2012-13 Special Teams

[Habs_Hockey_Nutz]

I don't want to see Pacioretty-Desharnais-Cole start another power play...

[Noob616]

Would really like to see Galchenyuk get some minutes on the PP.

[ramcharger440]

yep i think #27 would rock on the power play he is so strong on the puck and smart

[Guest habs1952]

Am I wrong or do we not have capable D-pairings to allow for one timers from the point without D-men needing to switch sides? Seems we spend a lot of time down low wasting time trying to work the puck to the net. Our power play has become predictable.

[kinot-1]

Am I wrong or do we not have capable D-pairings to allow for one timers from the point without D-men needing to switch sides? Seems we spend a lot of time down low wasting time trying to work the puck to the net. Our power play has become predictable.

Maybe we should already switch sides before the puck is dropped for the first FO. I also hate those shootins, where we don't regain possession fast enough, and the result is another trip back to our own end. Opposing coaches know that if they pressure our D, we will just shoot it to the half board winger. I would also like to see someone, just off to the side the crease (Shutt used to get a lot of his goals there). There certainly has to be a change in our PP.

[dwdemonwolf]

Plekanec, Bourque and Gio should definately be on the first PP unit with Markov and Subban/Diaz. Plekanec is our best man along the half boards.

[BigTed3]

Special teams have faltered of late. This is what I'd like to see on the PP:

1st wave: Pacioretty, Desharnais, Cole, Markov, Emelin

2nd wave: Galchenyuk, Plekanec, Eller/Bourque, Subban, Diaz

And on the PK:

1st wave: Plekanec, Moen, Subban, Gorges

2nd wave: Eller, Prust, Emelin, Bouillon

3rd wave of forwards: White, Armstrong

The key points here:

- time to get Markov off the PK. He looks worn down a lot of the time and his defensive skill has waned. Let him concentrate on his PP work and improving at ES.

- Gionta's production has taken a tumble and I don't see him getting in the dirty areas to score this year. He's playing a perimeter game and I'd rather have guys who are better passers and who can take the puck to the net with more vigor. I'd possibly spot Gio on the PK from time to time because he's a smart player, but he's down the depth chart on the PP.

- Subban needs to play the PK. He's our best penalty killer on defence and it's confounding as to why he's not being used there in place of Markov. I'd reunite him with Gorges for at least this.

- The D men logging the extra special teams minutes are Subban and Emelin. Maybe you work Diaz in a little on the PK in place of Emelin. But let's give the younger guys the extra ice instead of making Markov and Bouillon work.

[Habs_Hockey_Nutz]

Special teams have faltered of late. This is what I'd like to see on the PP:

1st wave: Pacioretty, Desharnais, Cole, Markov, Emelin

2nd wave: Galchenyuk, Plekanec, Eller/Bourque, Subban, Diaz

And on the PK:

1st wave: Plekanec, Moen, Subban, Gorges

2nd wave: Eller, Prust, Emelin, Bouillon

3rd wave of forwards: White, Armstrong

The key points here:

- time to get Markov off the PK. He looks worn down a lot of the time and his defensive skill has waned. Let him concentrate on his PP work and improving at ES.

- Gionta's production has taken a tumble and I don't see him getting in the dirty areas to score this year. He's playing a perimeter game and I'd rather have guys who are better passers and who can take the puck to the net with more vigor. I'd possibly spot Gio on the PK from time to time because he's a smart player, but he's down the depth chart on the PP.

- Subban needs to play the PK. He's our best penalty killer on defence and it's confounding as to why he's not being used there in place of Markov. I'd reunite him with Gorges for at least this.

- The D men logging the extra special teams minutes are Subban and Emelin. Maybe you work Diaz in a little on the PK in place of Emelin. But let's give the younger guys the extra ice instead of making Markov and Bouillon work.

If Gallagher is back healthy I'd say he takes Cole's spot. Agreed on Markov. I like Bourque playing the right side PP. Not sure about Emelin on the PP... but it is worth a try. Two lefties on the first wave of the PP and two righties on the second? Subban still on the second wave?

[Jbaker8787]

I'd like to see them try Pleks on the point with Subban on the 2nd unit. You could fill Chuckie or Gally in and it'd give them more PP time, less mins for Bouillion as well

[BeanCountingHab]

Gallagher is practicing on the first PP unit with DD and Patches. Need official confirmation but looks like is good to go tomorrow.

[weepingminotaur]

Gallagher is practicing on the first PP unit with DD and Patches. Need official confirmation but looks like is good to go tomorrow.

