Power Play Woes

The difference between winning and losing may just be “One Goal.” But with a failing power play, the Blackhawks are missing out on a lot more than just a goal. Try zero out of their last nineteen chances to net one. What’s going on here?

First power play of Game 3. Let’s have a looksie. First off, face-offs have not been kind to the Blackhawks. Another lost face-off is the reason for the rush pictured below. NOTE: Red will represent Blackhawks movement and black will represent Bruins movement.



The Hawks entry is a mess. Their first three attempts to enter the zone go exactly like the picture above. Center ice pass to a man on the blue line. Two Bruins will pinch while one goes back to retrive the puck and get it out of the zone. Cookie cutter for the Bruins PK.

Finally! Some time in the offensive zone. The player with possession is in the corner drawing the attention of the Bruins PK. Two players at the point ready to take a shot with two guys in front of the net to stuff loose pucks. This would be a picture perfect play if this is what actually happened.

Instead, the player with possession decides to take the difficult route of getting the puck to the point. With little control of the puck, the pass is sloppy and is eventually lost over the blue line. Even if the puck stays on-side, the Bruins PK is ready with a player in the slot to block a pass up to the circle. Another missed opportunity.

Here’s a question, why rush into the zone when your two D-men are going for a line change? The quick entrance could still work if Toews throws the puck around the boards along the path of the dotted line (to two lightning fast D men at that), but you’re currently out numbered on your OWN power play and you have no chance of recovering from the awful pass that is about to occur. Picked off. Cleared.

Again, entrance. The Bruins PK is aiming to collapse around the puck carrier and a potential receiver. Instead of passing the puck against the flow of the Bruins PK to an open man on the blue line, the puck carrier is forced to dump it immediately after gaining the zone. Gathered by the Bruins PK. Cleared.

This is what could have been the Hawks best chance on this power play. The Bruins PK is dialed into the puck carrier in the corner. The Blackhawks have a good setup right now. #1(labeled) for a possible screen for Seabrook if the puck is passed. #2(labeled) for more net front presence. #3(labeled) as a failsafe for any bouncing or tipped passes from the puck carrier. If the puck carrier passes through the wide open lane, Seabrook can either shoot with plenty of support or pass to #3 (labeled) and regroup for a more strategic attempt. Unfortunately, none of that happens.

Instead, the puck carrier makes a bizarre spin-o-rama pass to (the now labeled) #1 who will pass the puck to Seabrook who will be forced towards the boards to take a bad angle shot. The two net front men also abandon their positions and can’t sweep up the bad angle or get into a position for a possible Jagr-esque pass. The great set up a few seconds before has literally imploded. Time expires and they extend their streak of zeroes.

You still haven’t explained what's wrong though!

Entry

The Blackhawks don’t need speed to gain the zone nor do they need patience. They need strategy. They will not be able to blaze past the Bruins PK and they will not get an easy dump and chase out of them either. Combining both is a great start along with making better passes on the rush through the neutral zone. Half of a great power play is great entrance. The Blackhawks have ½ a power play and I still have to get to the next point.

Hesitation

The best two chances I explained were lost because of hesitation. Quick passing is necessary to have a successful power play. If you need to make more than one pass, it needs to be planned. However, quick does NOT equal fancy. No need for spin-o-ramas on the power play. Hold your ground and pass when necessary. Get the Bruins PK flat footed and pass to create a great scoring chance. Both chances I explained would have taken one pass. Not difficult plays at all. No excuses to pass those up.

The Bruins held the best post-season power play to absolutely no goals in the Eastern Conference Finals. I’m not saying these adjustments will make the puck go in, but they will certainly help make it possible. I won’t get into scoring on Rask now. Can’t do that until you have the chance to score on him.