Senators aren’t playing to Korpisalo’s strengths

Last night’s loss to the NJ Devils was difficult to swallow let alone watch. I am a big fan of Jacques Martin and Daniel Alfredsson, but the game has changed and so should their tactics.

One of Martin’s defensive zone tactics doesn’t play to goaltender Korpisalo’s strengths—That of bottling up the D-zone, giving up the blue line and blocking shots from the point.

Two things stood out for me in last night’s game. The first was the Senators forwards not playing the points. This is a big mistake against a strong defence that moves the puck quickly like the Devils.

Next, and I don’t know how many partially screened shots need to go in before the defence and coaching staff get the message, but Korpisalo clearly has an issue picking up pucks that come from behind players. Perhaps it’s because I struggled with it myself growing up playing goal in the Nepean minor hockey system that I recognize this issue. Granted I wasn’t playing in the NHL, but I made it clear to everyone on my team to get the hell out of my way. If they didn’t, I’d hit them with my stick, just like I did to the opposition. Why? So they got the message—“Get out my way. I don’t need this kind of help. I need you to pick up the guys in front of the net and clear my rebounds.” I didn’t take any shit from anyone, least alone my own teammates.

Good goalies can stop anyone, at any time. They don’t need players standing in the way screening them. If it was their job to stop pucks, they would be wearing goalie equipment. This strategy only works for weak goalies. There are no weak starting goalies in the NHL.

How many Ottawa Senator’s players were standing in front of Korpisalo on the 5th goal? 2, 3, 4? 

GET OUT OF THE WAY!!  I screamed at the TV. Yet, there they are, trying to play goal. If you have confidence in your goalie you don’t stand in front of him. Get out of the way, pick up the extra men and keep them out of his line of sight so he can stop the puck. Clear all rebounds.  I hate to repeat myself, but how much simpler can it get?

Back to point one. The downfall of playing the “collapse in your own zone” defence is that it forces the goalie to play deeper in his net, because everyone is backing up into him. The first three goals went high over Korpisalo’s glove and shoulder. If he was only 1-ft further out on each of those goals, they would have hit him. Again, as a 5’7” goalie I was susceptible to the over the shoulder shot once I started playing Junior. To fix the problem, I came out further and straightened my shoulders. It worked.

Instead, I’d rather see the Senators play tough defence by standing up at the blue line and forcing opposition forwards wide down the boards. This way Korpisalo can come out and stand at the top of his crease, cutting down the angles and making it much harder to be scored upon. And, no one will be standing in front of him. I used this strategy in a men’s hockey tournament against a Russian select team. Our much weaker Canadian squad pulled out a tie because we played smart—we played strategically.

Korpisalo is certainly good enough to stop most first shots, so this little adjustment would make a big difference in his game, I believe. But, it won’t work unless the forwards back-check, especially the centres.

For example, why is Josh Norris net hanging half the time he’s on the ice? Yea, those long passes are exciting but we’re a man short in our own zone when he’s doing that. And, why was Tim Stutzle at centre ice when Tyler Toffoli was scoring the sixth goal? We need to break out together as a five man unit if we want to maintain possession.

To play to Korpisalo’s strengths the Senators need to do the following:

1. Don’t let him be screened, by anyone. Make sure he can see the puck as much as possible at all times. And, don’t put your stick in front of a shot as Don Cherry used to say. Just let it go. Doing so often prevents a goalie from picking up the puck off a players’ stick.
2. The defence needs to clear the front of the net, stand up at the blue line and force opponents down the boards, so Korpisalo can play at the top of his crease.
3. The forwards need to do a better job of back-checking all the way back. The wingers need to cover the points in their own zone, and the centre-men need to cover the centre of the ice in their own zone—The slot. It should be their responsibility to ensure no one roams in the high slot while the defensemen are clearing the front of the net, and the wingers are covering the points. Of course this structure needs to be flexible, especially when the centre men come back deep into the corners to help the defence. In this situation, the far-side winger needs to cover the high slot as well as the point.

This is one of the strongest teams the Senators have ever had, on paper. Like many, I’m having a tough time understanding why they aren’t playing better. I suggest a return to the basics as the best place to start, which I believe will help our new goalie play his best.

James O’GRADY,

Former Nepean goaltender