It was a championship-winning motto. One that described the mindset of a hockey team that put all the pressure on their opponent, and if it cost them a goal with an odd man rush here or there, so be it. Our guys are better than your guys, so nine times out of 10, we'll win. Safe is Death.
That's how the Tampa Bay Lightning approached the 2004 season, taking the persona of their cantankerous coach, John Tortorella and attacking their opponents relentlessly. Of course, it helped that veteran goalie Nikolai Khabibulin was there to stop rushes that resulted from Tort's aggressive style, but it still put the onus on the opponent to stop the onslaught.
If we can learn anything from the first three games of the exhibition season, it's that Safe is Death has returned to Tampa Bay.
Guy Boucher's hockey team has forechecked relentlessly, attacking their opponents and challenging them to stop them. They used their speed to attack with the 1-3-1 forecheck, swarming to the puck like killer bees to a threatening bear.
Can it work over the course of a 82 game schedule? Who knows, but it seems pretty effective even without a Khabibulin (or even ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by JC De La Torre
Tampa Bay Lightning’s “Safe Is Death” Philosophy Back This Season
September 25th, 2010 by JC De La Torre Leave a reply »
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