Smart first pass best bet to start speedy offense
“If we have the ability to make that first pass tape to tape, then our percentages of keeping the puck and trying to make plays off the rush increase.” — Mike Sullivan, Penguins coach
“That’s how you play with speed, by moving the puck. The puck moves faster than anyone can skate. That’s what we did last year, and it worked.”
Evaluating defensemen’s decisiveness is big for the Penguins.
Though it was only the first preseason game, Sullivan wasn’t thrilled with Derrick Pouliot’s progression in this area and said, “We’d like to see Derrick be a little bit more assertive with the puck, with his decision-making, just seeing things a little bit quicker and being more decisive.”
The Penguins became one of the best puck-possession teams in the NHL once Sullivan took over. They took 48.39 percent of shot attempts under Mike Johnston, which was 21st. Sullivan had them second at 55.87 from the time he took over through the end of the regular season.
There’s more to that number than being opportunistic in the offensive zone.
“If we have the ability to make that first pass tape to tape, then our percentages of keeping the puck and trying to make plays off the rush increase,” Sullivan said. “Ideally, that’s what we’d like to do. We’d like to keep the puck as much as we can when the opportunity presents itself.”
To not ignore an important point, Sullivan spun in the middle of his answer to first passes and pointed out that there are times that not having the puck is OK, too. Essentially [for] space plays and using the glass.
That way the Penguins can use their speed — the kind with their feet — to turn around opposing defenseman and make them execute proper first passes.
But if the Penguins are to keep their reputation as the fastest team in the league, it will be about more than just how fast they skate.
“You have to be able to move the puck fast and get out of your own zone,” Warsofsky said. “I don’t think any team likes to be able to spend time in their own zone, especially here with the group of forwards that we have. I think it’s real important that you get the puck in their hands and let them play with it as much as they can.”