Pucks of a Feather
Fansided

Fixing the Anaheim Ducks “Power Outage” on the Power Play

By Chris Bushell

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 14: Brandon Montour #26, Jakob Silfverberg #33, and Ryan Getzlaf #15 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrate a second period goal in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round against the San Jose Sharks during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on April 14, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 14: Brandon Montour #26, Jakob Silfverberg #33, and Ryan Getzlaf #15 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrate a second period goal in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round against the San Jose Sharks during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on April 14, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CA: Patrick Eaves #18 and Ryan Getzlaf #15 of the Anaheim Ducks celebrate Eaves’ goal in the third period against the New York Islanders on October 11, 2017. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Scheme Needs a Change

Speed is the Ducks buzzword this summer. The Anaheim Ducks need to get faster, move the puck faster, play faster overall. An injection of youth should be coming to this season to help achieve those goals. More speed will allow for a different tactic on the power-play, that should be very simple to follow.

CARRY THE PUCK INTO THE ZONE AND SET UP. All the puck-heads that preach about Corsi, Fenwick and time of possession with the puck have this one right. Success on the power-play is a result of controlling the puck. It’s pretty easy to follow.

A “dump and chase” tactic on the power play doesn’t work since all penalty killers have to do is ice the puck. The Anaheim Ducks need to generate chances off the rush with the man advantage. They’ll have to back opposing players off with speed, take the blue line and set up. Then comes the good stuff, the Ducks are at their best when they shoot from everywhere, and all five guys are moving and screening the opposing net-minder.

Not every goal has to be on the highlight reel, gritty ones work just as well. The scoreboard and score-sheet don’t award style points. A goal is a goal and I’ll take 25 rebound garbage goals over 10 highlight reel ones every day of the week.

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