On the off day prior to their final game before the Christmas break, Friday’s contest at Florida against the Panthers, the Detroit Red Wings worked extensively on their power play units.
Afterwards, they talked extensively about their power play - or rather their lack thereof.
“We know how important it is,… Detroit center Frans Nielsen said. “We know when you have the PP and PK that’s rolling, how many games it wins you. We’re aware of the situation. We have to get it going.
“We want to start winning here. It has to be a big part of it.…
Detroit’s power play isn’t rolling, though - unless you count rapidly downhill toward a fast-approaching cliff.
The Wings are 0-for-21 with the man advantage over the past five games, and what is only serving to complicate the special teams slide is the fact that Detroit has surrendered four power play goals over the past two games.
Detroit coach Jeff Blashill broke down the video of his team’s recent power play opportunities and it was enough to make a fellow break down.
“I went through some stuff,… Blashill said. “I thought we got outnumbered. There’s no way on the power play if you’re battling for the puck they should have more guys than you or even equal, so we’ve got to do a better job of winning those battles. That’s number one.…
But wait - there’s more.
“I thought we turned some pucks over needlessly,… Blashill said.… I also thought that, similar to what we’ve gone through five-on-five, we passed the puck to deliver the puck to the net. It’s hard to get inside the dots against the (penalty) killers, you’ve got to just deliver it to the net, especially when it’s not going great.
“We tried to make some passes that actually were kind of there but when things aren’t going good, put it on the goalie, put it on the goalie, put it on the goalie.…
What’s that old saying about the definition of insanity being to continue doing something the same way even though it never works?
“Again, we’re talking about the same things,… Nielsen said, assessing the failures of the Detroit power play. “We make wrong decisions with the puck. When we have opportunities to get it to the net, we’re kind of passing up those and trying to making a hard play instead of going through guys.
“Again, I think we have to be more simple with it. That’s what it is. And hopefully you get a bounce and it goes in. You can build confidence like that. When it’s not working, I know it’s a boring answer, but you have to simplify.…
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