The Golden Knights’ power play in the postseason was bad. Literally historically bad. It was one of 15 teams in the last 30 years to play at least 10 playoff games and register a power play percentage under 10%.
Looking back over the other 14 teams who went through horrific postseason power play slumps is a bit concerning for the future of the Golden Knights’ power play.
First, I’ll show the numbers, then we’ll dissect them.
| Team | Regular Season | Playoffs | Next Regular Season | Next Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOR (99-00) | 17.8 | 4.7 | 16.1 | 23.1 |
| MTL (14-15) | 16.5 | 5.6 | 16.2 | 15.0 |
| VAN (06-07) | 17.2 | 6.0 | 17.1 | Missed |
| STL (16-17) | 21.3 | 6.7 | 15.5 | Missed |
| SJS (06-07) | 22.4 | 7.0 | 16.3 | 14.3 |
| NYR (16-17) | 20.2 | 7.7 | 21.2 | Missed |
| PHI (19-20) | 20.8 | 7.7 | 19.2 | Missed |
| NSH (15-16) | 19.7 | 8.7 | 18.9 | 16.9 |
| CBJ (19-20) | 16.4 | 8.8 | 15.4 | Missed |
| NYR (12-13) | 15.7 | 9.1 | 18.2 | 12.6 |
| WSH (93-94) | 18.1 | 9.1 | 19.9 | 13.6 |
| VGK (20-21) | 17.8 | 9.3 | ??? | ??? |
| NYI (92-93) | 21.6 | 9.4 | 20.1 | 5.9 |
| CAR (18-19) | 17.8 | 9.6 | 22.3 | 13.8 |
| DET (03-04) | 20.1 | 9.6 | Lockout | Lockout |
The Golden Knights entered the postseason with the 22nd best power play in the NHL at 17.8%. That 17.8% number isn’t far off from most of the others on the list with the average of the 15 teams coming in at 18.9%. Two other teams had an exact 17.8% PP while another four came into the playoffs hitting at a lesser percentage before their miserable postseason output.
What we are looking for here though is how the bad power play postseason impacted the following regular season and postseason behind it. A miserable 9 of the 14 teams saw their regular season power play decrease the following regular season. Also, of the eight teams to make the playoffs the next year, all but one saw a sharp decline in the playoffs from their regular season as well.
The good news is that every single team that posted a sub-10 percent power play in the playoffs rebounded to hit at at least 15.4% the following regular season and all but one saw an increase from the awful postseason to the next postseason.
Seeing five teams miss the playoffs after their disastrous PP postseason is a bit concerning and the overall power play average of the last 14 teams the next regular season is not exactly thrilling. The average power play of the 13 teams was just 18.2%.
If the Golden Knights post that number next year, they’ll once again find themselves in the bottom third of the NHL, a place they’ve been two of their four seasons. The best power play of the group came from the 2019-20 Hurricanes who backed up their 9.6% postseason number with a 22.3% power play the following regular season. That was good for 8th place in the NHL, but that Canes team posted a nightmarish 13.8% in the playoffs, 18th of the 24 teams to play in the playoffs that season.
All in all, there is hope that the power play will improve. In fact, it’s essentially guaranteed that it will increase over the 9.3% number from the playoffs. However, the Golden Knights suddenly becoming a power play beast is probably out of the picture, no matter how big of a focus it is this offseason.
Pauly
According to the local dummies (the dumbest in sports), bad ice is the culprit
THE hockey GOD
the only dummy here saying that is you, learn to read and comprehend.
you have a small dangling sentence. The culprit refers to WHAT? Don’t put words into people posts that are not THERE in first place, which shows your lack of reading comprehension.
What is the noun . what is subject you are referring too ? Are you referring to all but one team that didn’t win the Stanley Cup. Are you referring the obvious BAD ICE IN JUNE AND JULY in the playoffs that the players said existed and experts also referred too? Is your comment directed to them ? So the players and experts are now dummies, and you , who doesn’t know how to even hold a hockey stick are better than them ?
Learn to communicate before you post garbage on the internet. Until then
TALK TO THE HAND !
THE hockey GOD
don’t know how, i Guess is correct English.
Pauly
You no doubt wear a tin foil pyramid hat and clutch a plastic flamingo when you spew the nonsensical bad ice garbage.
No such thing as indoor bad ice in the NHL
THE hockey GOD
according to pauly the players, the ex NHL players who are now TV announcers and experts, are dummies
NO I CAN NOT STAND THE plastic birds.
