>
>What about other teams out there?  Are they playing "stand 'em up" or
>"let 'em in"?
>
 
Minnesota is fortunate enough to have a very quick team that can stop an
offensive rush.  When the defensemen can not make the play at the blue
line, there is usually a forward back to help cut off the centering pass.
 
From what I saw of Michigan, they too bring a forward back quickly when
the defensemen stop the play at the blue line.  The strange thing I
noticed when Mich played Minn was that if Minnesota dumped the puck in
the zone, everyone took a body and didn't allow Minnesota to pick up the
puck, but when Minnesota tried to skate into the zone, Michigan seemed to
let that player through a little easier (?).  Maybe John H can shed some
more light on Michigan's style...
 
When I have coached in the past and my teams were not big enough to
consistantly stand up the opposing teams, the plan was to let them into a
corner and send another player to pry the puck loose.  This theory only
works when you keep a player in front of the net to cut off any centering
passes.