First, what good transition off of a line change looks like.
Tampa line change transition (most of the time):
Kucherov, J T Miller, and Stamkos just came on the ice. Do they take off beyond center ice waiting for that defenseman to hit them with a long pass? No. All three of them are inside their own blue line, two of them skating to the top of the circles and turning up. The result - defense has two options for short passes to 2 forwards heading up ice with speed and a 3rd option to Stamkos at the blueline who would wind up behind them. I've seen the Lightning use the last forward, which clearly wasn't necessary on this play, take the pass behind the two cruising forwards who've backed off the defense. End result on this play, with the short passes and clean entry is a decent scoring chance. There are lots of examples of this from every Lightning game and every Lightning line. I picked this one, because it shows their top line working in their own zone to generate transition off of a line change.
On to the Blues.
Blues line change transition play vs the Ducks:
Where are all the forwards? At center ice or beyond while Pietrangelo has a forechecker bearing down on him forcing the attempt at a long home run pass which doesn't connect or he could have gone East/West to the other defenseman putting that guy in the same bind. We've already heard how the Blues coaching staff wants the puck going North/South. Where is the reasonable option to someone whose actually open?? So this looks like a bad thing, right? Looks like something the coaching staff might actually discourage. Well...
Meanwhile, the Blues line change transition vs win over Chicago (happens way too often on uncontested exits):
Pietrangelo left hanging inside his own blueline with two Blackhawks pressuring him while all 3 forwards are beyond center ice leaving Pietrangelo nowhere effective to go. Even the East/Weast pass was taken away. Sadly, this was the 12/90/57 line which I hadn't noticed doing this in the prior 3 games. There was always someone staying closer to the defenseman for a shorter pass out, so they could be moving forward with speed, vice barely moving or standing still beyond center ice waiting for passes that are easily defended.
This is either horrible coaching or the players not listening to the bench. Considering this is off of an uncontested exit on a line change, I'm going with the former. Also, given how similar the play from Game 5 looks to the play in Game 10, it has to be coached, right?? If it's not coached, then I have a sweetheart deal on some beach front property in the Mediterranean for you.
The Blues awful line change transition play.
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The Blues awful line change transition play.
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