TALK TO THE HAND
(putz)
THE hockey GOD
bad ice matters
BIM
knights fan in minny
according to the local vegas fans your still a malt liquor drinking thug piece of shit pauline punk
knights fan in minny
and your the dumbest person in vegas
Theresa soles
STILL SPEWING YOUR NASTY COMMENTS, PAULY?? YOU NEED A NEW HOBBY, DUDE.
YOU INSULT AND OFFEND US ALL!!! ( IF YOU CALL ME ANOTHER OFFENSIVE NAME, I WILL REPORT! YOU MUST REALLY FEAR A WOMAN WHO CALLS YOU OUT, HUH PAULY??)
Pauly
It’s not fear, it’s utter revulsion that keeps my away from fat sweaty women who pretend to understand hockey…
knights fan in minny
you have not shown anything that you understand hockey your a fraud that was funny when the blm lady fleeced you blacks out of your money you people are stupid
Pauly
“Your” a fraud…
Dumbest, least educated fans in sports…
Theresa soles
And THAT’S what you get for doing your own thinking— YOU GET OFFENSIVE IDIOCY. YOU, YOUNG MAN, NEED TO GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR NASTY ASS AND GO AWAY.
AND FYI: I MAY BE A SENIOR, BUT Y-O-U ARE A MAN- CHILD WITH NO DECENCY AND ZERO RESPECT FOR OTHERS. HOW’S THAT WORKING FOR YOU, PAULY?? YOU JUST PISS PEOPLE OFF WITH YOUR IGNORANCE!! GET A NEW HOBBY, DUDE!!
Pauly
Settle down, great grandma…that walker of yours can only take so much…plus, the old fart in the trailer next door is sick of hearing you carry on…
Have a stewed prune bowl and hope for a firm stool. And leave hockey to those who understand it…you are embarrassing enough without the pile on of obvious ignorance every time you opine about VGK…
THE hockey GOD
it’s going on his permanent record
(writing it down)
(notary signing)
(filing in folder called Paulie’s permanent record)
(folder placed in binder labeled LOSERS)
(putting in vault)
(locking vault)
T.s.
SPEAK FOR YOURSELF, NASTY GUY. YOU ARE A PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN. YOUR CONSTANT OFFENSE TO OTHERS ONLY SHOWS THE SORRY PATHETIC LIFE Y-O-U MUST LEAD. WHAT HAS GONE SO WRONG IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU MAKE IT YOUR LIFE MISSION TO INSULT OTHERS?? DOES YOUR MAMA KNOW WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE??
AND, FYI: EVERY FAN, SEASONED OR NOT, HAS A RIGHT TO OPINE, DUDE. IT IS CALLED FREE SPEECH. CHECK YOUR CONSTITUTION– DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS?? GO AWAY, PAULY. FIND A NEW HOBBY.
Pauly
Transparent Nevada says you earned 15K a year…congratulations on being both dumb and a total loser…
Daryl
Still blaming the white man??? It’s sad when your own race sells you out. Don’t worry, the South will rise again lol
Spiros Filios
Why is it always the answer to analysis that we need to make trades to get better. Does no one in the NHL practice or Train? Got a problem with the power play? make a trade! n o way our team could get better with practice and training! That’s impossible!! Our team is one of the best teams in the NHL! maybe we just need a little training and practice. It the off season. now is the time to work on our game as a whole, get our current player to up their game and add new young players already in the system to fill in the gaps! WITH SO TRAINING AND PRACTICE!
THE hockey GOD
welcome to jungle spire t agnew
opps, sorry, Spiros. Last season rigid schedule due to covid, plus the playoffs made it very difficult to practice on a regular basis. Factor the injuries into the equation and fact that coach was rotating five, or was it six, number one centers made it difficult. A better comparison is the PK. Should look at that too, one without the other is like wearing a right skate on one foot, and ski board on other.
Even TB only scored 2 of 17 in the finals, which says that 1) in finals PP really doesn’t matter 2) PK is more important that PP. At least this last time around.
DOC (Go Knights Go)
Enough of the PP Ken. That’s been over-talked to ad nauseam!
Where’s Jason’s GM article? You shading him again?
THE hockey GOD
this last season, and one before it, are statistical anomalies due to covid. I don’t think any comparison based upon stats is valid. Not statistical significant. And not fair to compare this season to others due to many factors we are all well aware of existed.
THE hockey GOD
General manager Julien BriseBois addressed the Stanley Cup’s condition Tuesday. BriseBois joked that it was “out with an upper body injury for the next couple days.”
Vic
Why is the power play bad? Here’s a few things……
*Losing face offs.
