Why is our PK so bad?

[Grant]

Do mods get alerted of title changes to old threads?

We are currently sitting 28th in the league, 3rd last, at 78%. Last year we were 2nd, at 87.9%. What is wrong?

Some comparisons from this year and last:
[collapse=text]
# times shorthand:
2013-2014
200 (3.33 per game)
2012-2013
157 (3.27 per game)

Time spent on the PK:
2013-2014
335:32 (5:36 per game)
2012-2013
268:21 (5:36 per game)

Goals against while Shorthanded
2013-2014
44 (0.733 per game)
2012-2013
19 (0.396 per game)

Goalies - sv/sa (sv%)
2013-2014
Bernier - 211/236 (0.894 sv%)
Reimer - 100/119 (0.840 sv%)
Overall Team - 311/355 (0.876 sv%)
(5.917 shots against per game)
2012-2013
Reimer - 103/112 (0.920 sv%)
Scrivens - 68/78 (0.872 sv%)
Rynass - 3/3 (1.000 sv%)
Overall Team - 174/193 (0.902 sv%)
(4.021 shots against per game)

SH GA (SH TOI/g)for Forwards
2013-2014
McClement - 30 (3:34/g)(59 games)
Kulemin - 13 (2:37/g)(48 games)
Raymond - 9 (1:19/g)(60 games)
Bozak - 6 (1:27/g)(36 games)
Smithson - 6 (1:46/g)(18 games)
D'Amigo - 5 (1:12/g)(19 games)
JVR - 4 (1:29/g)(58 games)
Bolland - 4 (1:49/g)(15 games)
Smith - 4 (0:18/g)(25 games)
2012-2013
McClement - 11 (3:39/g)(48 games)
Kulemin - 11 (2:11/g)(48 games)
Komarov - 7 (1:48.g)(42 games)
Bozak - 5 (1:38/g)(46 games)
Steckel - 2 (1:04/g)(13 games)
JVR - 1 (1:11/g)(48 games)

SH GA (SH TOI/g) for Defense
2013-2014
Gunnarsson - 25 (3:01/g)(59 games)
Phaneuf - 23 (3:02/g)(58 games)
Franson - 11 (1:47/g)(58 games)
Fraser - 10 (2:30/g)(19 games)
Ranger - 8 (1:57/g)(38 games)
Gardiner - 5 (0:43/g)(58 games)
Gleason - 4 (2:24/g)(17 games)
Rielly - 2 (0:08/g)(51 games)
2012-2013
Phaneuf - 12 (3:06/g)(48 games)
Gunnarsson - 8 (2:35/g)(37 games)
Fraser - 6 (2:01/g)(45 games)
Holzer - 4 (2:34/g)(22 games)
Kostka - 3 (1:25/g)(35 games)
O'Byrne - 3 (2:43/g)(8 games)
Franson - 1 (0:54/g)(45 games)
JML - 1 (0:36/g)(32 games)

SH FOW/FOL (FO%)
2013-2014
McClement - 103/114 (47.5%)
Bozak - 38/64 (37.3%)
Smithson - 20/18 (52.6%)
Overall Team - 176/221 (44.3%)
2012-2013
Bozak - 98/87 (53.0%)
McClement - 37/37 (50.0%)
Overall Team - 147/141 (51.0%)
[/collapse]

We have lost 9 games by 1 goal this year. In 4 of those games we gave up a SH goal. In 2 of the 4 games we gave up 2+ SH goals.

The number of times we are SH per game is the same this year as last, along with the time we spend on the PK per game. But this year we have let in 85% more SH goals per game in comparison to last. An explanation for this is that we get scored on much more quickly this year when SH, reducing our average time spent playing shorthanded this year.

A quick glance shows that our sv% on the PK is much lower, 0.876 compared to 0.902. Reimer who last year was fantastic, has struggled this year. Bernier this year is still below our team average of last year.

Additionally, we have allowed nearly 2 more shots against while shorthanded per game even though the time spent shorthanded is the same.

