DIARY OF A POWER PLAY

12-15-09 – Philadelphia at Penguins

PP#1 – The Penguins’ brand-new power-play alignment showed more precision and organization in its first minute than the prior model showed in the previous 10 games…until Evgeni Malkin passed the puck out of the zone before the Pens got a shot off, that is.

But before the man-advantage expired, the Penguins scored: Sidney Crosby netting the rebound of a fluky bounce that had zilch to do with precision and organization. The new PP was 1-for-1.

Don’t minimize that goal. If the new PP has luck and nothing else going for it, that’s one more positive quality than the preceding version.

PP#2 – The Penguins got their second power play of the evening at 9:59 of the second period, killing three of their own penalties in the interim. The Flyers came to play hockey, but the Pens kept gooning it up.

The Penguins got four shots on goal this time, the only good chance coming off the rush. Press-box enthusiasm for the PP dims noticeably. Matt Cooke is on the second power-play unit, not the first as practiced, but seems surprised even by THAT. As does the press box.

PP#3 – Sideshow Bob yields a third opportunity, but it’s the worst so far. Very little zone time, no chances of real note. This power play served as a reminder that it doesn’t matter where the participants stand in the offensive zone if control can’t be established and maintained, Jordan Staal plays with the top unit this time, perhaps in an attempt to finish his hat trick.