Flyers Powerplay Units - 1 vs 2

[TH1Pool]

I think it's widely known that there is a substantial drop off in production when comparing the Flyers' 2nd PP unit to the 1st.

What baffles me, and maybe someone can explain why this would be a bad idea, is why they don't leave the first unit out for the full 2 minute PP? I've seen teams like the Capitals and Blackhawks do this at times.

It feels like they are essentially limiting themselves to a 1 minute PP opportunity every time they switch the units half way. It really doesn't seem like the 1st unit tires themselves out, as they are making the opponent PK do most of the skating while they pass around setting up their plays.

Click to read more...

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Those teams have good depth. Their bottom six are full of players who can play well at ES & PK which frees up their top players to play more favorable situations.

The lack of viable PKers & guys who are above average at the faceoff dot makes the Flyers rely much more on Giroux in defensive situations than those teams top players.

 

[bb12]

Those teams have good depth. Their bottom six are full of players who can play well at ES & PK which frees up their top players to play more favorable situations.

The lack of viable PKers & guys who are above average at the faceoff dot makes the Flyers rely much more on Giroux in defensive situations than those teams top players.

This nails it on the head. With a tweaked bottom 6 leaving the 1st pp out for 1:30-2:00 is more viable.

If raffl and Laughton could better their pking it will change.

But could be wrong but Giroux seems to thrive overall game in and game out when pking vs not pking

 

[klutch]

I was thinking about this setup during the game tonight.

1st PP

Schenn - G - Simmer
Streit up top
Ghost in Voracek's spot

2nd PP
Cousins - Coots - Voracek
Laughton/Read
AMac\Medvedev

At least this keeps a sense of balance and gives far more opportunity with Jake taking the puck in. You know when he's back and healthy.

 

[Appleyard]

This nails it on the head. With a tweaked bottom 6 leaving the 1st pp out for 1:30-2:00 is more viable.

If raffl and Laughton could better their pking it will change.

But could be wrong but Giroux seems to thrive overall game in and game out when pking vs not pking

Yeh. He apparently loves PKing and feels better when doing it overall. (I mean, I don't blame him... he is objectively one of the best PKers in the NHL and it must suck sitting on the bench helpless as half of the rest of the PKers **** it up!)

I remember when Berube pulled him completely from the PK and put him back on like a ~month later, and when asked why Berube said Giroux had been very vocal in wanting to be on the PK and was not happy he had been taken off it.

 

[Hiesenberg]

The PP was 0-15. When Jake comes back, you put him back on the first unit so they become automatic again. You hope the 2nd PP unit pops one from time to time, but until we have a healthy MDZ and possibly a player like Konecny to put on the 2nd PP, you just hope they don't screw up and give up a shorty.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

MDZ is terrible on the PP. He's not good with the puck when stationary at the point in the offensive zone. He does all of his offensive damage in transition which doesn't come in play as much while on the PP. He'll probably find his way on there again next year with Provorov if they move Streit but I don't think he's really a improvement over what they've been using right now.

 

[Hiesenberg]

Its possible, I don't really remember. I know MDV was good, but I think his time in Philly is over.

My main point was that the #1 PP needs to go back to what was great. Its been struggling.

 

[Alex91]

Is it me or is Simmer struggling on the 1PP. I think it has to do with them using Ghost big shot which is hard to deflect and doesn't give up soft rebounds. But still the back to the goalie trick isn't there, and the low feed from him to Schenn never gets through even when schenns open.

I personally like Streit at the point of the umbrella. Ghost present will relieve G, and that back door play is a tough stop. Also ghost doesn't stop the puck well on hard-a-rounds.

 

[viggen]

This nails it on the head. With a tweaked bottom 6 leaving the 1st pp out for 1:30-2:00 is more viable.

If raffl and Laughton could better their pking it will change.

...under Berube Raffl was at the beginnin almost always on PK, but i think he blocked a couple of times ackwardly and got hurt several times, maybe thats why he is now off the PK?

 

[Tripod]

Is it me or is Simmer struggling on the 1PP. I think it has to do with them using Ghost big shot which is hard to deflect and doesn't give up soft rebounds. But still the back to the goalie trick isn't there, and the low feed from him to Schenn never gets through even when schenns open.

I personally like Streit at the point of the umbrella. Ghost present will relieve G, and that back door play is a tough stop. Also ghost doesn't stop the puck well on hard-a-rounds.

I agree. Ghost's mobility is better in the Voracek's spot than Streit being there.

I do wish they would put Laughton and Cousins on unit 2 since they have good chemistry.

 

[bb12]

...under Berube Raffl was at the beginnin almost always on PK, but i think he blocked a couple of times ackwardly and got hurt several times, maybe thats why he is now off the PK?

Berube didn't like using g. So then it was read coots as top pk followed by vdv and PEB then raffl got out there probably with umberger or something and our pk was bottom 2 or something. Then g requested to go back on.

I'd like to see
PEB vdv
Read coots
Laughton raffl

Give g a rest for 5v5 but I know he likes the pk