Tactical Matchup: NSH vs. VAN
Hockey nerds love Nashville's style of play. Here's why it hasn't worked against Vancouver.
In a recent episode of the Hockey PDOcast (click above to listen), I brought up how the Nashville Predators’ tactical philosophy is antithetical to the Vancouver Canucks’.
Under new coach Andrew Brunette, the Preds are all about getting the puck up-ice quickly, activating five skaters and controlling play with fluid OZ movement (related read).
Whether with FLA, NJD or NSH, Brunette’s team plays attractive and effective hockey. In comparison, the way VAN plays in non-Quinn Hughes minutes could be described as vanilla, conventional; basic. Rick Tocchet’s crew wins by playing structured defense, winning board battles and scoring off chaotic counter-attacks.
And yet VAN dominates the regular-season series against NSH.
Game: 3-0 VAN.
Goals: 13-6 VAN.
Scoring Chances (per inStat): 50-41 VAN.
Here’s are the areas where NSH’s initiative fails against VAN’s cynicism.
Entry Turnovers
NSH loves to change sides on the breakout, get four players into the rush, enter the OZ with control and look for a delay play into the middle.
Against VAN’s stout NZ forecheck, the attacking team is rewarded with a turnover leading to a rush goal against.
Another similar play, below, leads to a valuable 2v1 for VAN.
DZ Passing (or lack thereof)
Build-up passing is an integral part of Nashville’s gameplan. For Vancouver it is but a necessary evil.
In the sequence above, VAN attempts only two passes, connecting on one. The other, a long breakout pass up the wall, turns into a NZ footrace (for which the Canucks have a healthy appetite).
NSH attempts four passes. The first incompletion directly leads to a Canucks breakout. The second becomes a costly DZ turnover.
OZ Turnovers
Nashville’s best-case scenario is to drive the puck into the Vancouver zone, establish possession and attack with player and puck movement. But even then, danger is never far away.
Vancouver’s relatively passive zone DZ scheme allows Nashville’s weakside D to attack downhill and fire a mid-range shot. However, a random bounce catches four Preds deep in the zone, setting up a 2v1 for the Canucks.
Nashville is an interesting team to watch and learn from.
Vancouver has a better roster and a more robust style of play for the postseason.
As a former work colleague famously said: "It's kinda fun, eh? But it's dumb."
He wasn’t talking about playoff hockey, but he might’ve well have been.
Hockey Tactics 2024: the perfect playoff companion
Learn about Xs & Os visually, like NHL & other high-level players do.
Enjoy the fully illustrated ebook on your computer or tablet
Save it on your smartphone for reference on-the-go
Understand key tactical matchups as you watch the game