Good stuff. Hopefully that will yield results, especially if Markov is shooting more often (as he should be).

[maddienmike]

I have always believed if it's not brocken,don't try to fix it,so who the hell is trying to fix our penalty kill.Last year as one of the most penilised teams in the league our Pk was one of the best ,now it's rubbish compared to last year.the players are all over the show we don't cover the shooting lanes anymore or the players, we are just chasing around after the puck, leaving great gapeing holes,if our penalty kill was as good as last year,we wouldn't have to fight so hard to win games,and we still scored short handed goals we don't have many this year,we even had a shortie 5 on 3 last year,now I don't complain much but this is really bugging me,there wasnot a lot to praise about last years team,but the PK was always good.

GO HABS GO

[weepingminotaur]

I have always believed if it's not brocken,don't try to fix it,so who the hell is trying to fix our penalty kill.Last year as one of the most penilised teams in the league our Pk was one of the best ,now it's rubbish compared to last year.the players are all over the show we don't cover the shooting lanes anymore or the players, we are just chasing around after the puck, leaving great gapeing holes,if our penalty kill was as good as last year,we wouldn't have to fight so hard to win games,and we still scored short handed goals we don't have many this year,we even had a shortie 5 on 3 last year,now I don't complain much but this is really bugging me,there wasnot a lot to praise about last years team,but the PK was always good.

GO HABS GO

Agreed, maddie. There doesn't seem to be any commitment to taking away shooting lanes this year and forcing the opponent into low-percentage shots or passing around the perimeter. Part of the problem is guys like White and Armstrong at forward -- they don't have the smarts and positional skill to take away the shooter's lane. The other problem is blown coverage, which is a fairly disturbing outgrowth of blown coverage at even strength. Put simply, we are whiffing on assignments far too frequently, letting guys come free for great looks in close, or getting confused by a rotation that leaves an enemy forward free at the net. The worst is when enemy puck movement gets us out of our gaps and providing a screen for Price without actually being in a position to block shots. Is it all on the PK unit? No. Carey hasn't been great, and your goalie can and should be your best penalty-killer more often than not. But we are not helping him out at all.

[maddienmike]

I agree about Carey I am quite worried about him something doesn't feel right,but apart from that,the gaps in the Pk always seem to be on the right side of CP,I can think of at least 3 goals that were scored from there,like Alfredsson's last night.Last year all 4 players were in the shooting lanes with their backs to CP ready to fall back if the puck got near him,they just don't seem to do that anymore.I don't know who our special teams coach is now, we seem to have improved the power play at the exspense of our PK,we are doing fine 5 on 5,so forget the PP and get the PK going,that to me is the most important,we don't even get any break aways on the PK anymore,which I loved.

GO HABS GO

[weepingminotaur]

I agree about Carey I am quite worried about him something doesn't feel right,but apart from that,the gaps in the Pk always seem to be on the right side of CP,I can think of at least 3 goals that were scored from there,like Alfredsson's last night.Last year all 4 players were in the shooting lanes with their backs to CP ready to fall back if the puck got near him,they just don't seem to do that anymore.I don't know who our special teams coach is now, we seem to have improved the power play at the exspense of our PK,we are doing fine 5 on 5,so forget the PP and get the PK going,that to me is the most important,we don't even get any break aways on the PK anymore,which I loved.

GO HABS GO

Worst part is it's 100% scheme and coaches, not player-related, since it's the same group of players from last year and all our regular PKers from 2011-12 are healthy (Plekanec, Moen, Gionta, Eller, Subban, Gorges). You can't tell me the same group of players all of a sudden just forgot how to kill a penalty properly.

[BeanCountingHab]

Interestingly enough, I was reading something on Price and the PK, and Carey's ES save % is actually very close to what it was when he had his two elite seasons here. (rookie year and 10-11). It's his PK numbers that are way down.

It's like the team and Carey are both not up to par on the PK and are feeding off each other.

[powerplay2009]

Interestingly enough, I was reading something on Price and the PK, and Carey's ES save % is actually very close to what it was when he had his two elite seasons here. (rookie year and 10-11). It's his PK numbers that are way down.

It's like the team and Carey are both not up to par on the PK and are feeding off each other.

Honestly, I think our PK success starts and ends with Carey. It's not that they feed off of each other, its that they are one and the same IMO.

