Quote:
Originally Posted by GreekGodX
Something I was thinking about today.. Why is it that the top teams in the NHL don't produce in the playoffs? You have a team like Washington, who dominated the league and led in scoring. Why is it that they aren't built to win in the playoffs? Why is there a different type of hockey to be played in the playoffs? During the regular season you have a much more open game. Playoffs come and everyone is parked in front of the net on Offense and Defense just waiting for that one chance. Consequently because of the tight play in front of the net there is one team that dominates puck time but the other team just continually dumps the puck into the other zone again waiting for that one chance.
I'm not saying I don't like the postseason but something needs to be changed. If they want a higher scoring game, fast pace, and a more open game (like the regular season). Why do all the teams revert to a more puck controlled, defense oriented game?
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Simplistically, I think it has a lot to do with sacrifice. During the regular season, players may not layout to stop a slapshot as frequently. They may not go into the corner quite as hard. They may make a blind pass instead of taking a hit to make the safer, often correct play. A lot of those types of plays slow the game down creating bouncing pucks and a slower pace of play.
To me, I prefer the post-season game to the regular season. Not only for the intensity and the importance of each game, but I prefer the style of play....the players play tougher. Sorry to bring this up Mike, but if Marleau "bunny hops" in the regular season, it may be talked about for a week...maybe that long. When it happens in the post season it's talked about for a year. In the regular season, in the long run, hopping may have been the right play (keep your stars healthy (pun intended
) and live to fight another day. In the post season? Not by a long shot.
