how does line matching work?

[jaycourtney]

I'm really confused, when I see line matching is it usally

1st line vs 3rd line
2nd vs 2nd line
3rd vs 1st line

PP 1 vs PK 2
PP2 vs PK 2

[bobness]

You could go on all day on this but generally it's lines 1 2 and 3 against each other, and pp1 vs pk1 etc. Very few teams in the UK have the guts to go with line 3 (Brits in EIHL) vs the other team's scoring line. The gulf is too much generally. That's why I'd like to see 2 import fwds on each of our lines. Exploit that gulf.

[heja]

Line matching just means you match your lines how you think it will work out best

eg you want a goal you will try and get your best line out against the weekest (easier at home) but then you have to either double shift or play your weeker line against there strongest (eg how yours is)

Or you could match them first vs 1st, 2nd vs 2nd etc

basicaslly depends what situation your in

[messier1851]

It varies, some coaches may want to match a certain player against who he deems to be the opposition's greatest goalscoring threat. They may want certain matchups in the face off circle. Often you will see a guy come on to take the face off on the penalty kill but leave the ice immediately after the puck is cleared in exchange for a specialist penalty killer.

Line matching is more of a factor in the NHL when teams roll 4 lines and tend to have a set line to try to shut down the oppositions top line. The best example of this was probably the Detroit Red Wings "Grind Line" of Maltby, Draper and McCarty.
For more on the "Grind Line" ask Pidge...!