James Mirtle of the Globe & Mail has a great story up today, focusing on the struggles by the Detroit Red Wings as they take Dave Tippett and the Phoenix Coyotes. Aside from one crazy period in Game 2, it could be said the Coyotes have completely controlled the Red Wings, as they adopt a trapping style approach that has the more talented and experienced team frustrated.
He talked with several players, including Niklas Kronwall, on how the Red Wings can get past this suffocating style the Coyotes are playing:
“As soon as we win the puck (in the defensive zone), we have to get it up right away. Anytime we make that D-to-D pass or we go over, then all of a sudden, they’ll have the five guys back. Anytime we have the chance to catch them, the puck’s got to go up and we have to go after it right away.”
There’s no doubt that the Red Wings are the more talented team, but there’s also something to say how a team that completely buys into the system their coach is preaching can overcome any shortcomings in experience and talent level. They’ve been doing it all season, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t continue in the playoffs. Mirtle expects the Red Wings to ultimately win the series, but I’m not so certain that will be the case.
While Ilya Bryzgalov has been very pedestrian so far, Jimmy Howard has been downright shaky on the other end. He may have been one of the most exciting and consistent goaltenders in the regular season, but he looks uncomfortable in net and seems to have lost his trademark confidence.
If Detroit has any hope of winning this series, it’s going to need Howard to step it up. I’ll almost expect for Babcock to have a short leash on Howard tonight; the Red Wings cannot afford to lose Game 4 at home, and if Howard struggles at all he’ll go with the veteran in Osgood.