Analyst Identifies the Main Issue With the Maple Leafs' Ineffective Power Play
TSN's Carlo Colaiacovo has identified the main issue with the Leafs' struggling power play to begin the season and the solution is actually very simple.
The Leafs' rank 27th in the league converting on a putrid 12.5% of their attempts, according to NHL.com, having scored on just 2 of 16 power plays so far this season. It is a far cry from their usual power play dominance and well below the expectations of such a high-powered first unit.
According to Colaiacovo, the struggles come down to possession and players not being selfish enough.
Sometimes, the best thing for you to do is be a little bit more selfish and take the puck towards the net to create a scoring chance instead of 'no, I don't want to make that play because I don't want that guy to get mad at me, so I'm going to pass it back.'
There's too much unselfish play right now. If they want to make it more cute, then make it more efficient."
As we saw on Saturday against the New York Rangers, the Leafs struggled to control their puck movement once they gained the offensive zone, often sending blind passes back to the blueline, leading them to have to regroup and try again. While Colaiacovo makes a very good point about shooting more, instead of constantly trying to feed Auston Matthews, the Leafs really need to get away from the stupid bump-back pass to gain the zone. If it doesn't work the first one or two times, dump the puck in and go get it.
For fans, the main complaint the past few seasons has been watching them continue to revert to the drop pass time and time again after it fails. It just causes so much frustration, as does the constant passing up of prime shooting opportunities (sorry, Morgan) in favour of passing a dozen times, waiting for the 'pretty play'.
Given Craig Berube's straight-forward even strength structure, you would think he would force the Leafs into shooting much more on the man advantage as well, but that has not happened as of yet. Hopefully, however, that happens over the next few games. Otherwise, it will be a very long season with a struggling power play.
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