Silver Nuggets: Is anything wrong with the power play?

by Adnan on Nov 24, 2011 1:00 PM EST in Silver Nuggets

After scoring at almost one in every three chances earlier in the season, the Ottawa Senators have scored only in two of their last 30 power play chances. Jason Spezza mentioned all the cliches, such as shooting the puck, going to the net, getting a body in front, get the rebounds and other generic tactics.

As previously mentioned a couple weeks ago, the Senators weren't getting that many shots to begin with, they were just scoring on a large percentage of them, something that isn't sustainable long term. At the time, the Senators averaged 47.1 shots per 60 minutes of 5-on-4 time, and the overall rate has now dropped to 43.8 (which means it has been even lower in that period). That's good for 24th in the league. In addition, previously the Senators were scoring on 20% of their 5-on-4 shots, now they are scoring at 16.9% which is still the second highest in the NHL.

In other words, the Senators had everything going right on the power play earlier despite not getting a lot of shots and now things are levelling off a little bit, though there is still a drop in the number of shots. Shooting the puck more will definitely help, as long as they are not simply floating in the puck at the first opportunity, but still trying to develop plays. There is a lot of talent on the power play and hopefully it can get going again.

Links after the jump.

General Sens News

Erik Karlsson hasn't voted for himself because it's 'cheating' and err...he doesn't know how to do it. On the other hand, Karlsson's father has created the first email address of his life to vote for his son. Karlsson doesn't thinking he will keep the overall vote lead for too long, expecting the captain from Pittsburgh to pass him. (Ottawa Sun)
The Senators practised in Rockland in front of 2,300 children yesterday and Daniel Alfredsson felt like, wait for it, wait for it...JUSTIN BIEBER! (Senators Extra, Ottawa Sun)
Bruce Garrioch was told be a league executive (anonymous of course) that he doesn't expect Kyle Turris to be traded despite interest from six clubs including Ottawa. Also, Chris Neil's wife Caitlin gave birth to their third child. (Ottawa Sun)
Wayne Scanlan's pleasant and unpleasant surprises in the first quarter of the NHL season includes Milan Michalek on the pleasant side. Also on the pleasant side, former Senator Brian Elliott who leads the NHL in goals against average (1.48) and save percentage (.946). (Ottawa Citizen)
Nikita Filatov, Binghamton's leader in goals, expects to discuss his future at the club with Bryan Murray next week, though no date has been officially set. Binghamton plays today, Friday and Saturday for its last three November games. (Joy Lindsay)
Filatov also won't speculate on how he will react to Murray's decision, preferring to wait for what Murray says. (Joy Lindsay)

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Erik Karlsson's dad is the best!

Do you think Hasse has been voting for Alfie?

by Amelia L on Nov 24, 2011 1:22 PM EST reply actions

of course

yes, Karlsson’s dad got his first email address, but it was to vote for Alfie, not his son, and I hope he voted 30 times, like everyone here… Praise Alfie!!!

Go Sens Go!

by TaBu on Nov 24, 2011 1:32 PM EST up reply actions

I still can't believe that was his first email address

Co-manager, Silver Seven

by DarrenM on Nov 24, 2011 2:30 PM EST up reply actions

That's awesome

Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay

by Peter Raaymakers on Nov 24, 2011 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

Paul Maclean talked about our PP a bit a couple days back on the Team

He mentioned that players without the puck have been too stationary the last couple weeks – that he’d prefer that “we have one guy standing with the puck and four guys moving their feet (paraphrase)” as opposed to the other way around.

I’m gonna be watching for that in Pittsburgh. Especially after a few days to practice it.

Scholar, Gentleman, Shameless Sens Homer with a Heart of Gold.

by Johnny_Spectacular on Nov 24, 2011 1:24 PM EST via mobile reply actions

The problem with the power play is...

In addition to shooting the puck; the team seems to be employing the same PP strategy. The other teams have watched video, and therefore have developed a plan to counter the PP. With the way the PP has been running up until recently it would make sense if you shut down the PP you win the game. Fortunately the guys have found other ways to win. Hopefully in the PP practice yesterday, PM & the assistants had the team working on a couple diferent strategies to change things up a bit, give the teams a little something else to look at so we’re harder to defend against.

Common sense is the most evenly distributed quality in all the world.
Everyone thinks they have enough.

by havey03 on Nov 24, 2011 1:37 PM EST up reply actions

Good insight

Playing hockey, I always found it way easier to find/make plays when everyone is moving. It was also a lot easier to defend when nobody moved, you can take out 2-3 bodies with good positioning.

Regarding shot%, I’m no hockey statistician, but it seems less likely to regress as opposed to baseball hitting % (around which all new baseball stats revolve). Depending on the situtation in which a player has taken a shot, the odds are probably very different. Ottawa’s combination of amazing passing, big shots and decent traffic probably have a permanent impact on the shot % compared to say a pure shoot and tip team.

by BD Rebuilders on Nov 24, 2011 1:54 PM EST up reply actions

Moving feet on PP

I like the idea of seeing more movement on the power play. Things were working well early in the year when the defence were shifting around along the blueline and Spezza and Michalek were taking up different positions down low. Greening on the other hand should keep his butt parked in front of the net with only occasional forays to the corners to dig out the puck.

Getting Neil back might help the second power play unit a little. He was doing a good job around the net earlier in the season.

by DW19 on Nov 24, 2011 4:01 PM EST reply actions