley Cup final this year and the Sharks for another last place in the league finish. Will Smith is coming on strong and may be the most improved player on Sharks in second half of the season because he learns fast and works relentlessly.
DEFENSE BOYS, DEFENSE! Don't forget that our top pair defensemen would be, at best, a bottom pairing on any of the playoff teams. It's a long season of learning this year…
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The zambonis in the background :
Love the jumbo hats
great breakdown, Brodie. The boys didnt have it tonight, it was a stinker and hopefully they learn from it, reset and get ready for the next one!
No fight in this dog tonight…. We need a captain on the ice.
The Will Smith goal illustrated what Sharks should be doing more: when the path to net is blocked by bodies, a bank shot off back boards designed to bounce in front of net has a good chance of getting through for a scoring chance when your own players are expecting it and opponents are waiting for a direct shot on net to be blocked instead. These snooker-type shots are what high hockey IQ players can pull off because they require faking a direct shot while passing to your players using correct angling techniques and then fishing for rebounds in the scrum. Perhaps Coach Ryan Warsofsky could hold a pool tournament for the team and make them all practice banking shots off the boards and deflections more. All this requires element of surprise also so it never works all the time, and other teams adjust to the passing plays. Using the boards correctly for bank shots can also result in fewer icing calls because players shoot the puck diagonally to other side of ice off the boards rather than straight down ice which gets called back. Last night Sharks put in a respectable effort but were obviously outclassed by a genuine Stanley Cup contender that just bulldozed them into submission with their depth and skill and steady pressure. The Florida Panthers appear headed for another Stanley Cup final this year and the Sharks for another last place in the league finish. Will Smith is coming on strong and may be the most improved player on Sharks in second half of the season because he learns fast and works relentlessly.
DEFENSE BOYS, DEFENSE! Don't forget that our top pair defensemen would be, at best, a bottom pairing on any of the playoff teams. It's a long season of learning this year…
Paid $60 to watch that shit show. Thanks for nothing boys