The Edmonton Oiler power play gets all the hype, and, rightfully so, because it is their team toughness, making other teams pay dearly for taking penalties, but, it was their suffocating penalty-killing that got them to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
They had to kill 70 penalties in 25 playoff games.
They gave up FOUR goals, three in seven games in the Vancouver second-round series, just one in the other three series with Evan Rodrigues ending a run of 34 straight Oiler penalty-kills when he got one past Stuart Skinner in Game 2 against Florida. Nothing against LA or Dallas.
Their PK was a staggering 94.29% percent efficient in the playoffs.
Next closest was Florida at 88%.
And, they scored THREE shorthanded playoff goals, two by Mattias Janmark and one by linemate Connor Brown, one third of their Swiss time-piece three pairs — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Derek Ryan; Warren Foegele and Ryan McLeod the others. But, Foegele signed in Los Angeles this summer and McLeod was traded to Buffalo for Matthew Savoie, so it’s incumbent before the regular-season that assistant coach Mark Stuart find a new third pair.
Nobody’s messing with the Oilers PP — Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard — but the revamped PK forward group is a storyline. Maybe it’s Adam Henrique along with one of the farmhands James Hamblin or Lane Pederson, maybe former Vancouver winger Vasily Podkolzin.
In regular-season, the Oiler PK was 79 per cent, and ranked 15th in the league, but in the playoffs it was almost automatic, two (minutes) and out. So, they need to find a third forward pair. On the back-end, they certainly have to replace, Cody Ceci and Vincent Desharnais, who logged a lot of minutes killing penalties throughout the season and in the playoffs.
But, lets stick with the forward rotation
‘Giving people opportunities’
“Our penalty-kill is a huge part of the success of our team so it’s important we fill those roles (fifth and sixth forward penalty killer),” said Ryan. “We’re starting to try things out. We’re giving people opportunities. It’s a learning curve for everyone… we kill differently than maybe the teams players came from or guys haven’t killed in awhile. I think we have the bodies to do it. I’m not too concerned.”
Maybe Nugent-Hopkins won’t be part of the three pairs as much this season. He’s already on the PP, also playing left wing with McDavid at even-strength. He’s the only Oiler involved in both special teams a lot, not getting a breather, with Draisaitl out for some defensive zone draws. But, Ryan and Nugent-Hopkins were the first forward pair over the boards for much of the playoffs.
“That speaks a lot to 93 and his versatility,” said Ryan, taking a second to give him power play props, too.
“I’m not too dialed into social media what they’re saying but he takes a little grief because he plays in the shadow of two giants Connor and Leon, yet the things he does on and off the ice are amazing. You see that power play zipping the puck around and he’s part of that. He’s not the flashy guy like 97 and 29 can be but he’s making those subtle little plays. He’s pretty fun to watch, but yeah, I still imagine I’ll be killing with Nuge.”
The revolving door of six forwards killing in the playoffs, short shifts, gave other team’s power play formations fits, except for the Canucks.
Nugent-Hopkins had 54 minutes of PK time in the post-season, Janmark 49:45, McLeod 36:43, Brown 34:27, Foegele 26:17 and Ryan 22:49, but Ryan, who averaged 1:12 a game, only played 19.
“Six is the perfect amount where you’re on the ice and then you’re off. Get the puck, clear it down the ice and get off,” said Ryan. “You get in trouble ,especially killing our way, because of the skating. You get in trouble when tired. Obviously you also get into trouble with extended O zone PP time but with that many (six) bodies, all changing, that helps alleviate that.”
How much pride did the PK take in the playoffs?
Could they sense the other team’s getting flummoxed? Absolutely.
“Obviously your goal is not to give up a goal but if you can frustrate the other team’s players that’s a double-whammy,” said Ryan.
“Yes, there’s a lot of pride on the penalty kill because the power play gets the headlines and deservedly so, but having other guys who can do the job in another fashion is important… not for headlines, but for morale in the locker room.
“Brownie’s a perfect example. He got his mojo going (playoffs), the way he was holding on to pucks. I think that mojo works for everybody.”
Playoff PP vs PK is always a chess match, magnified because there are fewer penalties called in the post-season, and each power play chance is heightened.
“You make adjustments to other team’s power plays through pre-scouting, where they, say, get their one-timers from, but there’s a pretty strong foundation of rules on our penalty-kill. The foundation, I think, sets the bar for us. And our confidence built as we went from series to series. For sure, scoring shorthanded can really frustrate a power play. It gives those opposing players a minus. Brownie and Janny (Janmark) were outstanding for us. You score (shorthanded) and it’s a double-whammy, a triple whammy,” said Ryan.
Vancouver was the only team that overcame the Oilers PK, getting all three of their power play goals in the first four games (12 shots on 12 PPs over 18 minutes), but nothing after that, although they only got three power plays in Games 5-7. Vancouver captain Quinn Hughes, running their power play, looked hurt and just average. Elias Pettersson, also hurt (knee), was a total non-factor.
“They’ve got an elite power play and they had stung us in regular season. Going into that series we knew we had to step up because their power play was really good,” said Ryan.
Henrique? Podkolzin?
So who replaces McLeod and Foegele?
Henrique killed lots of penalties in Anaheim before the trade to Edmonton at the deadline. Hamblin, who might have the inside track to partner Henrique although he’s a lefty and they could use another right-shot to complement Ryan, and Pederson were on the PK in Bakersfield. Podkolzin is getting his feet wet in that role here after the Canucks’ trade.
It would help if they could involve Podkolzin on the PK to get him more ice-time.
Ryan can see his possible fourth-line compatriot Podkolzin killing penalties.
“I’m getting a feel for him. He’s an offensive guy with a great shot but he’s really smart. Coming to a new team there’s new drills and he picks them up right away. I consider myself a smart player and so is he,” said Ryan.
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