Strategic concerns

Here are some situations and how a team might attack them:

Situation: You are playing the Flyers in Philadelphia. How do you stop Eric Lindros, should he be the focus, and what types of players would you send out against him, since you don't have the last change?

Action plan: With coach Roger Neilson having the last change, a visiting coach must develop a game plan that will eliminate Lindros' impact without the benefit of matchup advantages. He must utilize a matchup system that will limit what Lindros can do. Depending on personnel, that matchup might be with a forward line or it might be with a defense pair. Lindros gets a lot of ice time and the players matched against him will play a lot, so quick shifts and changes on the fly become even more vital. Neilson has the last change on faceoffs, so it will be necessary to switch personnel during play. You can't eliminate Lindros' scoring chances, but proper matchups will limit them. It depends on personnel.

Situation: What strategy works best in attacking Dominik Hasek, and how does that vary from attacking other top goalies?

Action plan: Strategy doesn't change from playing against one top goalie to another--he will make great plays, no matter who he is or his style. To be successful, you must generate lots of traffic in front of the net, which will reduce the goalie's ability to see shots or make rapid adjustment to puck movement. When a team can get in tight, it must go hard to the net. This puts pressure on the defense, takes away space the goalie needs and increases chances for tip-ins, deflections and rebounds.

A great goalie will stop most first shots, so players must go to the net and get rebounds. The best keepers also will control rebounds, so offensive players must get in dose, within 10 to 12 feet, to get rebounds. Make the goalie handle the puck a lot, especially in tight. The best scoring chances develop when you can hit him with the puck and scrap for rebounds or deflect incoming shots.

Canucks coach Mike Keenan is in his 14th season behind an NHL bench and his second as an exclusive NHL analyst for THE SPORTING NEWS. E-mail him at keenan@sportingnews.com and look for his weekly e-mailbag at sportingnews.com.

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