*Passing too slow and not crisp.
*Other teams 4 guys out-hustling the VGKs 5 guys.
*Some of the guys on the PP are not passing specialists.
*Other teams utilize both point players to perfection. In other words, when pucks are sent back to the point, the puck normally stays in the zone.
*Not enough front of the net presence, and rare cross ice chances.
*The current PP coach is not good.
*It’s a mental thing.
sb
Vic got a couple points right. 1) Losing O-Zone face-offs. 2) Passing slow. #3 Re-word it – missing a playmaking, puckhandling 1st Line Center. There is only one significant hole on the VGK’s and filling it with the correct player solves Vegas’ only two problems. To win the Cup, Vegas needs a hi-end, Number 1, playmaking, puckhandling Center. That corrects the power outage on Line 1 and fixes the PP. Think 60 assist man. There’s not many of those around or available. The list: Eichel, Malkin, Kopitar and Kane – but he’s not a center. Getting Eichel is a long term fix. Kopitar is a 3, maybe 4 year fix at most. Malkin probably a 1 year fix. But any one of these three could be the piece needed to win the Cup next year. Yesterday’s article ‘playing GM’ made suggestions. But none of those suggestions fixed the PP nor would make the big difference that would win a Cup. All small patches. One suggestion was ….. Vegas needs another “mucker” on the 4th line. We already have too many unproductive muckers now eating cap money. Another suggestion was to bring in a medicore 3rd line center. Another patch that won’t fix the PP nor bring home the Cup. I am happy that Vegas has McPhee, McCrimmon and owner Foley making decisions and not what is on this blog. The difference is the real Managers have the courage and smarts to bring in players who are difference makers, not patches. To win the Cup, you must make bold moves to fill the holes. None of the patches suggested on this blog moves the needle. They only waste another year. Or is making the playoffs good enough for most?
Ken Boehlke
I’m not sure where the myth about faceoffs came from? Not necessarily picking on you because I’ve seen this from others as well.
When on the PP, VGK won 59.3% of draws in the playoffs. That was the 3rd best faceoff percentage in the entire NHL in these playoffs.
Daryl
I think it’s more about possessing the FO battles, not just winning them. At least a couple times VGK won the FAonly to have the puck go out of the zone. They also won FO but couldn’t cleaning control the puck.
For me, being able to cleanly control the FO is the important thing, nit just winning them
THE hockey GOD
The Zach Parise and Ryan Suter era with the Wild is over.
After signing the two to identical 13-year, $98 million contracts nine years ago to revitalize the franchise, the Wild cut ties with both players Tuesday by announcing it will buy out the remainder of each’s contract.
THE hockey GOD
Andrew Copp C, Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg has plenty of reasons to consider trading Andrew Copp, per Murat Ates of The Athletic.
Copp is a pending restricted free agent and he has arbitration rights following a two-year, $4.56 million contract. He is one year away from unrestricted free agency and he would get a one-year pact if the deal is decided by an arbitrator, so the Jets would have to sign him to a long-term contract to avoid that. That would make him a player that Winnipeg would want to protect in the expansion draft. A Copp trade would fix a potential contract issue, solve an expansion draft question and it could bring in a decent return in the form of draft picks.
Source: Murat Ates for The Athletic
Frank
No movement. Watch (or re-watch) our powerplay attempts this past post-season. Guys parked in position standing still like statues. This will not get it done. You need to get the penalty killers moving to create the open ice or cross ice pass opportunities. Standing still and waiting for the play to happen is not (and has not) going to work. Especially against teams that like to pack the middle of the ice. Something needs to happen to get those teams moving to open up the passing lanes/chances. Also – our D men seemed very adept at shooting it right at the opposing team where it will be blocked and cleared – in addition to…. too many cute behind the back zone entry passes – and not enough net front presence.
Al Bundy of Hockey
Frank, solid comments. I’ll add a little too it. Any successful power-play moves the puck around and 2 to 3 of the spots on the power-play are viable threats every time they get the puck. That draws the killers to them to defend and then the next puck movement or 2 is to an even more wide open threat. It’s hockey 101. Practice helps for sure but it’s more of a mentality. Examples:
Backstrom / Oshie etc move puck and are viable threats, then move the puck to one of the best goal scorers of all time who doesn’t have an opposing player within 20 feet of him. Lol
Kuch and Hedman are amazing at it. Always legit threats, with Point and Stamkos patiently waiting for the box to break down and get the puck.
Vegas has the talent, every NHL does…it’s the mentality drilled into them by the coaching staff that takes it to the next level. Deboers does not have a history of being successful coaching the PP.
