As the Vancouver Canucks continue to work on their game with the playoffs approaching, there is one facet that is a major area of concern.
The power play.
After ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 3-1 loss to the Dallas Stars at Rogers Arena, the power play unit was a main topic of conversation and rightfully so.
The Canucks didnB次元官网网址檛 score on three power play opportunities while the Stars capitalized on two of five opportunities.
That, it a nutshell, was the difference in the game.
B次元官网网址淲e came up empty. WeB次元官网网址檝e got to make some plays. We had a couple of looks in the middleB次元官网网址 couple of shotsB次元官网网址ouple over the net. Sometimes on the power play youB次元官网网址檝e got to get those gritty things. Too many set plays I think burns us sometimes. We have to get guys to understand that we have to get pucks to the net. There has to be gritty goals on power plays B次元官网网址� (they all) canB次元官网网址檛 be pretty,B次元官网网址� Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet stated after the game.
Looking at the numbers, there should be concern with this group.
The Canucks sit 14th in the league with a 21.7% efficiency rating B次元官网网址� which is at least palatable.
WhatB次元官网网址檚 concerning is that the power play unit is trending in the wrong direction.
Over the last 10 games, the power play has gone 4 for 28 for a 14.2% conversion rate. A deeper dive shows that the unit has been struggling for over the last quarter of the season, going 8 for 67 for a 11.9% success rate over the last 24 games.
B次元官网网址淲e had a couple of looks, but honestly, itB次元官网网址檚 not good enough. Not enough momentum for the group. WeB次元官网网址檙e not getting any loose pucks back. It just feels like we are playing slow. I donB次元官网网址檛 think we are getting to the inside enough. MyselfB次元官网网址B次元官网网址檓 not really creating driving play right now. I need to be better and as a leader of the team, I hold myself to a higher standard than that. It feels like IB次元官网网址檓 one-and-done a lot,B次元官网网址� explained Canucks forward J.T. Miller.
Tocchet has a simpler explanation for the Canucks power-play woes.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 too mechanical. IB次元官网网址檝e said it all year. It has to be organic. ItB次元官网网址檚 probably the hardest thing IB次元官网网址檝e had (to work on) this year,B次元官网网址� he noted.
ItB次元官网网址檚 surprising that the Canucks power play is having its troubles as it does boast four all-stars in Miller, Quinn Hughes, Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson.
Perhaps some of the issue has been the rotation of the fifth member of that group.
Fillip Hronek, Conor Garland, Elias Lindholm, Pius Suter and Nils Hoglander all have had stints with the first unit but to no avail when it comes to developing some chemistry.
Whether itB次元官网网址檚 getting more pucks to the net, fighting to get positioning inside, puck retrieval or just being B次元官网网址榤ore organicB次元官网网址� as Tocchet says, the bottom line is that the unit has to start producing if the Canucks are to have any success in the post-season.
We are already seeing evidence of teams focusing on defense with the playoffs approaching and goals will be at a premium. Having a power-play unit that isnB次元官网网址檛 taking advantage of its opportunities doesnB次元官网网址檛 bode well B次元官网网址� something that Miller recognizes.
B次元官网网址淚t all comes down to special teams which is how it works in the playoffs sometimes,B次元官网网址� he said.
OVERTIME
* With his next point, Elias Pettersson will crack the Canucks Top-10 all-time scoring leaders. He is currently tied with Don Lever with 407 points.
* Canucks recalled forward Arshdep Bains from Abbotsford and he logged 110;39 of ice time. B次元官网网址淚 thought he helped us with some speed. The speed is here. Hopefully he can build of off that,B次元官网网址� said Tocchet.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob B次元官网网址渢he MojB次元官网网址� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
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