Could it be it's the natural forward thing to do when breaking a stick is go get a new one? Happens all the time. Forward mentality go get a new stick, there should be 2 defenders behind me. Oops, I am one of those defenders. I can see this as a real possibility.
It probably is one of the cons too playing a forward as defender.
I'm still try to figure out why 8 and 27 were split. They are the only players on the team to play with chemistry it seems. I've given up trying to figure out the coaching decisions.
Use the schmaltz line as a shutdown line. They were good at that on first change. That line isn't expected to score. It is expected to keep the other teams top line from scoring