This ‘Basic’ Play Has Taken Over The NHL Playoffs

#hockey #torontomapleleafs #nhl
In todays video, we look at how the ‘Cherry Pick’ play has made its way into the NHL, & how the Dallas Stars are currently using it to expose the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals.
Grab the Edmonton Oilers & all 31 other teams Tactic Playbook HERE!
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[@hockeypsychology]

Grab the Edmonton Oilers & all 31 other teams Tactic Playbook HERE! gumroad.com/a/69747827/zourwt

[@brandonjames2368]

Would bringing back the Two Line Pass Rule stop this crap, d'ya think?

[@PsiNorm]

Growing up in Canada, we had the perfect defense against this kind of play. We'd shout, "Chaaaair-eeee pick-eeeer!" in a sing song voice, and the player would stop out of shame. Perhaps Edmonton can use that?

[@wowthatscoolbro5759]

I don’t think Seguin will care lol

[@zjsz4954]

Shame and maybe you distract them at the perfect time

[@daveruby2854]

We still use this tactic in my beer league in NY 😂😂

[@Cosmicllama64]

Considering the Oilers do it just as much (if not better than the stars…)

[@TMJ32]

We'd shame people for standing out in center ice not helping in the defensive zone while their team is outmanned. This is a lot more strategic than that, they're picking moments to blow the zone early. But getting this wrong can definitely cost you, a turnover here would basically be a guaranteed goal.

[@megamob5834]

“Stank oven” has got to be one of the best names in the NHL

[@MLT2550]

His first name isn't "greasy" is it ;)

[@joseppi1121]

love him

[@ColdPressd]

I literally just noticed how dank that name is. I mean the guy must not touch the puck much because I watch a lot of hockey and I don’t think I remember hearing this guys name bar announced even once. Legit the stankiest oven in The league though no doubt

[@tannarframpton9454]

I know it's actually Stan Koven, but I can't help saying Stank Oven, mainly because that gives the nickname "Stank" if I do it that way lol

[@ryukiT3]

Yeah. He be cookin'

[@BennettLee-dc3qp]

The second period was an impressive offensive show by Dallas and an even more impressive defensive catastrophe for the Oilers

[@davidk2801]

I love how u show plays that aren’t goals because it shows how often these plays happen but aren’t in the highlight reels

[@CamGoldberg3796]

I thought this said “this beer league player had taken over the league”

[@Canuckzprod]

Lol😂

[@Corman1]

Nah, Phil Kessel couldn't make it back this year 😢

[@lmenus]

You were getting your hopes up eh

[@misskj4704]

@@Corman1 Phil is a legend

[@hockeypsychology]

Phil The Thrill Should’ve won a Conn Smythe

[@wileysells1279]

This is expected when the two-line pass was taken out of the game.

[@lorenzoaufiero1232]

Exactly what I was thinking

[@redneckcanuck8359]

💯 This was inevitable

[@jeffrudzinski1366]

It was a dumb thing to do IMO. Hockey was fine.

[@joelmacdonald6994]

Sure, but it opens up the ice and keeps the pace up. Getting rid of the two line pass is the best thing to happen in the last 20 years. Our brag, as fans, has been that hockey is the fastest game. Let’s lean on that to grow the game. Besides, ever team plays by the same rules; so adapt or lose. The quickness of the game is what attracts new fans.

[@redneckcanuck8359]

@@joelmacdonald6994 hockey is the fastest game? Then it switches to the toughest game for playoffs. The game being fast is what brings new fans, some maybe, but all the changes along with Bettman telling me what I want to see, also makes the nhl lose fans

[@Jacob-rq5zb]

The Stars have also won 60% of the draws and have won 66% in the O-zone and D-zone face offs

[@RileyTech]

Dallas by far has the most depth in face off guys. Every line has one really good and one still above average FO, so whoever's taking it can go early and get kicked out and they still have a really solid second option who can win the draw.

[@exturkconner]

It's actually called "flying the zone" or "stretching the zone" by most teams. And it's a well know strategy especially for slower players who have great hands. With Brad Marchands hips, and JVR's diminished speed the Bruins used it frequently with those two guys. If you are confident in your defenders and goal tending it's a solid strategy to basically generate offense from a single pass.

