Not a single Caps goal was scored on a 5-on-3 power play. 14 goals were scored on a 5-on-4, with only Nick Bailen's overtime goal in Villach coming from a 4-on-3 situation.
The first unit was responsible for twelve of the 15 goals. Benjamin Lanzinger, Scott Kosmachuk, and Senna Peeters scored from the second formation. This also roughly corresponds to the ice time distribution, with the top-5 around Linden Vey usually taking 90 seconds off the clock.
The Top Unit
So, what makes up the league's best power play formation?
At the start of the season, Shane Gersich played the right half-wall. Konstantin Komarek took over this role in recent games. The rest has remained the same since the start of the season: Bailen as the point man, Vey on the left half-wall, Jakob Lilja as the bumper, and Jeremy Gregoire down low.
How Were the Goals Scored?
In the second game of the season in Innsbruck, Gersich scored twice from the right circle with wrist shots, each following a won Vey faceoff. Gersich's third and so far last goal came from a backdoor situation when Gregoire passed to him from the slot against Fehervar.
Gersich's strength in these situations was quick and accurate shots – something Komarek couldn't (yet) offer. He is more of a playmaker looking for the perfect pass, making him Vey's counterpart on the other side. Against Pustertal, he missed his first goal by mere centimeters.
Opponents naturally have to respect Bailen's shot strength and cannot allow him to advance too far into the zone. For the goal in Villach, he mercilessly hammered the puck from the left circle into the top corner after Vey had moved from left to right and both rotated.
No other defender in the league (perhaps TJ Brennan as well) possesses such a controlled shot. It is not only sharp and accurate, but also "tippable" (Lilja tipped a low shot in the home game against Innsbruck).
Bailen was also involved in the third goal in Innsbruck when a shot of his was blocked, then Lilja passed to Gregoire in the slot, who scored from close range.
Another rather untypical goal was goal number two against HCP: Lilja – very effective in close quarters – poked a puck free along the right boards, Vey (not in his usual position for once) centrally benefited from a disoriented HCP defense and passed to the advanced Bailen, who scored with a one-timer from the left circle.
However, a typical Caps power play goal this year originates from the left boards, where Vey operates: He takes more or less his time there until he finds his teammate Gregoire open.
He can then set up Lilja from behind the net (Goal one against Fehervar), score at the far post with his stick held in the crease (Goal one against HCI), score on a second attempt after a broken play (Goal three against HCI), or power his way from behind the net to the front and score from close range (winning goal on Sunday against HCP).
As is often the case on the power play, the player down low – namely Gregoire – plays a crucial role: When does he offer a passing option from behind the net? When does he drift forward from there? When does he screen shots from the blue line? Gregoire is doing this excellently this year; merely being a battering ram in front of the net would provide far fewer options.
How Do You Defend Such a Power Play?
The best way is to take few to no penalties, but that's a hollow phrase.
It is primarily important to cut off Vey's passing lanes – especially the one to Gregoire. Perhaps one can give Vey more space. He is always looking for the perfect play.
Curiously, this was also demonstrated by his only power play goal: In Innsbruck, from his usual position on the left, he played a pass into the slot. This was intercepted en route, but then bounced precisely onto Vey's stick, who then scored against a naturally out-of-position Sam Harvey.
Vey certainly has a good wrist shot, but I would rather have him shoot freely than pass. Too aggressive power play can also get you into trouble, as Bailen, Vey, and also Komarek can all weave around opponents or utilize the created open spaces with precise passes.
The Power Play: Strength or Weakness?
A curious question, but: The plan for the Caps to deliver increased 5-on-5 scoring this year has so far failed miserably.
A total of 26 goals, 15 of them on the power play (the Caps have not scored a shorthanded goal yet), results in 11 goals at even strength – the league's lowest value, ahead of Fehervar (14), VSV, and FTC (15 each). At the other end of the spectrum: The usual goal factories from Ljubljana (36) and KAC (29).
Of course, there's no need to apologize for a strong power play; especially in the playoffs, it can decide close games. And with Bailen, the Caps also brought in a specialist for it from Graz.
However, the three power play experts Bailen, Vey, and Gregoire also show their other sides at even strength: Bailen's defensive weaknesses are well-known. Gregoire is back in strong form after an injury-plagued pre-season, but speed was never part of his package. And Vey's footwork is at times painful to watch; with his small strides, he often has to take shortcuts, especially on the backcheck.
Will the power play stay hot? Will the Caps finally find more scoring from lines two to four, which have been almost completely shut out so far? These questions will determine where they end up in the league's separation zone (places seven to ten)...
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