Is Age Contributing to the Penguins’ Power-Play Woes?
I close my eyes and the visions come rushing in, like some unrelenting hockey nightmare. The Penguins are working on a power play. They pass (pass, pass) the puck around the perimeter in search of the perfect setup or opening, only occasionally daring to reverse the rubber along the boards for fear of losing possession.
Finally, someone gets antsy enough to unleash a shot, often directly into a penalty killer’s shin pads. Our foes win the battle for the loose puck and clear the zone, or worse, set sail for our end on an odd-man shorthanded break.
Over a quarter of the way through the 2023-24 season, our power-play continues to plummet to the infernal regions of the league rankings. A unit that was expected to be a strength with the acquisition of Norris Trophy-winner and power-play specialist Erik Karlsson incredibly is lodged in 27th place in the league rankings with a conversion rate of 11.9 percent.
In terms of actual goals scored with the man advantage? We have seven. Only the Capitals with five have fewer.
Subtract out the three shorties we’ve allowed? That’s a net total of four power-play goals.