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| Penguins Need Power Plays to Win. Photo credit NHL |
The Pittsburgh Penguins have had one of the top Power Plays
in the NHL all season long. They proved that in the first round series against
the Islanders. The biggest test is awaiting them, as they play the
Senators who have one of the best Penalty Kills in the NHL.
In the series against the Islanders, the Penguins went 7
for 21 on the Power Play which leads the NHL in the playoffs. However, that was
against one of the more mediocre penalty killing team. The Ottawa Senators had
the best penalty kill for the whole season, a remarkable 88%! They
only allowed 20 goals during the power play which also is at the top of the
league. This team pretty much lives and dies on penalty killing.
In order for the Penguins to score on the power play,
they must put their top line out and get plenty of shots on Craig Anderson.
Anderson had .950 save percentage against Montreal in the first round, which is
amazing. Pittsburgh can’t let him have those type of numbers if they don't want problems on their Power Play. If Pittsburgh can get some break-out
passes to players and have a breakaway against Anderson, Anderson is in big
trouble. Pittsburgh did that a few times to New York, scoring every time.
If Pittsburgh mimic what they did on the Power Play to New York, I expect the Senators to be blown away in this series
in about 4 or 5 games. If they struggle really badly against this team on the power play, I expect the penguins to be in deep trouble against this Senators
team. The power play strategy needs to be shoot, shoot, shoot. Eventually, the shots will sneak past Anderson and
the Penguins will be well on their way to be winning the series. As the fans in CONSOL Energy Center say, "it’s time for the Powerball Power Play!!"
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