According to a trusted source, OLL haven't beaten BWL since 2021. This afternoon, let's look at their previous loss (amongst quite a few wins) and see what works for and against them. I had originally planned for this to cover their three previous losses, but I went to Celje vs APOEL Nicosia last night and I am exhausted from being the Pied Piper for the APOEL boys, leading them back to Ljubljana on the train ^^. I hope this is informative and can provide the basis for future previews. (Disclaimer: Before the tomatoes get thrown, I am not a Celje fan - I was just visiting a friend).
24.1.25 PIV 2 - 1 BWL
What worked for PIV, or what we should copy:
- A fast cycle around the perimeter of the offensive zone followed by a dagger dribble straight down from the blue line by a stickhandling defenseman, resulting in a high danger chance that they should have scored on. Bine Mašič, take note!
- Getting bodies in front of the net, putting the puck in the mixer and being ready for opportunities. Clichéd stuff, but it works!
- PIV took fantastic advantage of a big gap in the neutral zone between BWL's forwards and defenders to hit a transition with pace. This led to a 3 on 2 from which they scored, on a partially screened shot from the left circle. If Linz aggressively forecheck, we need to be cool and calm enough to swiftly exit the zone and have forwards ready for a quick transition to offense. Easier said than done, of course, but we are better than PIV and they managed it!
- PIV sold strong-side pressure and then reversed the flow of play to the weak-side, creating a good chance. Again, relatively basic stuff, but when done off the rush this can really open things up. As my Dad used to tell me before exams, TCUP! (Think Clearly Under Pressure)
- A beautiful wraparound pass to the back post caught Linz sleeping. The goalie is forced to move laterally in his full range twice, opening up acres of net space to aim at. Speed and deception once more are the keys to offensive success, it seems. You can execute with speed and deception when you meticulously plan ahead. I hope AT and the gang have done this as we got embarrassed by BWL last time. If anyone likes eSports, watch the Thinking Man's Valorant YT video on how Team Liquid anti-stratted against Team Vitality in the EMEA VCT Kickoff. I would love to see us embarrass BWL in turn by comprehensively inverting their strengths and exploiting their tendencies as Team Liquid did against Team Vitality. It's just good coaching! (I apologise for my rampant competitive T-sport/eSport addictions filtering through into my work 😅 https://youtu.be/QCY40jzi3sA?si=anmzI057cDedrYlH)
- Strong net-front presence from their defenders allows for clean-ups of 'puck on net' chances. Linz were looking to create chaos in front of the goalie, but powerful stick lifts and boxing out by PIV defensemen neutralise this attempt. I have long been calling for more of this from OLL, and thankfully Žiga Pavlin's return tonight is well-timed to aid in this regard. We need to establish and maintain dominance in our own defensive danger zones. We can do this by setting the tone early, hitting hard and making zone entries as uncomfortable as possible. Within the rules, we should batter BWL forwards trying to make things happen in the slot and in front of goal. I look to Jan Ćosić and Žiga Pavlin to be the primary drivers of this approach, with hope that the likes of Mašič/Gregorc/Ege will follow their lead.
- PIV pretty successfully weaved in and out on the BWL defensemen, dragging them first wide apart and then forcing them to pinch together. Doing this allowed for more space and opportunity to attack and shoot, unsettling the D-men.
What worked for BWL, or what we should avoid giving up:
- A stretch pass from the D-zone to the O-zone, splitting the two defensemen. I recall them doing this to us, too, so we'll need to squeeze the middle of the ice and give up more on the outside.
- PIV got caught puck-watching and gave up a rush chance. Awareness of opposition presence is clearly key in preventing goals against.
- Fast passing post-faceoff win, back to the blue line and sideways to the RD (right defenseman), who activates (skates forward) down and whips a dagger pass right into the top of the goalie's crease. This is poked home by two forwards who had successfully contested and overloaded this area. PIV had sent one of their forwards to aggressively pressure BWL's blue line, but this opened up a lot of space behind that player that the BWL RD was able to expose. We should aim to play in a more structured way, pressuring but not giving up that much space if the man gets beaten.
Conclusion
Let's see how we go tonight - I will check back against these points in my subsequent report. I hope AT and the team have had the chance to take their time off (outside of those representing Slovenia in Poland, of course) to study BWL in meticulous detail so that we have the best chance possible of beating them for a change.
Finally, happy birthday to Mr Lefebvre. Quite the power move to be born on Valentine's Day!
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