[maddienmike]

Worst part is it's 100% scheme and coaches, not player-related, since it's the same group of players from last year and all our regular PKers from 2011-12 are healthy (Plekanec, Moen, Gionta, Eller, Subban, Gorges). You can't tell me the same group of players all of a sudden just forgot how to kill a penalty properly.

This is what I think too,from day 1 of the season I saw the difference,watching our PK last season was the only really good thing about it,it was a thing of beauty,every angle covered every shooting lane totally blocked,and it really bothers me,to see it go downhill,but it seems Weeps you and I are the only ones who have noticed.Perhaps it doesn't matter so much when you are in first place but that can chamge very quickly,we will have to be much better in the playoffs,killing penalties can be a game saver.

GO HABS GO

[Guest habs1952]

Honestly, I think our PK success starts and ends with Carey. It's not that they feed off of each other, its that they are one and the same IMO.

Our PK success starts and ends with all 5 players on the ice. Expecting Price to bail them out every time they allow an excellent scoring chance is ridiculous.

[FirstStar]

This is what I think too,from day 1 of the season I saw the difference,watching our PK last season was the only really good thing about it,it was a thing of beauty,every angle covered every shooting lane totally blocked,and it really bothers me,to see it go downhill,but it seems Weeps you and I are the only ones who have noticed.Perhaps it doesn't matter so much when you are in first place but that can chamge very quickly,we will have to be much better in the playoffs,killing penalties can be a game saver.

GO HABS GO

We also had Hal Gill's big frame blocking the shooting lanes. i know the guy took a lot of criticism, but our PK was at it's best when we had both Gill and Josh on the ice. On a rush, Gill was as useful as a pylon, but in his own end killing a penalty he was very effective. Tinordi one day may be able to fill that role, his size and reach will be his strength, but as it stands, he has yet to play an NHL game.

The one thing most AHLer's say about the NHL is the speed. For his size Tinordi isn't too bad, but he is a little on the slow side.

I'd be very surprised if the habs kept him up. Dmen always take longer to develop, this is a good chance to see how he stacks up and what aspects of his game need fine tuning.

[THEBIGGESTHABSFAN123]

But our PK was still good last year when we traded Gill and PK and Gorges were the guys.

[kinot-1]

The one thing most AHLer's say about the NHL is the speed. For his size Tinordi isn't too bad, but he is a little on the slow side.

I'd be very surprised if the habs kept him up. Dmen always take longer to develop, this is a good chance to see how he stacks up and what aspects of his game need fine tuning.

IMO,,,Tinordi will get the next 3 games,,,NJ,,,Buffs,,,and the Isles. As of today,,,the Devils PP is at 16.5%,,,Buffs PP is at 11.2%, and the Isles PP is at 23.*%. , so IMO, the next 3 games will tell MB how Tinordi is fairing, and "if" he can possibly step up in the POs.

But our PK was still good last year when we traded Gill and PK and Gorges were the guys.

True enough 123, but I think we need a "real" stay at home guy to help shut-down the opponents PP. Gill was that guy,,,,and now (maybe) Tinordi can fill the role, albeit it will take some games.

[powerplay2009]

Our PK success starts and ends with all 5 players on the ice. Expecting Price to bail them out every time they allow an excellent scoring chance is ridiculous.

And yet that is what he did on the 8% of penalty kills that is the difference between this year and last, IMO. Not saying that we should expect it, but that's what I saw last year.

[montreal961]

Our penalty kill is absolute junk this year. Very disheartening whenever our team goes on the p.k because lately I've had zero confidence in it. Seems like we've been giving up multiple PPG per game, which is directly connected to many of our blown leads this season. As of right now we are tied with the Islanders for 13th worst p.k in the league. I honestly can't even imagine how awful Florida's penalty kill is as they have the worst kill...

[weepingminotaur]

The problem isn't personnel we don't have, it's personnel not being used correctly combined with a bad system. Guys like White and Armstrong have no business killing penalties regularly when Plekanec, Gionta, Eller, and Moen are healthy. In terms of system, it looks to me like the coaches have instructed the players to execute a version of the ES system on the kill -- chase the puck aggressively, outnumber teams on the boards, and dig for the puck. That works 5-on-5 because outmanning a team on the boards is less likely to lead to an enemy player being wide open in a prime scoring area. It doesn't work on the PK when you're down a man and thus risk letting someone come free for a good scoring chance / open look if you overpursue the puck. Aggression on PK is less important than intelligence, patience, and anticipation: take away the shooting lanes, rotate well, don't get confused about your assignment, and frustrate the other team into either a turnover or a low-percentage shot, either of which you can then clear.