Reg season vs Playoffs

[Panthers Fan 69]

Some guy on Reddit made this point I didn’t even think off.
 

Quote: It’s the man on man D. Works great during the regular season.  Not so much in the playoffs. When we fall apart we end up leaving someone wide open to score.

 

we are one of the only teams that play man defense. In the regular season it really does work with 82 games. Works well vs bad teams and sometimes vs good teams. But when it breaks down, it’s looks bad. In the playoffs, everyone is good for the most part, but once you get to high teams playing high end hockey, man on man breaks down very fast. The rags play a 3-2 or 2-3 zone however you look at it. Makes it very hard to get grad As unless force you way to the middle or net front. Most teams used to play man on man and it’s gone away.  That could be the exact reason why we just disappear in the playoffs. 

[panthers81]

I was saying this the other day. Last man to man defense that won the cup was in 2010 I think. If you're not perfect the system doesn't work, or at the very least you're giving up grade A chances. I think we need a Igor type goalie to make it come together. 

[Chief_Chokeaho]

We are doing fine on defense. That’s not the issue, clearly. Special teams and finishing are what is plaguing the team. 

[Panthers Fan 69]

1 hour ago, Chief_Chokeaho said:

We are doing fine on defense. That’s not the issue, clearly. Special teams and finishing are what is plaguing the team. 

Will agree to disagree on this one. They really should switch to a zone style defense because man defense just doesn’t win in the playoffs. The bigger issue is from the athletic article I posted yesterday. The canes prioritize every shot on goal possible versus creating scoring chances. That’s really what needs to change. Alho has yet to score in the series while having a ton of assists. Also should be our leading goal score easily. 

[Chief_Chokeaho]

Our defense is doing their job, without Pesce. Rags are struggling to even enter the zone 5v5. 
 

We have scored zero PP goals out of 15 tries in 3 games decided by 3 goals. How you can even begin to blame the defense before that is wild speculation at best. The defense has played well enough to win the series. 

[Panthers Fan 69]

1 minute ago, Chief_Chokeaho said:

Our defense is doing their job, without Pesce. Rags are struggling to even enter the zone 5v5. 
 

We have scored zero PP goals out of 15 tries in 3 games decided by 3 goals. How you can even begin to blame the defense before that is wild speculation at best. The defense has played well enough to win the series. 

Oh I can blame them in spots. We are having major defensive breakdowns leading to goals. Burns is having a horrible playoffs.  Tony is horrible. We are allowing 3.5 goals a game. Honestly, if it wasn’t for Koochie or Freddie, it would be 6-7 goals a game. Even our radio guys Tripp Shane and the couple local podscasts talk about how back our defense is playing.   It’s breakdown after breakdown.  The only reason these are 1 goal losses vs 3-4 is the goalies. 

[Chief_Chokeaho]

All three games we have had sub .900 goaltending from Andersen and PK. Goaltending is reason number 3 we aren’t winning this series. 
 

1. Special Teams 

2. Finishing 

3. Goaltending 

This is all my opinion though. I don’t find joy in arguing about why we are losing so I’ll leave it at this. 

[Panthers Fan 69]

2 hours ago, Chief_Chokeaho said:

All three games we have had sub .900 goaltending from Andersen and PK. Goaltending is reason number 3 we aren’t winning this series. 
 

1. Special Teams 

2. Finishing 

3. Goaltending 

This is all my opinion though. I don’t find joy in arguing about why we are losing so I’ll leave it at this. 

Special teams is indeed 1. No question. I’d say it’s the style of pucks on net vs creating chances is two. It just doesn’t work in the playoffs against elite goalie play. That’s been the same since 19. Run into an elite goalie, get blanked. That’s the because the offensive style allows the goalie see all shots.  The goals we have scored have been sexy tips or deflections.  Goalie play has been good. Not great. But it’s like the allstar game. The best goalies let up 6-7 goals. Why?? No defense.  Our defense while good in some spots really has been a let down. Watching Burns halfass a clear or Slavin chasing or Tony d really doing nothing is tough.