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 Thursday91裸聊视频檚 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 didn91裸聊视频檛 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.
91裸聊视频淲e came up empty. We91裸聊视频檝e got to make some plays. We had a couple of looks in the middle91裸聊视频 couple of shots91裸聊视频ouple over the net. Sometimes on the power play you91裸聊视频檝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 91裸聊视频� (they all) can91裸聊视频檛 be pretty,91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频� which is at least palatable.
What91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淲e had a couple of looks, but honestly, it91裸聊视频檚 not good enough. Not enough momentum for the group. We91裸聊视频檙e not getting any loose pucks back. It just feels like we are playing slow. I don91裸聊视频檛 think we are getting to the inside enough. Myself91裸聊视频91裸聊视频檓 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 I91裸聊视频檓 one-and-done a lot,91裸聊视频� explained Canucks forward J.T. Miller.
Tocchet has a simpler explanation for the Canucks power-play woes.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 too mechanical. I91裸聊视频檝e said it all year. It has to be organic. It91裸聊视频檚 probably the hardest thing I91裸聊视频檝e had (to work on) this year,91裸聊视频� he noted.
It91裸聊视频檚 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 it91裸聊视频檚 getting more pucks to the net, fighting to get positioning inside, puck retrieval or just being 91裸聊视频榤ore organic91裸聊视频� 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 isn91裸聊视频檛 taking advantage of its opportunities doesn91裸聊视频檛 bode well 91裸聊视频� something that Miller recognizes.
91裸聊视频淚t all comes down to special teams which is how it works in the playoffs sometimes,91裸聊视频� 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. 91裸聊视频淚 thought he helped us with some speed. The speed is here. Hopefully he can build of off that,91裸聊视频� said Tocchet.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 91裸聊视频渢he Moj91裸聊视频� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
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