Coaching in the playoffs is different than coaching during the regular season.
During the regular season, systems are put into place that help form a team’s identity. Given the dash from city to city and team to team, however, there really isn’t a chance to dissect an individual opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, let alone set up the players and the play on the ice to exploit those weaknesses and deflect those strengths.
Certainly, in-game adjustments are important, as evidenced by Game 1 between the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars. Witness the Stars moving to a more aggressive 2-1-2 forecheck after a lethargic first period.