Power Play
There is much to be said about the special teams struggles this season. When one looks at the PP, it can be said that this team has struggled with injury and has therefore been unable to put a consistent 1 and 2 unit on the ice. Cohesiveness and understanding the mindset of team-mates is paramount to the success of a team, even more so on a PP.
However, over the last few weeks, this coaching staff has yet to consistently keep a PP line-up together throughout the balance of a game. Most notably has been the involvement of Kyle Wellwood, here is a player who normally thrives on the PP, but because of injury this season he has only seen spot duty on the number 1 PP unit from time to time. There lies the issue at hand, how is it that Wellwood goes from being benched one game for not being ‘fit’, to the following game where he finds himself on the top PP unit. It sends a terrible message to Wellwood and to the rest of the team, as every player in the league dreams about being on the top PP unit.
In a crucial battle versus the Blues on the 29th of January, the Leafs found themselves down a goal late in the third, after seeing at most only 30 seconds of playing time in the third period, Maurice puts Wellwood on during a PP with maybe 3 minutes left in the game, out of place, out of sync, Wellwood causes two turnovers that resulted in a botched PP. Icing a player on the bench and then expecting him to thrive in a pressure situation like the power play is unrealistic.
Another example in the last few games is how Maurice kept the leading PP goal scorer away from the top PP unit. It is unfathomable how Antropov who leads the team with 9 PP markers would not be out there with Mats every PP chance the Leafs get on a team that struggles on the PP.
Lastly, in recent weeks since his return from injury, McCabe has found himself on the top PP unit. While I understand that this is the guy who should be there, McCabe is still not at 100%, McCabes only issue, and it have been well documented, is pain when he shoots the puck. As a point man on the PP, the point shot is crucial, if the opposition PK know that this is currently not an option for McCabe, it makes him, and thus the entire PP unit much easier to defend.
The deficiencies on the PP have much to do with the disjointed fashion that each unit is build upon. Continuously changing each unit, each game, during the game, from opportunity to opportunity, leaves the players far from a comfort level that is so crucial to taking advantage of an opponent with one man less.
However, over the last few weeks, this coaching staff has yet to consistently keep a PP line-up together throughout the balance of a game. Most notably has been the involvement of Kyle Wellwood, here is a player who normally thrives on the PP, but because of injury this season he has only seen spot duty on the number 1 PP unit from time to time. There lies the issue at hand, how is it that Wellwood goes from being benched one game for not being ‘fit’, to the following game where he finds himself on the top PP unit. It sends a terrible message to Wellwood and to the rest of the team, as every player in the league dreams about being on the top PP unit.
In a crucial battle versus the Blues on the 29th of January, the Leafs found themselves down a goal late in the third, after seeing at most only 30 seconds of playing time in the third period, Maurice puts Wellwood on during a PP with maybe 3 minutes left in the game, out of place, out of sync, Wellwood causes two turnovers that resulted in a botched PP. Icing a player on the bench and then expecting him to thrive in a pressure situation like the power play is unrealistic.
Another example in the last few games is how Maurice kept the leading PP goal scorer away from the top PP unit. It is unfathomable how Antropov who leads the team with 9 PP markers would not be out there with Mats every PP chance the Leafs get on a team that struggles on the PP.
Lastly, in recent weeks since his return from injury, McCabe has found himself on the top PP unit. While I understand that this is the guy who should be there, McCabe is still not at 100%, McCabes only issue, and it have been well documented, is pain when he shoots the puck. As a point man on the PP, the point shot is crucial, if the opposition PK know that this is currently not an option for McCabe, it makes him, and thus the entire PP unit much easier to defend.
The deficiencies on the PP have much to do with the disjointed fashion that each unit is build upon. Continuously changing each unit, each game, during the game, from opportunity to opportunity, leaves the players far from a comfort level that is so crucial to taking advantage of an opponent with one man less.
posted by LEAFER at
9:12 AM
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