Tough Games Ahead Without a "Power" Play
Zach Boslett | Pittsburgh Penguins
Jan 12, 12:25 PM | Hype this story!
The Penguins “power” play has been putrid all season and is one of the main reasons this funk the Penguins are in has lasted as long as it has.
But things could get worse with two tough games ahead against Calgary and Vancouver, two teams with very strong goaltending and excellent penalty kills.
The Penguins face Calgary tomorrow night and their 8th ranked PK% along with their Olympic and All-Star goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff. The “power” play may just hit rock bottom tomorrow, if they haven’t already.
The Penguins then have a trap game against Edmonton and they have lost several trap games this season (Carolina Hurricanes, New York Islanders, and Toronto Maple Leafs).
And following that they have a game against the red hot Vancouver Canucks (7-1-2 in their last 10) and All-World goaltender Roberto Luongo.
You better believe the Penguins will lose at least two of these games if they go 0-6 on the PP or can’t generate momentum with their play while up a man.
If the Penguins have any hope of repeating this season they must fix their “power” play, and fast.
The Penguins are currently 2nd in the league in goals scored while 5 on 5, behind Washington and ahead of Chicago and San Jose.
But the main difference between the Penguins and those teams has been the “power” play.
Washington: 23.8%
Chicago: 21.2%
San Jose: 20.3%
and Pittsburgh’s: 14.3%
Imagine if Pittsburgh had been merely average on the “power” play:
Let’s use the terribly inept Toronto team’s power play number, ranked 15th in the league.
196 times shorthanded X Toronto’s 18.1% = 35 PP goals.
That would bring the Penguins goal total to 152, second in the league.
Now let’s run the numbers on a 10th ranked power play, Anaheim’s at 20.1:
196 times shorthanded X Anaheim’s 20.1% = 39 PP goals.
That would put the Penguins at 156 goals, 3 behind Washington at 159.
One more number crunching, this time with league leading Montreal’s figure of 24.6%:
196 times shorthanded X Montreal’s 24.6% = 48 PP goals.
165 total goals. 1st in the league. And the Penguins would likely have the best record as well with their solid goaltending and above average defense.
The Penguins need their “power” play to start scoring and soon, not only to allow Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin a shot at the Art Ross trophy, but to allow the Penguins a legitimate shot at beating one of the top teams in the league, of which they cannot be considered until their “power” outscores teams that will be golfing come Spring.
Comments
nick
Jan 12, 01:27 PM
I know its insane but Geno may need to go down to the 2nd PP unit for a little. There is way to much freelancing going on between Gonch Malkin and Sid. There is no structure to our PP at all its almost like a free for all. Then again that may just anger Geno Machino and that is a road that should be way less traveled. No wonder Mike Yeo ended up in the hospital, this whole thing makes everyone sick!
Zach Boslett
Jan 12, 01:50 PM
I know I was sick after that 5 on 3 last night. I have gotten to the point where I hop on my computer during a pp because I have so little faith that they will come close to scoring.
Why not have the entire team watch video of Lemieux any time during his career, the Washington Capitals, the Canadian World Junior Team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and even the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins?
All of those teams have better PP with better movement and structure. Its ridiculous.
DaBich
Jan 12, 02:22 PM
Zach and Nick, I agree. I’m almost ready to do what Mike Adams does, and leave the room when they are on PP. It’s frustrating as hell.
Again, this PP was terrible last season, but nothing was done to address it. It’s gotten progressively worse since then.
SOMETHING must be done. I just don’t know what the answer is.
The Hockey Writer
Jan 12, 02:28 PM
Pittsburgh will pick it up. Too much awesome firepower up front (with a tough of grit). They might need to pick up the much sought after quarterback (hello manning) – maybe a Liles from CO. Dangling a Cup run in front of him would be sweet. Not sure if he is a FA, but if not him…well – you get what I mean.
Bruce Hollingdrake
REBEL
Jan 12, 02:32 PM
I agree the powerplay is unacceptable. Yes, there is no movement and it is entirely too predictable. Rossi of the P-G (consider the source) quoted an opposing player as saying there was too much freelancing and no structure making it easy to defend against the Pens.
I suggest splitting up Crosby and Malkin, and putting Staal in front of the net on the first unit. Rupp or Cooke can take the front of the net on the second unit. Eaton does have a good slap shot—at least it’s hard and may lead to rebounds, so perhaps he should be paired with Gonchar on the first unit. Try out any other winger for the 5th man, even Caputi.
These guys have shown in the past they are coachable, let’s hope their egos have not gotten in the way of them improving. I for one don’t believe that has happened. Geno seems so hard on himself when he plays poorly, I don’t see his ego as being a detriment. It seems the coaching staff has to get the testosterone to make the needed changes.
Chris A
Jan 12, 02:38 PM
I think it’s time for the 2-headed monster on a regular basis until Geno gets rolling again.
It certainly won’t cure the PP problems but if he gets rolling it will definitely help.
As I said in the other PP thread, I’m hoping the Olympics will help Sid, Geno and Gonch realize what needs to happen on the PP.
Natty Lite
Jan 12, 03:20 PM
@ZACH,
I said the exact same thing a month or so ago. Watch Washington, as much as I hate that team, they are poetry in motion on the PP. It shouldn’t take geniuses to see where they are going wrong.
bag o' pucks
Jan 12, 04:01 PM
If the club doesn’t wake up those games at Calgary and Vancouver won’t just be losses, they could be embarrassments.
Zach Boslett
Jan 12, 10:04 PM
I personally would not put Malkin with Crosby because Crosby especially has been dominant at even strength. Malkin has been ok but is trying way too hard.
The team is fine 5 on 5, why they can’t just play the same with more room on the ice just baffles me. They have no urgency at all.
Just roll the 5 on 5 lines and pretend it’s not a power play might actually work. Have them cycle it and just get it to the net with traffic would be amazing… I know that sounds crazy though…
Zach Boslett
Jan 12, 10:07 PM
@The Hockey Writer
The Penguins have an elite quarterback in Gonchar they do not need Liles (not to mention the Avalanche are very much contenders as of now as well).
The problem is, opposing teams PK are collapsing on Gonchar knowing that he is the only one going to shoot and that everyone else is inept at power play hockey.
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