The San Jose Sharks managed just four shots on goal versus the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first period of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Penguins have done an excellent job of bottling up the Sharks’ stars through the first five games of the series. While the Penguins’ defensive schemes have proved to be effective, Don Cherry believes a simple offensive adjustment could help the Sharks generate more scoring chances.
Cherry noted the Sharks’ propensity to try and carry the puck into the offensive zone rather than relying on the dump and chase during Coach’s Corner on Hockey Night in Canada Sunday night.
“You wonder why they [Sharks] got four shots…I’m going to show you one of the reasons why. They never dump the puck in. Pittsburgh knows it, they just line up along there [the blue line],” said Cherry.
Cherry recalled Melker Karlsson‘s go-ahead goal in the first period of Game 5, which came after Patrick Marleau dumped the puck into the Penguins’ zone.
“The other night, for some reason, they dumped the puck in and watch this tic-tac-toe goal. Five guys touched the puck because they dumped it in. You gotta get the puck in there and get it on the defence. When you put it in the corner and you gotta go in and get after it that’s the toughest thing. Four shots is a disgrace,” Cherry said.
Modern hockey thinking and reams of data suggest that carrying the puck in on a zone entry is far more effective offensive strategy than dumping it in. Perhaps the book is out on the Sharks’ attack and Cherry is on to something here.
