Which is exactly what Peter Laviolette and the Flyers said to the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday night. The Lightning were using their usual 1-3-1 defensive system (which is a favorite of head coach Guy Boucher). Wherein they line up three players across the red line, making it nearly impossible for the opposing team to stickhandle or pass through the neutral zone. This gives the opposing team the limited option of dumping the puck in, usually resulting in a turnover or an icing. It also has all five players on the ice in a defensive role, which is why none of the Lightning were pressuring the puck on Wednesday, and the Flyers were sitting in their own end, passing the puck back and forth, not being forced to move it.
This went on for almost the entire first period. Tampa’s philosophy; “If you want to score, you have to come down the ice eventually.” Philly’s equally boring philosophy; “We have the puck; if you want it, you’re gonna have to come and get it”. The stalemate provided some of the worst hockey the NHL has ever produced, and had the hometown Lightning fans wanting their money back! No kidding!
There is nothing wrong with playing defensive hockey. It isn’t a novel idea by any means. For instance, most teams looking to protect a lead (especially late in the game) will abandon the fore-check for a more defensive style of hockey. However, the “trap”, “neutral zone trap”, left-wing lock”, “1-3-1” or whichever variation you want to use, is a game plan and style of play initiated right from the opening face-off. Guy Boucher implemented this system, relying strictly on turnovers and counterattacking for offense. It was made famous by Jacques Lemaire, coach the New Jersey Devils, throughout the 90’s. The “trap” was a major turn-off for fans, as they were forced to endure low scoring, low intensity games. During the lockout in 2005, the league sought to disrupt or remove the trap. They decided to remove the two-line pass, and took clutching and grabbing out of the game. The changes did work, as the NHL saw an increase in scoring again. However, coaches like Guy Boucher will always find a way to bring the trap back. Which is why it will be a major topic of discussion at the upcoming General Managers’ meeting next week.
So if you were in that room next week, what would be your stance? Would you be against the team sitting back playing the trap, and not pushing the pace of the game? Or would you be against the team that sits in their own end playing with the puck, not willing to move it forward? Or do you think there is nothing wrong with what either team was doing, because they were both doing what was in their best interest?
And what solution would you propose?
I have heard a few suggestions from people who are against what the Flyers did (not advancing the puck out of their end). Things like; A zone timer, a shot clock, or a delay of game penalty. A zone timer would give the team a certain amount of time, in which they would have to advance the puck beyond their own blue line, or they would incur a penalty. A shot clock, like in the NBA, would also give the team a certain amount of time to get a shot on net, or again, they would incur a penalty. Obviously a delay of game penalty would be just that, a penalty for not advancing the play.
Those who are against the way the Lightning played, seem to be in the larger majority. And that seems to be across the board, from players, to GM’s, to fans. However, the only suggestion I’ve heard so far is to instate a rule banning the use of any form of the trap, which I guess would fall under the referees’ discretion, and most likely result in a bench minor penalty.
Finally, for those who are in the middle and think neither team was at fault, and that nothing should be looked at or changed, I’m going to have to strongly disagree. This is a major problem, and it does have to be looked at. You can’t have two teams standing there looking at each other for 60 minutes, both claiming a point. First of all, every team would want to do it, which would have every team finishing with well over 100 points. Second of all, nobody would care. Nobody would be in the stands, and nobody would be watching it on TV. I don’t want to watch two UFC fighters get in the ring and stare at each other. And I don’t want to see two hockey teams skate circles in their own end. Lets make the appropriate changes and get on with the game!
…and that is the last word.