[@RichardTavilla]

Correct

[@DarkLobster69]

It does depend a bit on timing and what’s going on in the dzone. Most of the plays shown, where a forward leaves the dzone right when possession is gained would be flying or stretching the zone. When a forward doesn’t make it back to the dzone, and stays high when their own defensemen lack possession, like what’s shows at 3:36, that would be a cherry pick.

[@leoncchow]

When JVR was a Leaf it was his linemate Phil Kessel who`d cherry pick with his superior speed to stretch the zone to create space for JVR and Bozak. Gave Kessel a bad rap for his unreliable defensive zone coverage.

[@jacobdill4499]

I believe that the Caps are using it with Ovi as well.

[@danielt1985]

Knoblocs gonna be showing this at practice today

[@Matanumi]

..... does he watch KZbin during a playoff run though?

[@FoundPonds]

This is what is the result of getting rid of the two line pass stoppages of the past.

[@Matanumi]

Fuck I remember that rule Seemed like less offensive plays back then

[@xelaettequd]

Most of what you show isn't even cherry picking, it's an early breakout. A real cherry pick is hanging out up there while your team defends. Call me crazy, but your using this term wrong.

[@TheCommonS3Nse]

I would call it planned cherry picking as opposed to selfish cherry picking. They’re still blowing the zone rather than helping on defense, but the purpose is different. They’re not looking for a breakaway. They’re creating space for their teammates.

[@JayHammerCA]

Call me crazy, but I think OP is salty and whining that his team got beat.

[@ktulu3767]

Ya, he may be using the term loosely, but it's better than thinking your and you're are the same thing. Correct people if you so choose, but choose your words wisely. Smdh

[@Hydrog666]

I HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOREVER! It completely throws the other team off their game. The leafs get exposed by this constantly. Especially in the MTL series.

[@georgec5212]

It’s risk vs stability, this will happen in every properly balanced sport. They counter each other

[@VarjoPira]

The way this guy pronounces Finnish names is LEGIT. Good job, man.

[@KevsShwaShwa]

It's how you deal with pressure. If you keep one guy hanging or send one guy really early then you are forced to keep someone back as well. Because the other team can ice it and beat the icing. It's a good counter for hyper aggressive teams like Florida, Edmonton, Carolina.

[@Meerkatx5]

Clever way to open up the neutral zone and make for a more free flowing game, I'm there for it.

[@theslipperygpenguin]

From a die-hard stars fan, I can’t thank you enough for actuating pronouncing Miro Heiskanen’s name right. Keep it up bro!

[@Matanumi]

STANK oven

[@adriankalitka3762]

Ovechkin used to do that all the time. He did it all the time when i went to games

[@noahvillegas1653]

The Stars at night, are big and bright

[@af17317596]

👏👏👏 Deep in the heart of texas!

[@twillison8824]

Not last night, they played like shit. Good to know Tanev is the only thing other than Oettinger that's keeping em alive.

[@reasonrevived]

@@twillison8824 oof Taven is out now

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

@@af17317596 Unexpected Spongebob meme.

[@ExpatChef71]

I think Knoblauch and Coffey must be studying the game footage well into the wee hours because Edmonton has shut the Stars offence for two games straight.

[@sammybowker7823]

love the breakdown and really love that you're pronouncing all the Finnish names correctly! LET'S GO STARS!

[@Dragon-Zero365]

Love the terms and names you use! Informative and entertaining, when I first heard you use McJesus ages ago, I laughed harder than I should have

[@dominickangelo4319]

Honestly this is nothing new. DeBoer used this tactic often when he coached the Injured Reserves.

[@sirus976]

The main different between his coaching stent in Dallas is imo the locker room mentality as well as he actually adjusts

[@crumblerx99]

I guess i'm old school but we always called that guy a "goal suck"

[@seen48]

Great breakdown of what they are doing. Oilers were able to counter most of this in both games #4 and #5. #LFGO

[@modernwarfaremaniac12]

Are u able to coach the Oilers for game 4? They could use ya lol

[@canadabiss]

man i just absolutely love the way you break down thing's I've just completely missed

[@robertrobbins1367]

COME ON HP!!!! Dont give the Oilers any ideas my man!

