Panthers’ layered defense has stifled Oilers in Stanley Cup final

We’re now through two games of the Stanley Cup Final, and it has been all Florida Panthers. The Edmonton Oilers have been held to just one goal through two games, and while many are quick to blame the Oilers for their offensive struggles, it should instead be credit towards the Panthers strong defensive play so far this series.

Colby Cohen talked about the Panthers’ defensive structure and how it’s worked to stifle the Oilers offense and limit their best players thus far on Daily Faceoff Live.

Colby Cohen: The Panthers do not play a man-on-man defense, it is a layered look. There are some man-on-man elements of it, but watch how the wingers collapse down low and you look at the positioning of the weak side winger right on the hashmark, the strong side winger sealing the dot line pressuring down.

You see the stick positions, Florida has some of the most disciplined sticks in the NHL. You never see Panther players leaving the zone on the wrong side of the puck cheating for offense. This is a coach’s dream to have a team that never cheats thinking about offense. Their stick position, taking away lanes, they’re always on the defensive side of the puck. It’s very difficult to beat.

Usually what has to happen is you’ve got to work pucks back to the point and find a way to get them through. They block a ton of shots, so you need to start looking for greasy dirty plays because the seam passes and the fancy plays from below the goal line, they’re not there and they’re not going to work due to the discipline and the stick position and the body positions of the way the Florida Panthers play in their own zone.

You can watch the full episode here…