McClement I think everyone agrees last year was fantastic on the PK as shown by his only 11 PK goals against despite playing 3:39 on the PK per game. This year though, that number has skyrocketed to 30, worst in the league among all players:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats....=teamPowerPlayGoalsAgainst&viewName=plusMinus
We also see large increase to both Phaneuf and Gunnarsson. Interestingly, Kulemin's GA has remained relatively the same, despite an increase in TOI, and he is the 2nd highest on the team among forwards, yet still less than half of what McClement has been on for.

FO% has also been much worse, which I assume directly correlates to the 85% more SH GA per game despite playing the same time shorthanded per game.



Why do you think our PK is so bad this year? Certain player(s) to blame? Coaching to blame? Bad luck?

Click to read more...

 

[mikebel111*]

We are currently sitting 28th in the league, 3rd last, at 78%. Last year we were 2nd, at 87.9%. What is wrong?

Some comparisons from this year and last:
[collapse=text]
# times shorthand:
2013-2014
200 (3.33 per game)
2012-2013
157 (3.27 per game)

Time spent on the PK:
2013-2014
335:32 (5:36 per game)
2012-2013
268:21 (5:36 per game)

Goals against while Shorthanded
2013-2014
44 (0.733 per game)
2012-2013
19 (0.396 per game)

Goalies - sv/sa (sv%)
2013-2014
Bernier - 211/236 (0.894 sv%)
Reimer - 100/119 (0.840 sv%)
Overall Team - 311/355 (0.876 sv%)
(5.917 shots against per game)
2012-2013
Reimer - 103/112 (0.920 sv%)
Scrivens - 68/78 (0.872 sv%)
Rynass - 3/3 (1.000 sv%)
Overall Team - 174/193 (0.902 sv%)
(4.021 shots against per game)

SH GA (SH TOI/g)for Forwards
2013-2014
McClement - 30 (3:34/g)(59 games)
Kulemin - 13 (2:37/g)(48 games)
Raymond - 9 (1:19/g)(60 games)
Bozak - 6 (1:27/g)(36 games)
Smithson - 6 (1:46/g)(18 games)
D'Amigo - 5 (1:12/g)(19 games)
JVR - 4 (1:29/g)(58 games)
Bolland - 4 (1:49/g)(15 games)
Smith - 4 (0:18/g)(25 games)
2012-2013
McClement - 11 (3:39/g)(48 games)
Kulemin - 11 (2:11/g)(48 games)
Komarov - 7 (1:48.g)(42 games)
Bozak - 5 (1:38/g)(46 games)
Steckel - 2 (1:04/g)(13 games)
JVR - 1 (1:11/g)(48 games)

SH GA (SH TOI/g) for Defense
2013-2014
Gunnarsson - 25 (3:01/g)(59 games)
Phaneuf - 23 (3:02/g)(58 games)
Franson - 11 (1:47/g)(58 games)
Fraser - 10 (2:30/g)(19 games)
Ranger - 8 (1:57/g)(38 games)
Gardiner - 5 (0:43/g)(58 games)
Gleason - 4 (2:24/g)(17 games)
Rielly - 2 (0:08/g)(51 games)
2012-2013
Phaneuf - 12 (3:06/g)(48 games)
Gunnarsson - 8 (2:35/g)(37 games)
Fraser - 6 (2:01/g)(45 games)
Holzer - 4 (2:34/g)(22 games)
Kostka - 3 (1:25/g)(35 games)
O'Byrne - 3 (2:43/g)(8 games)
Franson - 1 (0:54/g)(45 games)
JML - 1 (0:36/g)(32 games)

SH FOW/FOL (FO%)
2013-2014
McClement - 103/114 (47.5%)
Bozak - 38/64 (37.3%)
Smithson - 20/18 (52.6%)
Overall Team - 176/221 (44.3%)
2012-2013
Bozak - 98/87 (53.0%)
McClement - 37/37 (50.0%)
Overall Team - 147/141 (51.0%)
[/collapse]

We have lost 9 games by 1 goal this year. In 4 of those games we gave up a SH goal. In 2 of the 4 games we gave up 2+ SH goals.