[@reaganharder1480]

Another thing I'm spotting here is multiple instances of Darnell Nurse defending a 2 on 2 rush by changing from man-on-man to zone defense as soon as the puck enters the zone, thus completely losing his gap and removing all pressure from the puck carrier. Between that and his complete lack of scoring, it's no wonder he has the worst +/- in the playoffs.

[@austengoth2153]

LOL that Ovi clip never gets old. So funny.

[@Matanumi]

First time I've seen it. Big yikes

[@e.bassett3922]

Oilers can and HAVE made the adjustments. Go Oilers Go!

[@fbsiubvsitdhdhjuk]

This is EXACTLY what the Canucks weren't doing enough of in their series with Edmonton. Edmonton was able to keep their D hemming us in for extended periods of time because of this. Nice to know I was on to something when I noticed this.

[@angelaa.9915]

Oh you’re totally right. It was so frustrating to watch the Canucks fail to get into the OZ again and again

[@malcolmapplet4313]

The "D" who is stuck playing back, defending his blue line, he can get burned so easy. How many times have you seen him try to intercept the stretch pass or stick check? Instant burn. Hedman gets burned like this a lot, but their offense has turned this move into a bit of an art form.

[@dragoslove]

Never watched hockey, no idea why I'm here. This was fascinating.

[@TheEsquireOfSportsFSU]

I don't have a problem with it. You have to be aware. Oil cheating for offence on the play when Vinny hit the post... Kulak was down on the half wall (as far as I could tell), NO ONE at the points, Dadonov breakaway. Stu stopped it, but teams know they can use that as a counter if you're going to have your defencemen up in the play. It's fair game. If you score against it, then they get burned for cherry picking. It's the risk you take. Dallas found it to be worthwhile, since they can't skate straight up with Oil... Oil now have to counter by keeping at least one guy at the point (if not also rotate F3, which they failed to do on 3 or 4 noted occasions last night).

[@johnburns9634]

Funny! Back in the eighties we called it the Wayne Gretzky play. 😂😂😂 he’d do it against the Flames all the time.

[@Buffalosabskis]

Two line pass made it impossible. After 2005 it was the Ovi. He would play no defense and just camp at the blueline for a pass

[@johnburns9634]

@@Buffalosabskis Gretzky would skate in the neutral zone, by the Flames blue line. No two line pass to worry about.

[@GriffinKuechle]

I nticed this almost every time I watch Dallas

[@Seriously_Unserious]

I think the Oilers can overcome that cherry pick play. However, more challenging for them to overcome is the discrepancy in quality of goaltending. Stewart Skinner is a good goalie, but Jacob Oettenger is an Elite goalie. Oettenger's goaltending in the 1st period allowed Dallas to weather the storm and limit the damage by taking goals away from the Oilers on plays that should have gone in. At the other end, while Skinner did basically make all the saves he should make, and even some tough ones, he didn't really steal Stars' goals form them the way Oetternger did to the Oilers. Those 1st period goals the Oilers didn't get, and those 2nd and 3rd period goals the Stars didn't have robbed form them were enough to make the difference between a 1 goal Stars OT win, and a 1 goal Oilers OT or even regulation win.

[@Kinvarus1]

As a goalie, I would have to agree with what Lundqvist said that while the RVH has it's uses, it is overused in the extent that there are other options goalies could do instead of the RVH but they don't. Like with Skinner on that goal, if he had just hugged the post the normal way, that gap might not be there. That being said, it's the entire play leading up to it and not just that tiny gap Skinner left exposed while he was in the RVH...it didn't help vs a natural goal scorer but it's not solely on him.

[@jeremykraenzlein5975]

I hope that sooner rather than later, we will start seeing "virtual reality" broadcasts of sports games, so that one's vision is no longer constrained by the TV camera. Imagine watching through a VR headset in the comfort of your own home, which simulates you sitting in a prime seat and allows you to look in any direction you choose. It would require a lot more digital bandwidth than a simple video stream, but that is becoming less of a problem over time. Such a broadcast would no longer even need the score box in a corner of the screen, because one could look at the scoreboard in the arena anytime one chose to do so.

