Categories: PenguinPoop

The Penguins Powerplay Stinks… Don’t Change it.

Head Coach Dan Bylsma has taken a seriously innovative step in creating a very different type of powerplay here in Pittsburgh and even though the numbers are not there right now, if you give it time, it could become one of the best ever. The Pittsburgh powerplay has a problem like no other in the NHL.  How do you find space for two of the leagues biggest superstars?

Bylsma has worked it out, let three of the players, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Alex Goligoski roam. The movement on the powerplay has been spectacular, the passing is fantastic, the goal scoring just isn’t there yet. 

There are a few little tweaks they could work on. Kunitz seems to be facing the goaltender more often than not which seems to be causing him to block many of his own teams shots. Have Kunitz do hours of tip the puck drills while facing the players who are shooting.  This may be a powerplay that actual doesn’t need a man in front, the puck is moving so fast, maybe just set two guys up in front for rebounds or let Asham get out there and mix it up in the middle, a right handed shot can’t hurt. With what Bylsma created, the options seem endless.

The powerplay has shown promise, but the numbers are just not there. The Penguins rank 12th in the league in powerplay goals, but because they have had more powerplay chances than any other team in the NHL, they rank 26th in powerplay percentage. These numbers are not that bad considering not one of the players on the powerplay grew up with this type of system. There seems to be a learning curve.

I usually don’t like going all football on you, but a number of years ago the Steelers defense went with a similar approach when Troy Polamalu joined the team.  Everyone thought defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau had lost it. Polamalu was everywhere and anywhere he wanted, without structure there was no-way it could work. Well the Steelers took to the structured chaos and haven’t looked back.

I don’t know if that was the catalyst for what Coach Bylsma was thinking, but it sure looks like it to me. Though the Penguins went 0 for 5 against Dallas last game, the chances were there considering the amount of times the players hit the posts, the butt end of the goaltenders stick, or just hit Kunitz, for the other team luck like that just won’t hold up every night. When the Penguins find the right combination and the players have confidence with this system, this powerplay will happen.

Phil Krundle

Recent Posts

Penguins an Easy Mark(strom), No Match for the Devils

In keeping with last night’s low-event Metro clash with the Devils at the Prudential Center,…

19 hours ago

Penguins Update: Is This What Kyle Dubas Intended?

In Mel Brooks’ comedy, The Producers, Max Bialystock (brilliantly played by Zero Mostel) and his…

2 days ago

The Pen(guin) is Mightier, Prevails over Preds in OT

On Tuesday night, I thought our Penguins played perhaps their best game of the season,…

3 days ago

Penguins Update: Is Mike Sullivan Reinventing Himself?

Anyone who’s read PenguinPoop for any length of time knows black-and-gold coach Mike Sullivan doesn’t…

4 days ago

Penguins Acquire Joseph from the Blues

The Penguins added a new/old face to their roster today, acquiring defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph from…

4 days ago

Penguins Crown Kings, 3-2, in OT

I’ll be honest. I wasn’t too enthused about the Penguins’ chances for victory ahead of…

5 days ago