The number of times we are SH per game is the same this year as last, along with the time we spend on the PK per game. But this year we have let in 85% more SH goals per game in comparison to last. An explanation for this is that we get scored on much more quickly this year when SH, reducing our average time spent playing shorthanded this year.

A quick glance shows that our sv% on the PK is much lower, 0.876 compared to 0.902. Reimer who last year was fantastic, has struggled this year. Bernier this year is still below our team average of last year.

Additionally, we have allowed nearly 2 more shots against while shorthanded per game even though the time spent shorthanded is the same.

McClement I think everyone agrees last year was fantastic on the PK as shown by his only 11 PK goals against despite playing 3:39 on the PK per game. This year though, that number has skyrocketed to 30, worst in the league among all players:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats....=teamPowerPlayGoalsAgainst&viewName=plusMinus
We also see large increase to both Phaneuf and Gunnarsson. Interestingly, Kulemin's GA has remained relatively the same, despite an increase in TOI, and he is the 2nd highest on the team among forwards, yet still less than half of what McClement has been on for.

FO% has also been much worse, which I assume directly correlates to the 85% more SH GA per game despite playing the same time shorthanded per game.



Why do you think our PK is so bad this year? Certain player(s) to blame? Coaching to blame? Bad luck?

it's getting better recently.

we had that brutal month which brought the % down, but you take that away, it's been good.

 

[Daisy Jane]

Most of the damage happened when Bozak/Bolland went down, and McClement was playing insane minutes. though we had a bit of a blip [the 4 game losing streak] comes to mind - the PK has actually been doing well - killing penalties at key times at games.

I don't think in 22 games, it's going to come out from 28th - but I do think they can practice perfecting it. the team used to be really good at getting the puck, and whipping it out of the zone.

[Franson if I recall correctly, did not play the PK last season, and is now, but most of the key PKers are the same].

 

[TootooTrain]

Bozak is fantastic at getting in lanes and pressing the point. Makes sense the Pk has been a bit better with him back.

I think faceoffs are a bit part of it. There were large stretches of time where Holland/Smith/Smithson in addition to Mcclement were being used and it just didn't give us a chance to get a quick clear.

 

[BonMorrison]

I think it's the coaching because we literally have the exact same personnel from last year killing penalties. McClement and Kulemin on the top unit followed by Bozak, Van Riemsdyk, and Raymond (who replaced Komarov). Franson getting increased PK time though probably has a lot to do with it as well - our PK got noticably better when Gleason started to eat up a lot of his PK minutes.

 

[Rare Jewel]

While Bozak and Bolland were out we pretty much ran McClement into the ground. I don't know if it's completely on that, But he was one of the main reasons why it was so good last season.

 

[LeafOfBread]

Personnel and style imo.

The biggest difference this year is shots allowed.

Leafs are 30th in PK shots allowed, while last year they were the 5th best team. We had a VERY aggressive PK last year, and we gave the other team no time or space. This year, we let them waltz in, set up nicely, and let them move the puck around constantly while we're chasing them like chickens with the head cut off. Earlier in the year we weren't letting in PK goals because the goalies had an unreal PK sv% that obviously wasn't going to last. The moment Bernier/Reimer's sv% on the PK dipped, the goals started to flood in.

Part of this is personnel changes...losing a guy like Komarov while replacing him with Raymond in return doesn't help, and also losing Bozak and Bolland for extended periods as well. Part of it is also coaching, and then there's also just bad luck involved too.

 

[Garbs]

Before anyone blames SV%, please know that Bernier still has a very good SH SV% amongst starters. This isn't on either goalie, though there's always room for improvement.

Looks like faceoffs might be a bit of a factor.

 

[mikebel111*]

Personnel and style imo.

The biggest difference this year is shots allowed.