[@WantonBaby]

Brett Hull is holding a 6 pack of beer on the red Line !!

[@christianbailes8851]

I think one way to limit cherry picking is to have defense who are active in the O zone. All too often defense stand at the blue line waiting while 3 forwards work against 5 defensive players down low. Many teams use a combination of 1 offensive defenseman paired with 1 defensive defenseman. Use more cycling and switches with the D and you should be able to spread out the other team's defensive structure and limit cherry pickers who will be required to enter the defensive zone to play defense. This tends to require that you have a D pairing where both players can present an offensive threat, but who are also defensively capable, perhaps not on an equal level.....but basically a Makar / Toews kind of paring. But cherry picking is a brilliant tactic to use when you have 1 d man that likes to play it safe near the point rather than acting as an offensive threat. It is a way of capitalizing on a lack of pressure from the other team.

[@9and7]

0:12 That's not just one player who 'can't be bothered to come back' that's one player who stopped playing hockey a long time ago and is only playing for himself.

[@friedaspyder8485]

"Coming out of a lockout in 2005, the NHL changed its rules to remove the two-line pass, which prohibited players from passing the puck from their own defensive zone over their blue line and past the center-ice red line. The two-line pass purportedly prevented cherry-picking but often resulted in teams clogging the neutral zone and turning games into defensive slogs." - nyt Athletic article

[@LaserVids]

By some coincidence hockey before the lockout rule changes was way more exciting.

[@friedaspyder8485]

​@@LaserVids That article is an interesting discussion of perhaps restoring the rule. There is a pretty thorough history lesson on hockey monkey too. I was trying to remember the term neutral zone trap, but they seem to cover all the issues. AFAIK

[@andrewkratz226]

Great video. Always learn something here, thanks.

[@_JamesBrown]

Can't wait to see Edmonton close out this series tonight

[@ulrichsuter3548]

Very good analyses! When the Cherry Pick play relies on a system rather than on lazy opportunists than it must rely on smart players who can recognize the situation and go for it since it includes a lot of risks. What if the puck carrier is not able to play the stretch pass and the play ends up in a defensive zone turnover? Suddenly you miss a back checker covering in the defensive zone. The play in itself is smart when it works since it stretches out teams who want to remain compact at all times. The Oilers suffer here a little bit from the Penguins illness - a way overpaid superstar defender who doesn't deliver the goods. At least EK65 delivers going forward... paying Nurse only $ 6 million instead of $ 9.5 million would open up a whole lot of cap space to get a deeper core...

[@washitokusei6801]

Apparently they did pretty well as this was the last game the Stars won in this series.

[@rudypericolo]

I think it wss during the 2004 Olympics (or the one right after the nhl finally ditched the 2 line pass rule) the swedes used it to some success and called the play "torpedo". ☝️ oh and I wrote this at 20 seconds deep into the video so if that gets mentioned later in the video, I'll tip my hat and admit bad on me... but, still a great pickup and another great video, thanks

[@bananian]

Looks like Oilers has the Stars figured out.

[@redneckcanuck8359]

This is the natural, inevitable, evolution of the game since the removal of the two line pass. It was always going to turn into soccer on ice.

[@cruz1ale]

Skinner had to do some sole searching after that mistake

[@Taigiry]

phenomenal strategic commentary! Somehow, get this or Jack Han onto the McAfee show for the sake of the sport. I want to hear someone like you or Jack Han talking shop about what nhl coverages can learn from nfl coverages (especially since cherry picks lead to the Peter Foresberg 'quarterback pass') and how nfl coverages can learn from the nhl i.e. fluidity of trading coverage and varying your deceptions

[@morefiction3264]

Seems like what they've been trying to do in order to open up the game and have it be more end to end with space for passing and skating.

[@ryanbudney3356]

"The Stars are a team that can beat you in any style of game" hmm, well that's certainly true against many teams.

