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Since I don't know much about how to prepare for playoff hockey, I can't offer many specifics. What I can do is look at what star players and superior teams are able to do and try to isolate the general scenarios. If I knew more, I'd want each matchup under a microscope, but I haven't watched many games. Star players used to and still do alot is have specific designed plays drawn up for their best players to 1) breakout of the zone 2) Cause mistmatches that get clear open shots on the opposing goalie. 3) Have a little tic toe toe passing trick. 4)Know the weaknesses of the opponents goalie and players and take advantage. 5) since the centers are supposed to be the playmakers, you get the puck to them. Overcommitting can be very costly, loss of the possession of the puck and odd man rushes. From I know about the Penguins, I'd employ a cover-2 type scheme on Malken and do things to destroy the vision of Crosby and cause Roberts to over compensate by using his own momentum to deflect his energy/checks, main goal is to tire him and force him to be too tendative. After that it's very complicated and top secret info. Biron has a goalie style that is prime for playoff hockey, he is not an Osgood who is one dimensional angle guy. Brodeur was a goalie who knows what to do with rebounds, if he gives any. So Biron, is not susceptible to just shooting the puck high or low like some of the goalies we've had in the past. I can't see this series going less than the full seven games. If we get Crosby to adlib most of the series and lose his feel for the game we get a leg up there.
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