The new Professional Women’s Hockey League (LPHF) has made its first impression with flying colors. The results are close. The show is exciting. The atmosphere in the arenas is supercharged. For just $25 per ticket, it’s the best deal in town.
The LPHF also proves to be a fascinating laboratory for the future of hockey. This is because the league is testing new rules to encourage offensive play. The first time, it’s surprising. But after half a dozen matches, they convinced me. So much so that I propose their adoption in the National Hockey League.
What do the Canadiens players and head coach think?
The complete numerical advantage
The rule (tested in the preparatory tournament, but not retained during the season): minor penalties were served in full, even if the opponent scored a goal
This was the rule in force in the NHL until 1956. Why did it change? Because the Canadian had become too strong for the league. He was coming off seasons of 53 and 66 power play goals. These were the two best ratios of power play goals per game in the history of the circuit. In November 1955, Jean Béliveau even scored three goals during a single penalty! All clubs voted in favor of the change – except, of course, the Habs.
It is reasonable to think that its application in the NHL, the number of goals would increase significantly. Moreover, despite the end of the penalty after a goal, the historic ratio of the Canadian from 1956 has been beaten more than 200 times since. Imagine the damage with a full power play.
I won’t be the one crying over 6-5 games.
Among the Canadians, the new LPHF rule does not arouse enthusiasm. “I’m not sure,” says head coach Martin St-Louis. “If there is a power play goal, the penalty should end,” said Nick Suzuki. “Otherwise it would be too difficult. Teams could have two or three goals. It would change the game,” continues Joshua Roy.
Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, who plays more than two minutes per game on the numerical penalty, shows greater openness to the new rule. “It couldn’t be worse for the attacking team [rires]. On the other hand, when you’re the one who has to defend and you’ve just been counted out, it’s shocking to still be outnumbered. But it makes you think. We’ll see how it evolves, and if it’s a good rule, who knows? It could follow [dans la LNH]. »
Release from prison
The rule: if the outnumbered team counts, its minor penalty ends
English speakers call this rule the Jailbreak. Getting out of prison. Nice metaphor. Its impact on a game can be enormous. We saw this during the first local match, at the Verdun Auditorium. Montreal led 2-0. Boston was in trouble, with a two-minute penalty. Taylor Girard’s goal, outnumbered, broke Montreal’s momentum. Not only was the gap reduced, but both teams were back at even strength. A minute later, Boston tied the score.
” I like this ! », exclaims Martin St-Louis, author of 29 shorthanded goals in the NHL. “It’s interesting,” adds Michael Matheson. I don’t know if it would really change the way you play shorthanded, but I like that the punishment ends. »
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Mike Matheson is rather in favor of the LPHF shorthanded rule: “I don’t know if it would really change the way you play shorthanded, but I like the fact that the punishment ends. »
Captain Nick Suzuki is also a supporter of the new rule. “To be different, it is. I think it’s a good change. This is a very good incentive to try to score a shorthanded goal. »
It’s a great way to reward the team that makes a defensive effort. At the same time, the current rule has been in place for so long… I don’t know.
Rafael Harvey-Pinard, less convinced of the LPHF rule
Joshua Roy prefers the status quo. “I would not adopt the rule. It’s good as it is. Otherwise, it would change the way we play on the power play. [La mission], when you have a man advantage, it’s to score goals. No defending yourself. »
Repeat shooters
The rule: no limit on the use of a player during the shootout
Against Toronto last Saturday, Marie-Philip Poulin attempted not one, not two, not three, but four of Montreal’s six shootouts. Considering that she had just played the end of the third period and almost the entire overtime, would I have made the same decision as coach Kori Cheverie? Probably not. But for suspense and spectacle, it deserved an A+++ rating.
PHOTO DAVID KIROUAC, USA TODAY SPORTS
Marie-Philip Poulin made four shots in the shootout last Saturday against Toronto.
I love this new rule. Nothing is imposed on coaches. These simply have an additional option.
“I like this rule,” enthuses the Canadiens player most often used in shootouts, Nick Suzuki. “If you have a player on your team that you believe can score 50% of the time, that’s interesting.
— Would you like to be able to shoot more than once in a match?
– Yes. It would be different. I don’t know if the NHL would go that far. »
The rule in the NHL requires a club to use all of its forwards and defensemen before bringing back a shooter for a second round. No one has ever been there. In international tournaments, it’s something else. The first five shooters on each team must be different. If the tie persists, a team may send a shooter back as many times as they wish. That’s what happened at the 2007 World Junior Championship, when Jonathan Toews scored three consecutive goals in the semifinals to defeat the Americans.
What does Martin St-Louis think?
” Maybe [le tireur de barrage] would become a specialist position. I don’t know. I seem to like having different players better. On the international side, after five [tirs], you can come back. It can be. »
For a coach, the LPHF rule presents management issues. By trusting the same shooter repeatedly, we can disappoint the other counters in the formation, nailed to the bench at the decisive moment of the game.
I prefer the International Federation rule. This allows more players to try their luck, and if after five shots it’s still a tie, then you can send the same person.
Joshua Roy
Except that if you have someone “like Marie-Philip Poulin who excels in shootouts,” argues Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, “you want her to shoot often. It gives you more chances of winning. It’s a nice rule. Honestly, it’s fun to watch.”
Fully agree.
The show is improved.
Corrigendum
In an early version of the text, it was not stated that the full power play was tested in the LPHF preparatory tournament matches, but was not retained for the season.