[@pcitylanguages]

I wouldn't consider it cherry picking when the team has possession and is in the process of a breakout. I would consider it cherry picking if a player chooses not to back check but rather to hang out in the neutral zone during pressure in case something pops out. This is just stretching the ice.

[@IPIRIEY]

I remember I averaged 4 goals a game cherry picking before they stopped letting me play hockey because I was 11 and 6'0'' 250 and would make kids quit hockey with clean checks. feelsbadman

[@deanschulze3129]

Good analysis. The Oilers had the answer in game 4. Maybe they watched this video?

[@ethancrisp3491]

I feel like there are cherry picking moments almost every game. With the broadcast view like you mentioned, you can only see the active play. I always see a player whip the puck down the ice thinking "wtf are they doing nobody is over there" only for the camera to move and they now have a breakaway

[@DogGuy19]

Lifelong Red Wings fan here. This year I watched Patrick Kane cherry pick constantly. I've never seen anything like it. He did manage to get some easy goals that way, but I feel like he cost us just as many, if not more, than he scored.

[@mediumdoubledouble9012]

BACK in my day we had 2 line pass rule lol. This is why they took that rule out

[@kicknpost]

they took away the 2 line pass rule to prevent teams using the Neutral Zone Trap that basically killed offense during the lat 90s and early 2000s.

[@mikem9536]

@@kicknpost Yep, L.A. tried the trap and failed.

[@rhys.ladouceur4107]

This simple trick has ruled lax for centuries

[@VenomGundam]

The Oilers did this so much vs the Canucks

[@derekmccord3798]

Similar to the target #9 in soccer, stretch the defense and create space in front of the box. If they are hit with a pass they can lay it off to other offensive players.

[@suburbanindie]

If he's not offsides I don't see the problem. The red line offside was taken away for a reason--to generic more offense.

[@tombourque1754]

that is NOT how cherry picking works. A cherry picker is typically rogue from the rest of the team, and the idea is to sneak behind the defense without them knowing and wait for the easy opportunity. This here what you're talking about is a simple strategy to stretch the ice to create room by intentionally send a player way the hell up ice to force coverage and create space. Like a football team running a spread offense.

[@mannysotelo673]

It’s what happens with no two line pass rule. NHL wanted more scoring.

[@dingo8babym20]

Yet, Oilers are up 3 - 2

[@bosscobra1566]

Last year the memorial cup champions the quebec remparts did this strategy but they didnt even try to hide it they had two players on the opponents blue line and suprisingly it worked really well patrick roy was coaching them and from the year he came in they started doing it back in 2016

[@johnnyraven4217]

What would happen if icing line was moved from centre line to D zone blue line. Lots more dump ins but wouldn’t it also encourage more stretch passes to a cherry picker or hard shoot ins with a cherry picker at full speed to chase the rebounds off the boards? I think we need more goals in games and perhaps this could be one way to achieve that .

[@DankSandwich]

In Minnesota (specifically Moorhead) we call this “suck hole,” “playing suck hole,” “suck hole hockey.” Idk why. But we associate it with the play style of the “cake eaters” in Edina MN. We called them “cake eaters” because it’s a program of spoiled rich kids whose parents specifically move them to Edina in hopes that they will have a better chance of playing at a high level when they get older. Lots of NHL players send their kids/relatives through this youth hockey program. I remember around 2015 playing a kid with the last name “Crosby” and if I remember right he was a cousin of Sidney Crosby

[@willyboyw.5771]

I used to call them "Floaters".

[@thuyp12c5]

There is nothing wrong with that type of play since it didn't break any rule. The NHL actually encourage that type of play to produce more goals by removing the old rule that didn't allow two lines pass.

[@stillcovalent]

Rick from Red Deer and his 23 friends paid in cookies disliked this video

[@yelling3874]

Great video. I can't wait to see what Knoblauch chooses to do.

[@fredrickolsen838]

If you don’t like cherry pickers, then blame the NHL for eliminating the two-line pass rule. It was done intentionally to open up the game and it certainly has done that. I’m not sure if I could go back to the old days, anything that adds an element of surprise or strategy in a game should be a good thing. Btw, I love your channel and the effort and quality you put into it. Good on you buddy!

