If the Stars ate as much as they claimed, they’d probably all be 400 pounds. Since late last season, the team has been shouting “EAT” from the bench each time a teammate blocks a shot, and with the fourth-best penalty kill in the USHL, it’s safe to say they’re pretty hungry.
Lincoln’s penalty kill has gone 40-for-44 (90.9%) through the first ten games of the season. Shot blocks and aggressive play have been the Stars biggest weapon on the kill. Forwards are forcing plays to the outside and taking away shooting lanes from defensemen at the point. It’s an art that requires angles and memorization, according to Justin Richards.
A good block requires getting your body in line with the player and the puck, then being aware of where you are in relation to the net. Positioning also matters in relation to the other players on the PK. If one player moves, the others respond accordingly. Stars coach Chris Hartsburg changed his team’s look on the penalty kill after watching the 2016 NHL Playoffs. He noticed teams were having success playing an aggressive style and decided to bring that to Lincoln. It took the preseason for the team to fully adopt the change.
“We’re aggressive in certain areas and it’s more with our forwards than it is our defense,” Hartsburg said.”We want our forwards to force pucks out of certain areas and not allow easy shooting lanes or plays from up top. Once that puck gets low, it’s the responsibility of the defense to have good sticks and take away easy outs from below the goal line. We’re forcing the puck to the outside more than anything.”
Reminders of the team’s structure usually happen during the team’s pre-game penalty kill meeting. About an hour and a half before each game, the coaching staff will show video and brief the team on necessary adjustments. Contrary to last season, the entire team attends the meetings instead of only those expected to see the ice on the PK.
“Our team thinks the game really well,” Christian Evers said. “That helps on the penalty kill…knowing the pre-scout, knowing the systems and knowing other teams’ tendencies.”
Tendencies range from positioning to an opponent’s set up for a crucial defensive zone face off. Winning a draw can be the difference between clearing the puck and getting stuck inside the defensive zone. Clearing the puck can be the difference between a :30 second shift and a 1:00 shift. It’s all connected.
The Stars have also worked to balance when to attack and when to “protect the house,” an imaginary box in front of the net where shots and passes are most dangerous. The mindset is defense first, but if an opponent makes a soft pass, an error with the puck or turns their back to the play, there’s a chance for a shorthanded break. The Stars saw immediate results from this style on Opening Night when Chayse Primeau took advantage of an opponent on his backhand to score shorthanded goal.
Since Primeau’s goal, the Stars’ success on the penalty kill has been all about the defense. Heading into back-to-back games against the Green Bay Gamblers and one of the top scorers in the USHL, Casey Mittelstadt, it’s unlikely much will change.
“We have to read the situation,” Casey Dornbach said. “When we’re being aggressive, we’re trying to cause some havoc, and then if something happens, just retreat back to the middle of the ice and eat pucks.”