Hockey players are creatures of habit, and so far in this Stanley Cup Final, the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins have been no different.
Teams have trends or consistent patterns to their approach. Here are a few to watch for in Game 2.
Joel Quenneville likes to switch up his lines mid-game in order to provide a spark for his offense. Jonathan Toews has scored just one goal in 18 games these playoffs, so you’ll often see him placed on a line with Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa in order apply pressure on the opposing defense.
Chicago’s power play has sunk to an abysmal 13 percent (7-for-67) over their playoff run. Quenneville has shifted his lineup, separating Toews and Patrick Kane in order to spread the wealth. While Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook remain together on the first unit, Patrick Sharp was moved to the point alongside Nick Leddy on the second.
Corey Crawford is guilty of allowing an abundance of second-chance opportunities. He struggles to absorb the puck on initial shots, creating extra scoring chances for Boston’s forwards. After only amassing 25 shots in regulatio ...
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Article written by Daniel Williams
Stanley Cup Final 2013: Trends to Watch in Game 2
June 15th, 2013 by Daniel Williams Leave a reply »
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