Face-offs are killing the Carolina Hurricanes. And I mean killing.
With a league worst face-off win percentage of 40.3 percent and a penalty kill tied for third to last in the NHL at 76.8 percent something must change in order for the Hurricanes to win draws...and games.
Now, having gone 3-4-3 in their last 10 games, with many goals by the opposition coming off rebounds that Carolina's defense and forwards are failing to clear, it seems as though the usual (but opposite) strategies of Cam Ward either holding onto the puck for a face-off or knocking a rebound out to his defense are more of "which poison should I take?" instead of "what's my best decision?"
With elite face-off man Rod Brind'Amour now retired, Carolina has lost its go-to man for critical draws; but, why do they not go to "Brindy" to get the Hurricanes centers to change their strategies for face-offs. For example, if you can find close-up videos of either Brind'Amour or Eric Staal taking a draw, you will see the completely contrasting strategies that the former captain and current captain of the Hurricanes took to the face-off dot.
Br ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Tyler Hobbs
Carolina Hurricanes Storm Watch: Team Must Go to School on Draws
November 29th, 2010 by Tyler Hobbs Leave a reply »
Advertisement