Canucks coach Rick Tocchet needs perplexing power play in prime ...
'The mindset has to change. It's a group that likes to set up plays and we've got to break that pattern. Attack the net.' —Tocchet on power-play outages
Get the latest from Ben Kuzma straight to your inbox
Published Apr 22, 2024 • 4 minute read
It’s supposed to provide swagger and be the dagger.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
or
Article content
The potential of the Vancouver Canucks’ power play that looks so good on paper — and often operates like the Harlem Globetrotters in rotation looking for the perfect shot — is critical to playoff success against the Nashville Predators.
Article content
The Canucks went 0-for-2 and had just two shots Sunday during their 4-2 triumph in the series opener before a raucous and rollicking Rogers Arena crowd.
On a night when they had 21 shots that found the net, another 14 were blocked and 20 missed the mark. It was a combination of Game 1 jitters, tight checking and failing to convert on odd-man opportunities.
As for the power play, the Canucks are making it complicated.
For starters, they need to drive the lane more, or just get to the net, to draw more penalties. And they need to abide by the principle that less in more. Instead of multiple rotations and threading pretty passes, it’s the open one-timers that matter as much as bodies at the net for screens, tips and deflections.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Article content
Article content
The Canucks are 8-for-34 in their last 12 outings for a 23.5-per-cent power-play efficiency. That span is higher than the 22.7 per cent for the regular season. It’s encouraging, but the Canucks have also been blanked six times in those dozen games.
“It’s an interesting one,” Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet admitted Monday. “I don’t want to be frustrated because it’s a group that did have some looks (in Game 1) and just missed the net on a couple. The execution for me the last couple of months has been just okay.
“The mindset has to change. And it’s not going to change like this (snap of finger). It’s a group that likes to set up plays, and we’ve got to break that pattern. We need more road-hockey goals. Attack the net. We’ve got better at it, but we’re not there yet.”
Article content
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet knows an effective power play is key to playoff success. Photo by Nam Y. Huh /APThe sooner the better. The Predators are ranked 22nd on the penalty kill, and a power-play goal is going to make all the difference in tight games.
Brock Boeser led the Canucks this season with a career-high 40 goals, including 16 on the power play. He also scored eight tipped goals to rank eighth overall, so his willingness to be that net-front presence makes sense.
As does unloading a heavy and accurate shot when he gets a clean look.
“They (Predators) are good at blocking shots,” Boeser said of Nashville dropping in front of 14 on Sunday. “That may be a part of it, but we’ve got to get more pucks through and more bodies to the net. And we need more possession in the offensive zone.
“I think we were nervous as a team Sunday. Guys were probably playing more on the safe side with the first playoff game and just trying to get a feel.
Article content
“We can get more O-zone time with that quick-up game we always talk about, and if we do that, we’ll draw more power plays.”
And then what? Getting rid of those jitters should help.
“I was thinking about how the building was going to be, and now we know what to expect,” said Boeser. “We can all just take a deep breath here and focus on our game. It was a little crazier than I expected Sunday and that was awesome. Just a whirlwind of a night.
“I was pretty wired and that was probably the worst sleep I’ve had in a while.”
The first unit went into several rotations in Game 1. Boeser shifted from the right flank to down low, Elias Pettersson looked for his sweet shooting puck, J.T. Miller was on the left flank to thread passes or unload a shot, and Quinn Hughes was dancing to find the open man and shooting lanes.
Article content
“We had a couple of good looks,” added Boeser. “I like the one-timer I took and the one Petey had was a bomb, but we need to build off it. And I like screening because Millsy has such a great shot.”
Maybe it’s just an embarrassment of riches, or looking for the perfect pass or highlight-reel goal. But power-play goals in today’s NHL are seldom pretty. It’s bodies and pucks to the net for screens, tips and rebounds. Think road hockey.
It’s an ongoing wish and a level of frustration.
Two months ago, Tocchet saw signs of power-play improvement, and then old habits re-surfaced.
“The most overused word is simplify,” he said. “When we make a pass and when we beat pressure, we have to attack. Everybody has to attack. Don’t look at your pass, don’t be on the outside. One or two passes and attack is how you get back in the game.
Article content
“We’re just over-thinking it. We have to get five guys on the same page, not two or three. If you move your feet, the angles will start to open up. We’re in the habit of looking at an option and stopping.”
It all sounds so simple, but the hard part is execution.
Tuesday would be the good time to kick it up a notch.
GET YOUR CANUCKS PLAYOFF POSTERS: We are proud to partner with the Vancouver Canucks to bring you this year’s edition of the long-time Province tradition, the Canucks Playoff Poster series. CLICK HERE to get a new player poster emailed to you every game day!
Recommended from Editorial
Canucks vs. Predators Game 1: How the goals were scored
We are all Canucks: Even the Lions guarding the Lions Gate Bridge
Article content