Richard Santomauro
All they need to do is have the PP unit study WSH, TBL, COL, & BOS film. VGK passes from the point to the board, to the point to the boards to behind the net to the boards, from the boards to the behind the net and back to the boards and then to the point back to the boards. Too few cross ice passes and not enough movement or willingness to get to the blue paint.
That power play was DeBoering!
It’s weak and pathetic and needs to change. Say all you want about the skills of the top line, but they didn’t get it done. Second line was better.
Richard Santomauro
Too often you see VGK PP units receiving the puck on the PP and then trying to “aim”. By the time they do this the defense has reset and is ready to react. The best power plays are the ones that let it rip with a one timer and then players converge for the rebound.
You rarely see VGK getting a one timer from anywhere but distance, and even then it is rare. There is no doubt that set plays resulting in one timer rips on net from a closer distance is key to improving the scoring percentage.
But then again, we do have Coach DeBoering.
Blitz
I think this article should have been called “Inadequate PP” or “We need a bigger and better, more powerful PP”. Well, simply because that’s funny…and I have a 12 year old’s sense of humor.
Not to make my post completely useless. I agree with some comments above. Dudes standing around, describes our power play at times, but to me that was more in the MTL series than at other times. I don’t agree face offs were the problem. Maybe losing to Danault a ton the last series make people think that, but I have felt we do ok at face offs most of the time and even dominate some teams at it. Seems like if the power play is going to use a high low concept with the points firing the pucks alot they need to actually work with in that. Seems like over and over vgk d-men firing the puck to be either easily blocked or the goalie long anticipated it and move into perfect position. No screen, no deflection, no guy making it hard for the goalie. Passing is really bad at times too or maybe not so much the passing as the catching the puck. Nice cross crease pass to Petra only for him to regather it then put on net. Goalie is eating a sandwich waiting for it. Should have been a one timer. Marty had some nice ones this year, no gathering. Just stupid stuff, but stuff I don’t see them cleaning up with the crew they have. Let’s hope for some summer practice.
So I guess I am just trying to say our PP is firing blanks.
Richard Santomauro
While it is true that TB was 2 of 17 on the PP, we went 0-15 on the PP vs MTL and had we scored 2 PPG we would have been in the final instead.
I also do not believe that acquiring 1 guy is going to make much of a difference.
During the playoffs time and space shrink and VGK needs to pass a helluva lot better. You could see how much better TBL was in their playoff run.
Can the VGK win with the team that they have. I think they can, but they are going to have to be playing at their very best and be lucky enough not to have anyone in the top 6 hurt.
You have to also give TBL credit for bending the LTIR rules to stack their playoff roster. Bettman needs to figure out a way to close that loophole. I am not sure what the answer is, but it’s obviously unethical and unsportsmanlike to do what they did.
DOC (Go Knights Go)
You people are just genius’.
I don’t see why the VGK players & coaches aren’t contacting you all.
The hockey professionals no nothing. Ya’ll know everything!
THE hockey GOD
i talk to FO all the time
I know them on first name, need to know basis
Just like you and Jason are tied at the hip
since you said earlier , you like it that way.
Daryl
While most GMs have NHL experience, not all of them do. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see what is wrong on the ice. How many on this forum or others have made comments about what they think a team should do AND then watch the team do that and it work out??? How many times have fans say a certain move was a horrible idea and they turned out to be correct?
Ken Holland only played 4 NHL games yet you ran the Red Wings for 18 years. There are also GMs who never made it past college, like Lou Lamoriello… Just to name one
Vic
I think the people counting votes in Georgia probably provided the VGK playoff faceoff stats because it felt like the key initial faceoff was lost more than not. Quit clouding the issue with the facts and let me continue to think the faceoffs were terrible.
THE hockey GOD
at least they had chain of custody forms to back them up !
oh wait a minute
they didn’t, my bad
Tim
Forget the PP if they haven’t figured it out in 2 years under DeBoer they’ll never figure it out. The Knights have bigger problems then the PP a heart transplant for starters. We just have to many player that don’t go balls to the wall so no changing of lines is going to solve that problem. You as players are representing Las Vegas and to go through the motions and not give a 60 minutes effort whats the point of having them on the team. You can see why Martinez has a couple of Stanley Cup rings he’s got balls what ever it takes he’ll do you think Petro or Theadore would ever play that hard not on your life. Oh I know Petro played better in the playoffs but looked like shit in the 56 game regular season. That’s not the kind of guy I’d go to war with I know I’ve been there you want someone watching your back that you can trust.