[@danielgertler5976]

Quite frankly, I don't blame them to use it because of the trap style defense that's still prevalent in the league.

[@SCOMPL]

Great video! Oilers in 6

[@armiddle29]

As a defenseman boy do I hate those cherry-pickers!

[@doughooper9918]

That is exactly what the nhl wanted when they changed the offside rule.

[@Axeman1957Ca]

Where have you been? Wayne Gretzky perfected that 40 years ago.

[@ClarkyMalarky]

7:00 I’m from red deer, and Rick is a real prick 😂

[@peterplaysgames1234]

This aged well

[@peterplaysgames1234]

In terms of the oilers thing

[@silent0snipe4]

Someone send this video to Knobber and the coaching staff

[@awcdroid]

Stars have their eye on the cup! none will stand in our way!

[@SRQBID]

Kuch is the master of "cherry picking" in empty net situations. Having that offense player fly allows Tampa to negate icing. It requires high IQ to read the play. Definitely viable.

[@matlabatt]

Gretzky used to do this at the red line

[@mykofreder1682]

I have seen the long pass or offensive player using a timed enter and exit of the zone in low scoring playoffs a long time. It depends on how the possession develops, practice the timing, amount of time that you sit on the wrong side of the center line I doubt anyone stays there over a minute. They drag in and watch the play develop probably leaving the weak side defender undefended, and probably never enter the zone if the guys on the ice are not a stellar power play group, calculated risk in a low scoring situation. If you have a weak passing and scoring group what is the chance they score on a power play, you initially are in power play formation. I suspect they have more elite players on the ice when they do it, it is a bad risk if the people exiting the zone are not elite passers and can't get the puck to the guy down the ice. Last rounds of the playoffs you have a lot of elite teams, the Rangers did not seem very elite moving or handling the puck, they are a power play team, so watch your stick and no goon hits, no penalties they couldn't score, other than break aways most penalties are unforced mental mistakes with the stick. Once or twice a game the stick gets into someone's feet accidentally, but they let a lot of that go anyways, using your stick as a baseball bat obviously stupid, impeding progress with a stick in who cares land stupid.

[@fossetteful]

Would love to see your take on game five. Dallas was MIA.

[@JACKAL747]

Shutdown*

[@beaubradley9539]

Ovechkin has made an entire superstar career out of this.

[@nikomanetas31]

This is very good analysis.

[@nikomanetas]

By the way, Jesse Granger is wrong and probably not an expert in the slightest. If you want to see who invented the RVH, all you have to do is look that the short from @itisnikosgallery in 2011.

[@theoilersadvocate3130]

Well gee lets see. If Dallas uses it, then Edmonton will use it too. Only they have that guy who can skate really really fast and, well you know...

[@bencheevers6693]

This video was great, can you do a video on the appeal of dump and chase and why it never ever works and it causes me to hate my team next please?

[@JOLeger-gf6fb]

Great analysis!

[@brianphilippoi349]

TML aren't triple teaming JVR, he's pushing at least some defensive coverage back to their blue line because they vacated the Boston half to change. JVR's good, but he's no McNasty or anything.

[@U_N_C_L_E_Mike]

0:08 I love your videos BUT I was about to skip your video because of the video game clip, then I realised who made the video and kept watching.

[@JayJay-tm7xw]

There’s no cherry picking in hockey, offsides is for that exact reason.

[@godblesstrolls]

The WR runs a go so the TE can make the catch wide open over the middle.

[@RedPillBased]

LOL the Panthers did this one time vs Tampa in the playoffs years ago. It worked. Lomberg scored then they have been doing it ever since. Its annoying like the...is it Michigan goal?

[@Denimsmith2023]

Great vid. I’d say decoy, vs cherry picker - which to me connotation lazy and cheap way to score. This is strategic for the playoffs when everything is checked so tight. Put a decoy up top and create the gap that’s thought to close and generate a chance off the rush or at worst an easier zone entry without all the dang back passes. I’ll take it!