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The Kings have hired Newell Brown, a ‘Mr. Fix It’ power play guru, after going 0-for-12 in the playoffs. The Canucks need an expert to prop up their PP presence, potency
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Published Jun 03, 2024 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 5 minute read
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Brock Boeser had 16 power-play goals during the regular season which ranked seventh overall. J.T. Miller had 10, but they combined for just two the playoffs. Photo by Derek Cain /Getty Images
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First, the good news.
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The Vancouver Canucks are the last club to pocket a post-season power-play goal against the high-octane Edmonton Oilers, who have killed a franchise record 27-consecutive man advantage opportunities to punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers.
It was Elias Lindholm who struck twice, including the winner, in a 4-3 triumph on May 12 at Rogers Place. It gave the Canucks a 2-1 lead in the second-round NHL playoff series and belief they had all the tools to advance to the Western Conference final.
Now, the sobering reality. That tool box was missing a vital piece. The Canucks didn’t have a hammer.
They failed to score in the last four series games and that was decisive because three of the final four meetings were decided by one goal. Imagine, a healthy Brock Boeser in Game 7 building on 17 power-play goals this season by scoring the winner to send Rogers Arena into a frenzy?
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Imagine, Quinn Hughes adding to 43 man-advantage assists by setting up Boeser? Or, how about Elias Pettersson adding to his 14 power-play goals, or J.T Miller making it 12? Imagine if there was a plan with numerous zone entry options and multitude of set plays?
J.T. Miller celebrates his last-minute game-winning goal against the Oilers in Game 5 of the second-round series on May 16. Photo by Derek Cain /Getty Images
It’s why the season ended with a thud in a 3-2 loss after rallying from a 3-0 deficit. And it’s why it has come to this.
The Canucks need to replace the departed Mike Yeo, who guided a vastly-improved penalty kill, by making a power play specialist a priority. No man-advantage direction by committee, or the tired refrain that players are good enough and smart enough to figure it out. They need guidance.
The Canucks were ranked 11th during the regular season (22.7 per cent), but a slide to 13.9 per cent in the post-season is troubling. And when head coach Rick Tocchet makes an off-season evaluation, he should realize that beyond execution and systems to generate more shots, a power play professor is vital.
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Tocchet needs to check his extensive Rolodex to find a fit. Or at least, understand the history here of a Mr. Fix-It. Newell Brown directed the Canucks’ top-ranked power play in 2011 and 2012 and was hired by the Los Angeles Kings last week.
It was a pivotal four-minute man advantage late in the first period of Game 7 against the Oilers where the warts were clearly visible, with no shots and a chance to strike first. The Canucks struggled to enter the zone and the aggressive Oilers took away the points and passing options.
And even when the Canucks possessed the puck, they stood around and tried to thread the perfect pass.
“It’s tough to play the what-if game,” said Tocchet. “That four-minute power play and Mik (Ilya Mikheyev) had that chance on a breakaway. If we had scored, that might have loosened us up. I felt a lot of tightness from guys, and for about 20 minutes in that game, we had a tough time making a tape-to-tape pass.”
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On Monday, SportsBetting.ag had the odds of the Canucks winning it all next season at 20-to-1, which ranked ninth overall. It will be better if special teams respond, and will fall if they struggle. The Dallas Stars are an 8-to-1 favourite, followed by the Panthers at 9-to-1 and the Oilers at 10-to-1.
The Canucks’ power play problems were perplexing because the sum of some strong parts should have brought more success against the Oilers.
“We had a chance to change the course of games,” said Miller. “They outworked us. It didn’t have to do with puck luck or anything. They didn’t let us enter cleanly, ever, and we wasted a lot of time. Our standard has to get to another level.
“We could have been a bigger part of the playoffs, and it’s not about the goal all the time, it’s about creating momentum for the team, and sometimes I feel like we sucked the life out of the building.
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“And that’s on me. I take a lot of pride in the power play.”
Quinn Hughes and J.T. Miller know a potential-packed power play that went just 5-for-36 in the playoffs must be better next season. Photo by Frank Franklin II /AP
Hughes had his power play moments with a new juke move at the blue-line. It froze a defender and he darted wide and low to find the far short side with a wrist shot that packed more velocity and accuracy this season. It was a testament to his devotion for improvement.
However, in the playoffs, the Canucks captain was pressured harder at the point and had fewer options. He still managed 10 assists in 13 post-season games, but knew there could have been more.
“I learned how tight the game is out there and how physical it is,” said Hughes, who led all blueliners this season with a career 92 points (17-75). “I liked my game in the playoffs and thought I played pretty solid. I would have liked to pitch in more, but the main thing was the power play and how we struggled at the end.
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“There were some frustrations with that. We should be better and an elite group.”
The Oilers were outplayed by the Stars on Sunday, but struck on both power plays in a 2-1 victory to capture the conference final in six games and earn a championship date. They failed to connect in the first four series games, but when it mattered most, they had the talent and the finish.
The Oilers are a league-leading 19-for-53 (37.3 per cent) in the post-season and were fourth in the regular season (26.3 per cent). It speaks to what Hughes has always hoped for as quarterback of the first unit. It has top-five potential and there’s no need for panic. But good shooting looks don’t count. Results do.
Simply stated, the man-advantage units must reach an increased level of confidence and connection next season if the Canucks expect to go further in the playoffs. A deployment that looks so good on paper shouldn’t look tentative and tepid in execution.
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Which, once again, brings us back to personnel and the plan. That drop pass wasn’t the answer. And threading seam passes through sticks and skates didn’t work. Same deal with that bumper pass.
The Oilers proved you need rotations, quick movements, and timing to create space to find the open man. Those Connor McDavid give-and-go plays to hit Leon Draisaitl in his sweet spot for one-timers from a wide angle was a perfect example. It allowed Draisaitl to pick the short side before Jake Oettinger could seal up the post.
And when McDavid found a seam Sunday and opted for a toe-drag, power play effort, the goal made the highlight reels. And it also made the Oilers harder to control.
That’s where the Canucks need to get to.
bkuzma@postmedia.com
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Courtesy : https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-power-play-expertise-must-be-top-priority-in-hiring-new-assistant-coach