THE hockey GOD
“When you reach the SC Finals it turns into a war out there, you better bring your best weapons. It’s physical as well as mental” Don “grapes” Cherry, the greatest coach that never was who coached the greatest push button team ever, the bid bad bruins with bobby orr, esposito, jerry cheevers, derek sanderson, pie mckenzie, wayne cashman, the chief, kenny hodge,green and I am sure I left some players off the list.
BRING BACK DON
BRING BACK DON
BRING BACK DON !!
knights fan in minny
totally agree on martini that dude is a warrior
J. Griffith
Well said! Yes! Forget the PP! Is a heart transplant possible with PDB as coach?
DOC (Go Knights Go)
EXAUSTING! ha ha
knights fan in minny
totally agree on martini that dude is a warrior
Theresa soles
I don’t have the experience of years of watching hockey, but I have observed this during the PP: our boys do the SAME thing nearly every PP. They repeat the SAME unsuccessful plays, and our opponents KNOW IT. We need some new ideas and plays. The element of SURPRISE. Just a novice observer’s take…
Pauly
Dumbest fan base in sports…
knights fan in minny
your the dumbest thug in vegas who knows nothing about puck your a chicken shit because you wont explain your self that was funny when the blm lady took your money and bought spendy houses in white neighborhoods even she doesnt want to be black who would
Pauly
It’s “you’re,” you uneducated trailer trash red neck…
Dumbest fans in sports history
knights fan in minny
i have a three story house moron how is that dump apartment you live in how are you getting internet are you stealing it maybe your down at the library next to the malt liquor store
Pauly
Code – double wide on a muddy site
knights fan in minny
how are the plans going for tonight mug a few people rob a liquor store maybe go to the former blm ladies house you know the one who fleeced you and your stupid people hel you could have bought a few more gold chains with that money no big deal you will probably go steal some chains you know the thugging life your only good quality
Daryl
How’s that roach infested slum? I guess that crack whore you call a mom wasn’t making enough working the corner?
DOC (Go Knights Go)
For God sakes!
Quit this racial shit!
BOTH of you!
WTF!
T.s.
Apologies to your site for speaking out against PAULY, when we should be talking HOCKEY,
but this clown NEEDS to be called out for his inflammatory, offensive comments! He tried to offend me with his senior-bashing, when I spoke out. Called me a “C”. I WILL NOT allow a CLOWN like him to offend ME or others who just want to TALK HOCKEY on A HOCKEY SITE. I feel sorry for the BULLY. He carries. more than a chip on his shoulder—He’s
carrying the whole FRIGGIN TREE!#!
Pauly
So, so dumb…
knights fan in minny
so so such a thug man that was funny when the blm lady fleeced you and your race i think she knows how dumb your race is i bet she has some white in her your still not going to explain what you know about puck you know nothing your just a poor little thug who grew up with out a daddy to teach you how to be a man hurry up get out to the mailbox and get your welfare check you thug punk
knights fan in minny
so so dumb piece of shit pauly
knights fan in minny
no need to apoligize some people are just ass holes
Ts
I believe he is attempting to stalk me! He has searched my private life Information and is using it to (????). I have no IDKwhat this clown’S REAL problem is, but I plan to report him. He puts people down for their views, yet thinks his OWN derogatory and offensive crap is OK. And he is now getting personal. NO MORE.
Ts
I think that clown is stalking me! He is accessing my personal info online! WHO DOES THAT?? OH, RIGHT, A STALKER DOES! I am going to report him. Not only is he OFFENSIVE, he’s A STALKER. This is NOT a GAME. HE IS A DANGEROUS, RACIST SORRY EXCUSE FOR A R-E-A-L. HUMAN.
Pauly
Relax grandma…you apparently posted personal info on line – more evidence of how dumb VGK fans are…
I am done with this site…too many stupid, racist idiots
knights fan in minny
good take a hike nig nog pauly you brought nothing you piece of shit i love being a racist pauline
T.S.
IS PAULY FINALLY GIVING UP?? GOD , LET’S ALL HOPE SO. HE WAS LIKE A DAMN COCKROACH— HE JUST KEPT ANNOYING PEOPLE, BUT NO ONE COULD GET RID OF THE PEST!#! I TRULY HOPE HE
‘S DONE OFFENDING EVERYONE. I JUST WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THE GAME I HAVE GROWN TO LOVE!#! PARDON MY LACK OF KNOWLEDGE– THAT’S WHY I ENJOY THIS SITE– I LEARN HOCKEY!