| | The Matchup: Jaromir Jagr vs. The Coyotes
The Question: Can the Coyotes stop Jaromir Jagr?
Jaromir Jagr
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The Coyotes
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One-on-one, Jagr is too tough to contain
Any team that intends to stop Jaromir Jagr must do so by committee. Teams can try to match a winger or defensemen against the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar. But no matter how good one player may be, Jagr will still get scoring chances. That's how good Jagr is and how well he has established himself in the NHL as the game's premier offensive force.
Because the Penguins will double-shift Jagr or keep him on the ice for longer shifts sometimes, every player on the Phoenix Coyotes must be on the Jagr alert. The Coyotes will need to cut off his face, angle him and make him run out of room. They can't let Jagr do give-and-gos.
Last week, Philadelphia did a great job of defending Jagr, limiting him to only one shot -- and beat the Penguins handily. At one point, Jagr came back deep in his own zone and then got some speed with the puck. By the time he crossed over his own blue line, all five Flyer skaters were in front of him. Other times throughout the game, he would be coming down the wing and the forward would push him toward the boards and there would be two other players there -- another forward and a defender. It almost takes three players on any given shift to angle him and contain him; that's how much attention he deserves.
Phoenix has experienced defensemen, with Teppo Numminen and Jyrki Lumme being the top two. They will use one or both of them together as much as possible against Jagr. Todd Gill is experienced, and Keith Carney may see a lot of time against Jagr as well. However, the Coyotes may try to keep young defensemen like Deron Quint and Radoslav Suchy away from Jagr.
Jagr lacks any offensive weaknesses. He is so powerful in the lower body and upper body that he will carry two players on his back from the blue line to the front of the net -- and you know he's coming. He drives wide and protects the puck so well. He is really dangerous once he gets the defense backing in. Then he cuts back to the middle, uses players as a screen and then takes up any open ice. He is even developing a quick slap shot, which he didn't use much before. He is also more prone now to hang in front of the net like a John LeClair and go for rebounds. He comes and goes and is constantly on the move.
Because of Jagr's tremendous size, power and skill, the Coyotes need a total team approach or Jagr will make them pay.
Brian Engblom is a color commentator and analyst for ESPN's NHL coverage. He played 11 seasons in the NHL. | |
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