Ducky10
Searching for Mark Scheifele
- Nov 14, 2014
- 19,809
- 31,386
Well said, completely agree. I never could understand where people got the idea Buff wouldn't pass to Laine, is incapable of making a good pass to Laine or just doesn't see him. He's just not doing it if it's not the best opportunity, unlike the Caps who just feed Ovi the puck for him to pump at the net in volume.Fact is, Wheeler is the PP quarterback. Often when Buff has the option to pass to Laine, he knows Laine won't shoot it if he does because he won't be in a prime position to shoot it.
I'm surprised other people haven't caught on, but literally the only time the puck is sent towards Laine is to shoot it, or if things are scramble and they're trying to regain control.
Buff isn't looking to see if Laine is open enough to receive a pass. Buff is looking to see if Laine is open enough to take a high quality shot. This is the key thing here, and why buff doesn't pass to Laine as much even if he's open to receive a pass. Even if Laine gets the puck from buff, he'll be closed down too quickly to do anything useful with it. That's why Buff just sends it right back to Wheeler. Same thing for behind the goal line. Stastny will rarely cycle it around to Laine, it goes right back to Wheeler.
One of the times you will see buff look for Laine immediately is if they win the draw clean. That's when Laine is most open and Laine has scored a few of his goals mere seconds into the powerplay due to that set play.
But ya, it's not that Buff can't see Laine open, they're basically sticking with the plan to have Wheeler playmake from the right wall. It's gotten them the 2nd best PP in the league so makes complete sense.
The most curious part of the PP to me has always been Wheeler being a RHS on the right half wall. I think it must make some sense for what the are trying to do down low and into the bumper spot and I guess it does help Wheeler get off a few more shots that have less chance of getting blocked. It's different though but it sure has worked so what the hell do I know. Just keep it going.