Montreal Canadiens Power Play Still Needs Work
Special teams are never an easy part of the game to figure out. There are a multitude of different factors and equations that a coach needs to evaluate before this facet of hockey can be considered running at an optimum level. Some teams can only excel on the power play, others on the penalty kill. However, teams that are considered at the elite level of the National Hockey League are good at both.
For years, the Montreal Canadiens were a team that depended heavily on the special teams to find success, while their 5-on-5 play struggled. For the better part of a decade, special teams were the only part of the Canadiens’ game that fans looked forward to. That trend has changed since Michel Therrien took over as the Habs’ bench boss prior to the 2012-2013 lockout shorten season.
The numbers don’t lie, as the Habs’ power play scoring has dropped by almost 10% under Therrien. Whether you want to point fingers at Assistant Coach Clement Jodoin, who ran the unit for the better part of two seasons, or Therrien himself, the power play effectiveness the Canadiens once enjoyed is a thing of the past.
That said, puck movement and power play strategy isn’t the biggest problem the Canadiens’ power play faces. Despite being better of late, since the change from the more traditional star power play formation to the diamond scheme (where a single defenseman mans offensive blue line), the biggest problem the power play has is the amount of time actually spent in the offensive zone setting up shooting lanes and scoring chances.
Zone entry is the single most important part of the man advantage for a team to contend with. Most penalty killing units will send a single forechecker to pressure the puck carrier, while the three remaining defenders stand at the blue line, limiting the amount of space there is to enter their zone.
More often than not, the Canadiens get caught carrying the puck through the neutral zone with their forwards standing still at the offensive blue line. That gives the puck carrier two options:
- Find a seem at the offensive blue line and carry the puck into the offensive zone.
- Dump the puck in with the expectation that the forwards will immediately retrieve it.
P.K. Subban is one of the best puck carrying defensemen in the NHL. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Under normal circumstances, there is a third option were the puck carrier can regroup in the neutral zone is either of the above-mentioned options isn’t available to them, but the Canadiens take this option away from themselves, given that they peel the non-puck carrying defenseman to the weak side where the puck is expected to be if it is indeed dumped into the zone as a secondary puck support option.
The problem is easily fixed though, and it all starts with proper situational awareness. Players and coaches need to recognize the oppositions’ forecheck selection, which option the puck carrier can use to maximize zone entry, and make the necessary positional adjustments to increase effectiveness.
There is an old adage in hockey that suggests that the puck carrier should NEVER be the last man closest to your goaltender. Power play breakouts and zone entries are no different. If the Canadiens are going to allow their defensemen to carry the puck into the offensive zone, then someone must swing in behind them as a fail-safe. That allows for the puck carrier to retreat from their initial decision with the puck, and regroup when they don’t have a viable entry options.
Finally, everyone on the power play needs to keep their feet moving when entering the offensive zone. Players cannot be caught standing still, waiting for a decision to be made by the puck carrier. Before entering the zone, everyone should be skating away from the puck, which not only confuses the defending team, but also gives the puck carrier more space to carry the puck in and gives them multiple puck distribution options.
To get their power play numbers back above the league average, the Montreal Canadiens needs to get into the offensive zone more effectively on the power play, which will give them more zone time. With the talent they have on their roster, the Eastern Conference championship may be closer than it now appears.