Jets forwards aware of their role in defending 'the flipper'

WINNIPEG - Some call it 'the flipper,' while others opt to name it 'the lob pass.'
Either way, it's a handful for defencemen to handle.
One of the ways the Nashville Predators move the puck up the ice is a high flip from their own zone to forwards moving through the neutral zone with speed.
It may not be as accurate as a flat, tape-to-tape pass, but it's effective.

Look no further than Game Six against the Colorado Avalanche. The Predators were already up 4-0 in the third period, when P.K. Subban lifted a backhand from the left circle half boards into the neutral zone.
Viktor Arvidsson knocked the puck down, then beat defenceman Patrik Nemeth before flipping the puck past goaltender Andrew Hammond to make it 5-0 Nashville.

The Winnipeg Jets know how they handle that particular play will be important, and that's why they've spent some time in practice this week working on it.
"We know from watching the Stanley Cup Final last year, they did it a ton against Pittsburgh," said Andrew Copp. "We're just concentrating on making sure we're coming back and helping our D out, because that puck can bounce any which way."
Throughout the season, Jets defencemen have spent time at the end of practices working on controlling bouncing pucks at the blue line to hold the zone.
This will be a bit different, but Bryan Little says it's all about communication.
"As forwards you want to try and hold up their forecheckers as much as you can without taking an interference penalty. Try and get in their way and slow them down a bit. At the same time, try to get open as soon as that puck settles down," said Little.
"There's more pressure on our D to get that thing. It's a tough play. They're really good at it. They flip that thing up and they've got guys right on top of you. It's on both the D and the forwards to help each other out and get it settled down."
Head coach Paul Maurice may have summed it up best. A change in possession, and where it happens on the ice, and the offensive firepower on both sides, puts the defensive team on their heels.
"The change of possession in these games, and the opportunities off those change of possession are as fast as you'll see," said Maurice.
"You think you're in a good spot, you bobble the puck, and you're in a real bad spot.
"The other team is going to force you into mistakes, how you handle that after is going to be the key."
The flip pass is just one of the ways Nashville moves up the ice, but Maurice said the best bet to limit Nashville's options is pressure on the forecheck.
"Equally important is the pressure on that puck so it's not clean. They do stretch, they will run the flipper an awful lot. They'll bring it back, counter back, and double swing away from you," said Maurice. "All those things you see over the course of the year, they'll run two or three of them on you.
"If it's a flat, straight pass, then you're going to have a problem to deal with. If it's up in the air and rolling, then (we) hope we're a little bit better at baseball than they are."