HOW GAME SCORE AFFECTS NZ PLAY
Teams that are up tend to lose the neutral zone while teams that are down tend to “win” it.
What you may be surprised to find out is that what actually happens is the REVERSE: teams carry in with the puck on a greater percentage of entries when LEADING than when trailing. Basically when teams start to lead, their rate of DUMPING IN goes down, not their rate of carrying in. This is not the risk averse activity we would expect.
Teams become more picky as to entries when up, while teams who are down will do anything to get the puck into the offensive zone, even if that entails dumping the puck in or taking low percentage entry-attempts that are likely to be broken up.
Teams with the lead only are looking to make a neutral zone entry if it’s clearly available, and would rather not concede the puck if possible. Thus a team leading is more likely to carry in since they’re more picky as to entries in general, while the team trailing wants to get in the offensive zone by any means necessary, even if that involves dumping the puck in.
Overall score effects are driven largely by the neutral zone performance.
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