Leafs are 30th in PK shots allowed, while last year they were the 5th best team. We had a VERY aggressive PK last year, and we gave the other team no time or space. This year, we let them waltz in, set up nicely, and let them move the puck around constantly while we're chasing them like chickens with the head cut off. Earlier in the year we weren't letting in PK goals because the goalies had an unreal PK sv% that obviously wasn't going to last. The moment Bernier/Reimer's sv% on the PK dipped, the goals started to flood in.

Part of this is personnel changes...losing a guy like Komarov while replacing him with Raymond in return doesn't help, and also losing Bozak and Bolland for extended periods as well. Part of it is also coaching, and then there's also just bad luck involved too.

last 19, we are at almost 80%, 79.3% to be exact.

and are 14 of our last 15.

 

[TheProspector]

Right there:

Goalies - sv/sa (sv%)
2013-2014
Bernier - 211/236 (0.894 sv%)
Reimer - 100/119 (0.840 sv%)
Overall Team - 311/355 (0.876 sv%)
(5.917 shots against per game)
2012-2013
Reimer - 103/112 (0.920 sv%)
Scrivens - 68/78 (0.872 sv%)
Rynass - 3/3 (1.000 sv%)
Overall Team - 174/193 (0.902 sv%)
(4.021 shots against per game)

Reimer had a .920 on the PK last year. That is ****ing incredible. Maybe unsustainable and lucky.

 

[Daisy Jane]

last 19, we are at almost 80%, 79.3% to be exact.

and are 14 of our last 15.

and that stupid 1 was against Florida

yeah - I honestly think the team is going to use the last 22 games to get things back to rights, prepare for playoffs, and really work on it next year during training camp. like I said - the majority of the damage happened November-December [and it sank lower during the 4 game losing streak to 28th].

 

[Rare Jewel]

Most of the damage happened when Bozak/Bolland went down, and McClement was playing insane minutes. though we had a bit of a blip [the 4 game losing streak] comes to mind - the PK has actually been doing well - killing penalties at key times at games.

I don't think in 22 games, it's going to come out from 28th - but I do think they can practice perfecting it. the team used to be really good at getting the puck, and whipping it out of the zone.

[Franson if I recall correctly, did not play the PK last season, and is now, but most of the key PKers are the same].

I should really read the posts above.

You've said pretty much what I was getting at, Except much better and in depth.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Maybe it's a case of overachieving last season and underachieving this season? Because with the personnel this team has, the PK should be in the 10-15 range, not at the top or bottom IMO.

 

[Ari91]

Didn't our PK take a nose dive when Bozak and Bolland got injured? While Bolland wasn't here last year, just consider him Komarov's replacement - a forward that is considered reliable in short handed situations. Same with Bozak. He's been a forward staple on our PK and losing him (and his FO abilities was bad). Now on top of that you consider a less effective McClement due to him being overworked because of our depleting Cs and that's a really good picture of what went wrong.

The stats show our PK was better in all areas but that's likely attributed to a healthier roster last season that played committed to the PK structure and did a better job overall of protecting the slot, moving their feet, using their sticks and forcing perimeter shots.

 

[diceman934]

A few things:

Injuries...
Teams started to take our PK approach and change their PP...we had a very different PK approach then many....high forward played both sides and teams have adapted...this leaves open the low puck side forward and when we rotate to cover the high slot person is wide open. We had recently made a small adjustment in our rotation and taken away this play for the most part...

Losing more face-offs..

 

[highslot]

We are currently sitting 28th in the league, 3rd last, at 78%. Last year we were 2nd, at 87.9%. What is wrong?

