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 Thursday香蕉视频直播檚 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 didn香蕉视频直播檛 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.
香蕉视频直播淲e came up empty. We香蕉视频直播檝e got to make some plays. We had a couple of looks in the middle香蕉视频直播 couple of shots香蕉视频直播ouple over the net. Sometimes on the power play you香蕉视频直播檝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 香蕉视频直播� (they all) can香蕉视频直播檛 be pretty,香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播� which is at least palatable.
What香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淲e had a couple of looks, but honestly, it香蕉视频直播檚 not good enough. Not enough momentum for the group. We香蕉视频直播檙e not getting any loose pucks back. It just feels like we are playing slow. I don香蕉视频直播檛 think we are getting to the inside enough. Myself香蕉视频直播香蕉视频直播檓 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 I香蕉视频直播檓 one-and-done a lot,香蕉视频直播� explained Canucks forward J.T. Miller.
Tocchet has a simpler explanation for the Canucks power-play woes.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 too mechanical. I香蕉视频直播檝e said it all year. It has to be organic. It香蕉视频直播檚 probably the hardest thing I香蕉视频直播檝e had (to work on) this year,香蕉视频直播� he noted.
It香蕉视频直播檚 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 it香蕉视频直播檚 getting more pucks to the net, fighting to get positioning inside, puck retrieval or just being 香蕉视频直播榤ore organic香蕉视频直播� 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 isn香蕉视频直播檛 taking advantage of its opportunities doesn香蕉视频直播檛 bode well 香蕉视频直播� something that Miller recognizes.
香蕉视频直播淚t all comes down to special teams which is how it works in the playoffs sometimes,香蕉视频直播� 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. 香蕉视频直播淚 thought he helped us with some speed. The speed is here. Hopefully he can build of off that,香蕉视频直播� said Tocchet.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 香蕉视频直播渢he Moj香蕉视频直播� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
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