PETERS QUICK TO GET CREATIVE WITH HIS LINES
Flames’ coach isn’t afraid to mix and match with in-game adjustments
If there’s one thing that we’ve learned about Bill Peters in his first season as head coach of the Calgary Flames is that if things aren’t going well, the head coach isn’t afraid to switch things up.
No one would claim this 2018-19 edition is perfect. But at 30-13-4 and riding a five-game win streak, and sitting second in the entire National Hockey League with 47 games under their belts, they are where they are for a reason and Peters’ ingame management all season has made a major impact on that.
Take Friday’s 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers which saw the Flames down 1-0 to start the first period before Peters moved Michael Frolik back on the second line with Matthew Tkachuk and Mikael Backlund and dropped Austin Czarnik to the fourth line and shortened their bench.
It created a spark. And it worked.
“When you play with a different line it’s because you’re like, ‘Alright, let’s get going here,’” Tkachuk explained. “Because he changed it up for a reason because we weren’t playing great.’’
Tkachuk said that didn’t happen much last season. “It’s something different that we are adjusting to (this season).”
The philosophy isn’t unique, of course. But it takes instinct and quick thinking on the fly to deploy certain players with others to make a significant change in the moment. Peters also isn’t afraid of riding forwards that seemingly have a jump in their step or are having a particularly good game.
“We know there are guys who can fit with others,” the boss says. “If you’re a winger, we know some guys are better on the right side if they’re right-handed. Some guys can go to the other side and play. Other guys, not so much. So, when you go down to three (lines) you’re looking for your nine best guys.
“You don’t care who they are. You don’t care what position they play. You just find a way to make it work.”
And it’s not restricted specifically to his forward group. He split up his top pairing of Mark Giordano and TJ Brodie, putting the Flames’ captain with Travis Hamonic and Brodie with Noah Hanifin.
It can be the difference between winning and losing. It can create offence, ignite chemistry and potentially lead to goals and erase deficits.
“It’s good to switch it up, to get some new lines going but I’m used to it, having played for (Peters) for a few years,” Elias Lindholm said. “It’s good to do it once in a while.”
“When we are down, it’s good to mix it up a little bit and switch the lines. A little wake-up call. I’m kind of prepared, too, when lines change.”
The players know. When things aren’t going right during a game, there’s potential for change.
“Sometimes he comes in before the third period and goes, ‘We’re switching it up’ or we’re going down to three lines,” Tkachuk said. “Sometimes he doesn’t and we just go out there and (on the bench) just says, ‘You go with them.’ Then you kind of know.”
He’s placed Tkachuk with the top line with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan before. Moved Lindholm to the second line at centre with James Neal on the wing. Put Sam Bennett with the top line.
“I think that’s the coach telling you to get something done and to make something happen,” Monahan pointed out earlier this season when Peters began the common-sense strategy.
It keeps players on their toes and can force a reset on the bench.
When we are down, it’s good tomixitupa little bit and switch the lines. A little wake-up call. I’m kind of prepared, too, when lines change.
“I like it as a player,” Tkachuk said.
“When you’re losing in the third, something isn’t going right so you should switch it up. It’s common sense to switch it up. When he does that, he seems to roll less forwards. You don’t love being in that position because it means your down in the third but as a player when a coach is rolling a couple of lines and really pushing to score.
“When he changes up the lines or cuts them down to three, you know you need a spark. You’re thinking offence and you’re thinking goals.”