Some comparisons from this year and last:
[collapse=text]
# times shorthand:
2013-2014
200 (3.33 per game)
2012-2013
157 (3.27 per game)

Time spent on the PK:
2013-2014
335:32 (5:36 per game)
2012-2013
268:21 (5:36 per game)

Goals against while Shorthanded
2013-2014
44 (0.733 per game)
2012-2013
19 (0.396 per game)

Goalies - sv/sa (sv%)
2013-2014
Bernier - 211/236 (0.894 sv%)
Reimer - 100/119 (0.840 sv%)
Overall Team - 311/355 (0.876 sv%)
(5.917 shots against per game)
2012-2013
Reimer - 103/112 (0.920 sv%)
Scrivens - 68/78 (0.872 sv%)
Rynass - 3/3 (1.000 sv%)
Overall Team - 174/193 (0.902 sv%)
(4.021 shots against per game)

SH GA (SH TOI/g)for Forwards
2013-2014
McClement - 30 (3:34/g)(59 games)
Kulemin - 13 (2:37/g)(48 games)
Raymond - 9 (1:19/g)(60 games)
Bozak - 6 (1:27/g)(36 games)
Smithson - 6 (1:46/g)(18 games)
D'Amigo - 5 (1:12/g)(19 games)
JVR - 4 (1:29/g)(58 games)
Bolland - 4 (1:49/g)(15 games)
Smith - 4 (0:18/g)(25 games)
2012-2013
McClement - 11 (3:39/g)(48 games)
Kulemin - 11 (2:11/g)(48 games)
Komarov - 7 (1:48.g)(42 games)
Bozak - 5 (1:38/g)(46 games)
Steckel - 2 (1:04/g)(13 games)
JVR - 1 (1:11/g)(48 games)

SH GA (SH TOI/g) for Defense
2013-2014
Gunnarsson - 25 (3:01/g)(59 games)
Phaneuf - 23 (3:02/g)(58 games)
Franson - 11 (1:47/g)(58 games)
Fraser - 10 (2:30/g)(19 games)
Ranger - 8 (1:57/g)(38 games)
Gardiner - 5 (0:43/g)(58 games)
Gleason - 4 (2:24/g)(17 games)
Rielly - 2 (0:08/g)(51 games)
2012-2013
Phaneuf - 12 (3:06/g)(48 games)
Gunnarsson - 8 (2:35/g)(37 games)
Fraser - 6 (2:01/g)(45 games)
Holzer - 4 (2:34/g)(22 games)
Kostka - 3 (1:25/g)(35 games)
O'Byrne - 3 (2:43/g)(8 games)
Franson - 1 (0:54/g)(45 games)
JML - 1 (0:36/g)(32 games)

SH FOW/FOL (FO%)
2013-2014
McClement - 103/114 (47.5%)
Bozak - 38/64 (37.3%)
Smithson - 20/18 (52.6%)
Overall Team - 176/221 (44.3%)
2012-2013
Bozak - 98/87 (53.0%)
McClement - 37/37 (50.0%)
Overall Team - 147/141 (51.0%)
[/collapse]

We have lost 9 games by 1 goal this year. In 4 of those games we gave up a SH goal. In 2 of the 4 games we gave up 2+ SH goals.

The number of times we are SH per game is the same this year as last, along with the time we spend on the PK per game. But this year we have let in 85% more SH goals per game in comparison to last. An explanation for this is that we get scored on much more quickly this year when SH, reducing our average time spent playing shorthanded this year.

A quick glance shows that our sv% on the PK is much lower, 0.876 compared to 0.902. Reimer who last year was fantastic, has struggled this year. Bernier this year is still below our team average of last year.

Additionally, we have allowed nearly 2 more shots against while shorthanded per game even though the time spent shorthanded is the same.

McClement I think everyone agrees last year was fantastic on the PK as shown by his only 11 PK goals against despite playing 3:39 on the PK per game. This year though, that number has skyrocketed to 30, worst in the league among all players:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats....=teamPowerPlayGoalsAgainst&viewName=plusMinus
We also see large increase to both Phaneuf and Gunnarsson. Interestingly, Kulemin's GA has remained relatively the same, despite an increase in TOI, and he is the 2nd highest on the team among forwards, yet still less than half of what McClement has been on for.

FO% has also been much worse, which I assume directly correlates to the 85% more SH GA per game despite playing the same time shorthanded per game.



