Psychology
by Jonathan Willis on Apr 20, 2009 10:34 PM MDT
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PrintConventional wisdom suggested that Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau was foolish to start Simeon Varlamov in Game 2 of the Capitals' first-round series with the New York Rangers.
After the rookie, playing his 8th NHL game, pitched a 33-save shutout, perhaps that bit of nonsense can disappear. Because as often as the psychological experts manning the various sports posts on this continent feel like citing the various mental challenges to playing in a hostile building, it comes down to this: as a coach, you must dress the players most likely to help you win. If that means starting the AHL goaltender with a solid track record everywhere over the barely adequate starting goaltender you were saddled with, that's what you do.
Besides, in this case I very much doubt that Jose Theodore, for all his experience, has any special edge in mental strength over Simeon Varlamov. After tonight, I also doubt I'd have much disagreement from anyone over that statement.
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I know I’m one of the few who pounds the sports-psych drum, but man, fuck all that shit, Theo is a replacement-level goaltender at best; that’s why you pull him after he earns the beach-ball Photoshops and roll the dice on the kid with talent.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)
I’m not completely against the psychological angle either, I just hate the half-dozen cliches that get tossed around like they’re always right.
It's only my opinion, but it's right.
Writer for The Copper & Blue, OilersNation, and CanucksArmy.
by Jonathan Willis on Apr 21, 2009 12:58 PM MDT reply actions
The cliches are built on sound psychological principles, they just get abused like a red-headed stepchild by sportscasters (mostly former players and coaches).
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)
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