Thinking About The Power Play
Ever since Jaromir Jagr left, and even a bit before, the power play has sucked. The Rangers have offensive stars like Marian Gaborik, but they just can’t put the biscuit in the hole. This is extremely frustrating.
The one thing that the Rangers don’t do well is setting up. From the rush to setting up in the zone, the Rangers can never get settled. Any good power play has to be set up in the zone. You can’t have one shot and have to set up again.
Once they get set up, they have trouble hitting the net, or after a few attempts, the puck will be cleared. There’s no consistent attack.
You want a power play that, as a fan, makes you jump out you seat because they get so many good chances, and then, after a while, they capitalize on it. That’s a good power play. Rangers don’t have that.
So how can we fix this? Let’s dive right in.
The first problem is getting set up. Usually, MDZ will start with the puck behind the net. He’ll skate up the middle of the ice, and right past his own blueline, he’s fire a pass to a streaking Gaborik or Callahan. This works some of the time. When it does, it’s great. But it can’t be used every single time. It becomes predictable. Defenses can pick off the pass. And you’re not setting up.
The Rangers don’t do well with dump and chase, either. Here’s what they need to do. Have a defenseman bring it up. Have his partner next to him. Let’s get a center leading two wings in the pursuit. D drops it in, center and wings chase after it, not just a wing. Get the puck, walk it out, and get it to the point.
Now that it’s on the point, what next? Well, let’s talk spacing and layout. I love the drawing feature on Google Docs, and since you can share it and embed it, all the more fun. Here’s how the Rangers PP should look like:
That’s just some sample players. But let’s break it down. We’ll start with MDZ
MDZ should move either to his right, or in a bit. Moving in to his right brings the defense over. He can the rifle a pass off to Frolov, who’s streaking to the net. If he moves in a bit, defense collapses, pass it back out to Rosy, and he takes a bomb from the point. Rosy follows the same pattern.
Drury stays in front of the net. The Rangers never have this. Pluck his ass right in front of the goalie. Take a defender away from the box. Give Gabby and Frolov more room to operate. And gobble up loose pucks.
I want Frolov and Gaborik mirroring each other. Moving without the puck a lot. Let’s say Frolov has it. He’s by the boards, holding. Now, Gaborik shouldn’t stay still. He should break for the net. Frolov can pass it. He can shoot it. Or, as the defense collapses, pass it back out to MDZ. Gaborik can do the same. These two can fish for rebounds as well.
Moving a lot, with and without the puck, is key. The spacing here allows them to do this. Penalty killers usually stay in a box, or a square. The box moves with the puck. But, with movement, especially without the pick, the box has to collapse. The Rangers spent too much time standing still. No more. Move around. Make the defense move. Fire shots off. Get bodies in front of the net. And shoot the puck, dammit!
By jurgenno88, August 9, 2010 @ 8:55 am
Controversially perhaps, if he dresses/makes the time i’d give Boyle a chance in front of the net. As Voros showed a couple of years ago, talent isnt a priority in that spot. Size can do alot and Boyle certainly has that. If he’s kept on, then they need to find a use for him and maybe he can be a use on the PP.
I’d also try and incorporate Avery from time to time. I guess he’s a debate for the 2nd PP unit but as you rightly point out our dump and chase stinks and really, only Avery and Callahan excel in that area.
By Dave, August 9, 2010 @ 9:59 am
Hopefully the addition of Frolov makes the PP better than the past few versions we’ve seen. It has definitely been a combination of no set plan, and no skill to execute.
Torts is supposed to be a PP expert, so it’s about time we see that.
jurgenno88 Reply:
August 9th, 2010 at 10:25 am
agreed. Pressure is on Torts here to come up with something and you’re right, the skill level has been wanting.
For as much as he’s popular for his work ethic, tenacity and occasional offense i dont think its a good sign when guys like Callahan get much PP time.
By Jordan, August 9, 2010 @ 10:50 am
Agreed with the man in front of the net. I saw it very few times and when I did it worked. Callahan is pretty good at it, gets some goals that way. I’d put Prust and Avery in front and see what they could do.
By Mikeyyyy, August 9, 2010 @ 10:53 am
Your spot on with what you say. One thing I noticed from last year is that everyone is just watching. No one slashes to the gaps or make the defending pl unit move.
A successful pp moves people. Around and forces the defending team to make a mistake, lose their coverage or get out of position, then the offense takes advantage of ways basically a 5 on 3 (because one guy is out of position). Watch some pp work of the cup winning ranger team.
Leetch and zubov would work the point. Gravey would stand in front o the net and screen the goalie. Mess am Kovy would work the puck low, getting other teams to bite and chase. Pass
back to the d. Now there’s space. Now you have 2 openmen and a screener on the goalie. It’s a big reason graves hit 50+ goals that year.
By Section 121, August 9, 2010 @ 11:51 am
Nice work on getting some Xs and Os on the thread.
A note on the traffic in front; perhaps the umbrella formation would work with Frolov floating in front and behind the net when necessary? I noticed many of his goals from the highlights posted on nyrangers.com come from wrap arounds, and goals in tight up front. This is a surprise for me as I figured a two time 30+ goal scorer would have more goals from the tops of the circles with a natural shot.
Anyway, if MDZ or Rozy could be that last man up high at the top of the umbrella, then Gabby and Dubi could support on the right and left playing catch with the point man until a shot frees up on either side. Then Frolov and Drury (or Boyle) would both be in front for deflections and rebounds (rebounds seeming to be Frolov’s speciality from the tapes).
The only issue with this formation is that it puts a lot of pressure on the one point man in the center and requires this player to deliver hard, low, accurate shots that get through to the net. Can Rozy do it? MDZ?
By Dave, August 9, 2010 @ 12:31 pm
I think a big key is moving the defensemen away from the corners, depending on where the puck is, and having them play the opposite side so one timers are easy.
In the above case, I would swap Rosi/MDZ so they can get one-timers off, and when the puck is on the left side, Rosi plays the boards, and MDZ the middle at the blue line, and vice versa. Too many times have I seen the defense playing the boards and pucks cleared right up the middle.