A Disturbing Trend
Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins
Nov 19, 11:20 PM | Hype this story!
As I sit here thinking about how the Penguins got dismantled by an inferior Senators team, I can’t help but get frustrated with the increasingly woeful power play.
It’s a telling statement when a one for five night with the man advantage helps to increase the overall season conversion rate.
And that’s exactly what happened tonight with the Penguins, who went into the game scoring on just 13.3 percent of their 90 power plays.
With two of the league’s top three players and one of the game’s most dynamic quarterbacks, there is absolutely no excuse for such a poor power play.
Injuries have had something to do with it, as some of the top players have been out, but I’m not as much worried about the conversion rate as I am with the execution, which has been downright terrible.
I could sit here and type all day about the problems this team is having with the man advantage, but I’d like to focus on the inability to execute an effective breakout.
Dump and chase is good strategy, but the Penguins rarely beat the opposition to the puck, and when they do, they rarely win the battle, leading to an easy clear.
Skating the puck into the zone isn’t a bad option, either. Then again, this method tends to turn into a one-man show and a turnover just a few steps beyond the blueline for the Penguins.
And then there’s the breakout pass, which often is the most successful form of zone entry — that is, when the player receiving the pass isn’t flat footed.
What we’re seeing from the Penguins’ power play is minor league special teams, and that’s not surprising, considering they are being coached by a minor league coach: Mike Yeo.
I think the most disturbing tend I have seen while on the man advantage is the reverse neutral zone pass.
Let me set the stage.
We have the forwards perched at the opposing blueline (flatfooted and facing their own goal, of course) waiting for a pass.
We have one defenseman skating through the neutral zone with the puck and another skating slightly behind him.
What happens next defies all common sense.
The defenseman with the puck changes the flow of the breakout (if there ever was any) by passing the puck backward to his defense partner.
The forwards, naturally, begin to move into the offensive zone before realizing the puck has changed direction. Now they’re scrambling to get back onsides, leaving the opposition’s penalty killing unit to pressure the puck carrier, who now has no option but to dump and chase.
Well, since those forwards are skating the wrong direction and regrouping, the opposition easily takes control of the puck behind its own net and has a zone clear.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
It’s not difficult to understand that the breakout needs to be fluid, with all players in some form of motion.
When the defensemen regroup in their own zone, the forwards need to circle back with them, gaining speed through the neutral zone so that, when they receive a pass, they can continue effortlessly into the offensive zone.
And when the defensemen begin the breakout, the number one goal (and ONLY option) should be forward puck movement. Any option that moves the puck laterally or backward is a bad option and should be avoided.
What we’re seeing isn’t a lack of talent. It’s a lack of a system and a lack of communication.
Unfortunately, evidence is growing that, no matter who is placed on the ice with the man advantage, the success will be limited until someone with a clue is put in charge of the power play.
Comments
james
Nov 19, 11:35 PM
mike yeo has to have dirty pictures of ray shero.
last year, sarge returns, pens lose 6-2 in toronto. therrien gets fired.
this year, sarge returns, pens lose 6-2 in ottawa. hopefully yeo gets canned, his ring confiscated, and his name erased from the Cup.
DaBich
Nov 20, 06:55 AM
It’s about time you agree with the rest of us!!! Yeo msut go! Mijke Adams, where are you? =)
Pens1967
Nov 20, 08:10 AM
The players currently on the PP still try and make the pretty tic-tac-toe play far too often rather than go for the ugly, grinding, dirty goal.
This has come up before, but maybe there needs to be 2 PP units, 1 lead by Crosby and the other by Malkin. Each unit can have it’s own point man, too, to choose from among Gonchar, Goligoski and Letang. I think each PP unit could be effective with their usual linemates. Fedo/Talbot and Guerin/Kunitz bring toughness and cycling ability. Crosby and Malkin can each work their preferred position off the half wall to make plays. Then neither Crosby nor Malkin will be tempted to keep looking for each other. Let Crosby and Malkin “compete” for which unit is better.
That alone should account for better performance.
DaBich
Nov 20, 08:29 AM
If management doesn’t/won’t wake up and see that the PP is a mess, then they deserve everything they get.
Chris A
Nov 20, 09:59 AM
Perhaps it’s time for the fans to take action. How about an online petition with a clear, concise and not overly emotional explanation of why Yeo should get fired?
Any of the FF writers willing to start this?
zog29
Nov 20, 10:05 AM
Matt, you pegged it. That is exactly what is going on. Can the fans storm the offices and demand action?! Can’t they see what is going . . . oh. The pictures of Shero. Check.
Ray aka WildcatRay
Nov 20, 10:09 AM
Not being able to see most games I can only rely on those who do. I have to differ to Matt’s observations that the PP is lacking in cohesion and/or organization.
However, what frustrates me is what PENS1967 also observes. Since the days of Mario & Co., once set up in the zone, the Pens have shown too much of a desire to set up the perfect play. In last year’s playoffs alone, one of the most frequent utterances out of my mouth was “Shoot the puck!” or “Shoot it!” Oy!
I can see not wanting to shoot if the player thinks the risk is too great that the shot will be blocked and might set up a break-away. However, too often, the shooter has the opportunity to shoot and instead passes it up for a pass that fails to even connect!!! Arrgh!!!!!
DigitalGypsy66
Nov 20, 10:23 AM
I hope Mike Adams didn’t have a coronary last night.
The PP had problems with two lengthy 5-3s this season, with a full lineup. Those should be automatic with 3 of the 5 Pens skaters named Gonchar, Malkin and Crosby.
It’s got to be the coaching and implementation.
Moq
Nov 21, 09:29 AM
Well, I’m still not ready to blame Yeo for everything. Unless world class players like Crosby, Malkin and Crosby cannot think for themselves, and are mere drones of the (failing) Yeo schematics, something is wrong. Even if we assume that Yeo is the worst power play coach in the world, it cannot explain the current ineptitude. Most of the blame has to be assigned to the players, ie. decision making on the ice. The passing is slow and the shots hesitant or off the mark.
Perhaps Yeo – and the coaching staff in general – can be blamed for allowing too much freedom for the players to do what they “feel” like on the power play rather than execute set plays. Really, it is difficult to say from someone on the outside looking in on the abysmal result. Hopefully, a unit without injuries will gradually improve to something that doesn’t suck too much.
Moq
Nov 21, 12:40 PM
There are not two Crosbys on the power play, one of them should have been Gonchar in the rant above.
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