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Power play vs Penalty kill

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:46 am
by buzzershot
Should a teams power play lines and big scorers be out burning up their legs killing penalties? Why or Why not?

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:22 am
by seek & destroy
It depends on the game situation. Ideally you would keep your PP line fresh by not using them on the PK. However, in a close game where you are trying to protect a lead you want your best PK players on the ice if possible during a PK. That applies even if some of your best PK players happen to be on the main PP line.

I totally agree that you want to keep people fresh but sometimes the best strategy is to use the best players you have on the bench. Coaches make the decision whether the players are fresh enough to succeed. If the team loses, coaches are the first ones blamed especially by all the parents of the kids that didn't get to go in the game at those crucial times. In most cases using those parents kids would not change the end result but coaches are well aware that their decisions on the bench will be criticized whenever it doesn't result in success...and in many cases even when it works.

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:31 am
by 1parent
seek & destroy wrote:It depends on the game situation. Ideally you would keep your PP line fresh by not using them on the PK. However, in a close game where you are trying to protect a lead you want your best PK players on the ice if possible during a PK. That applies even if some of your best PK players happen to be on the main PP line.

I totally agree that you want to keep people fresh but sometimes the best strategy is to use the best players you have on the bench. Coaches make the decision whether the players are fresh enough to succeed. If the team loses, coaches are the first ones blamed especially by all the parents of the kids that didn't get to go in the game at those crucial times. In most cases using those parents kids would not change the end result but coaches are well aware that their decisions on the bench will be criticized whenever it doesn't result in success...and in many cases even when it works.
Couldn't agree more!