Why do you think our PK is so bad this year? Certain player(s) to blame? Coaching to blame? Bad luck?

we lost komorov, who was around 50% fo in our zone. he's a huge reason. and as mentioned with bozak and bolland out, we suffered.

also we switched from a 1-1-2 to a 2-2 box with tired skaters. this allows the other team to work inside the slot and low, instead of tempting them to shoot more from the perimeter.

 

[SprDaVE]

It's been better lately, only a goal allowed in the last 15-20 PK attempts (they talked about it on HNIC).

I think having to play Franson and Gardiner on the PK, on top of having Bozak and Bolland out, didn't/doesn't help our situation. We also haven't received god like goaltending on the PK recently; it's been down a good .30% in save percentage compared to last year, which is a pretty big drop. McClement getting overplayed at 5 on 5 makes a big difference from last season. He needs to be used a lot more on the PK rather then 5 on 5, but injuries forced Carlyle to play him more then he should.

The acquisition of Gleason has helped A LOT with blocking the big shots and clearing the front of the net, which allows us to cut down on the PK minutes of Franson and Gardiner. Both are just terrible in a situation of tying your man in front, tying the stick or blocking that big shot. Our forwards also haven't done a good job pressuring the points and cutting down the passing lanes at the top.

Overall the system has probably gotten a little predictable but it's a system that cuts down on the quality chances and allows shots from the outside/boards instead of down the middle and in the slot. So even though we had a very bad rough patch on PK, I think it'll improve by season end --- it all ready has.

 

[Duke Silver]

I wish I could find the stat somewhere, but my bet is that we are allowing way more shots on the PK this season.

It also doesn't help that McClement is a) taking way too many penalties himself compared to last year, and b) was for a time getting burned out with 15+ minutes of ES TOI.

 

[Duke Silver]

we lost komorov, who was around 50% fo in our zone. he's a huge reason. and as mentioned with bozak and bolland out, we suffered.

also we switched from a 1-1-2 to a 2-2 box with tired skaters. this allows the other team to work inside the slot and low, instead of tempting them to shoot more from the perimeter.

Komarov took a grand total of 9 shorthanded faceoffs last year and won 4 of them.

 

[egd27]

I think it's the coaching because we literally have the exact same personnel from last year killing penalties. McClement and Kulemin on the top unit followed by Bozak, Van Riemsdyk, and Raymond (who replaced Komarov). Franson getting increased PK time though probably has a lot to do with it as well - our PK got noticably better when Gleason started to eat up a lot of his PK minutes.

Don't we literally have the exact same coaches as well?

 

[Duke Silver]

Don't we literally have the exact same coaches as well?

Players employ the system the coaches design. This year's PK system is pretty different from last year's: a lot more chasing the puck and collapsing in the slot. Points are way more open.

 

[BonMorrison]

Don't we literally have the exact same coaches as well?

Yes. That's my point.

Logic says that with the same coaching and players, our PK should be atleast in the ballpark of where it's at right now. As posters above have said, our PK style has changed despite having the same players so I am attributing our nosedive on the PK to having somewhat to do with the coaching.

 

[Ratboy]

I think losing Bolland was a big loss for the PK.

 

[JackJ]

Our D is terrible.

 

[SprDaVE]

Yes. That's my point.

Logic says that with the same coaching and players, our PK should be atleast in the ballpark of where it's at right now. As posters above have said, our PK style has changed despite having the same players so I am attributing our nosedive on the PK to having somewhat to do with the coaching.

It is the exact same thing. Force the puck towards the boards with pressure from the forward, and don't give up the point shot from the middle or slot.

I'm not sure why some are saying it's different, it's the same thing. Just because the result is different doesn't mean it's different.

Opposing teams have adjusted well against the PK. We also haven't received superb goaltending on the PK, unlike last year. The save percentage we had last year on the PK was pretty much unsustainable to be perfectly honest.

I think our PK is better then the ranking shows but it also wasn't that good last year.