Need Some Help - Home Line Changes

by Jon Woods on Jun 3, 2009 10:49 AM EDT

Will someone please explain to me how having home ice allows the home team to create the matchups that they want? I hear everyone keep mentioning that you can get the "last change" but I didn't realize that there was any kind of rule or regulation on when you could change lines so I don't see why being at home would be any different from being on the road. I feel like I'm missing something fairly obvious here...

Thank in advance...

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By rule, the visiting team has to put their line out first for the faceoffs. So then the home team and their coaches can see who’s out their and match up accordingly.

So if you put your 4th line out, maybe I put my scoring line out there. If you put your scoring line, I can match with my checking line. If you put your shutdown defenseman out there, I can keep my superstar off the ice to avoid him. And so on and so forth.

That’s pretty much the gist of having the home line change, you can take advantage maybe of some matchups. Though at this time of the year everyone out there is pretty good.

Of course once play resumes the visiting team can adjust and make changes, if they so choose (assuming they don’t get trapped in their end).

by Hooks Orpik on Jun 3, 2009 11:05 AM EDT reply actions

Ahhhhh... thank you

I figured it was something simple like that. Now I’ll pay more attention to who is on the ice to start the game.

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by Jon Woods on Jun 3, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

It’s to start the periods and pretty much all the faceoffs….Especially ones deep in the defensive/offensive zones. Just another little wrinkle and details to pick up on.

Mainly I think the Pens get in a rhythm of rolling their lines and don’t really care about keeping Crosby away from Lidstrom/Zetterberg or anything like that.

As I mentioned, it’s not that hard for a team to get the matchup they want about 5-10 seconds after the puck drops anyways, no point in over-coaching and having guys hop on and off too much to avoid a matchup. Better to get in a groove and get it done.

by Hooks Orpik on Jun 3, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah most of the time i think last change is highyl over rated except for facesoff deep in the zone. because then if ofennse wins the draw they can keep pressure on and prevent a change, eventually grinding out a goal. But i wouldnt be suprised to see dan pull a babcock and throw about 7 or 8 penguins out there for a face off when this goes back to the joe, only to upll 2 guys or three guys back to the bench at the last second

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by oldtimehockey09 on Jun 3, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions