Power-play woes reach critical stage
Coyotes’ conversion rate ranks 21st out of 31 teams
What has been a weakness for the Coyotes all season long is starting to become even more detrimental to the team’s success.
The Coyotes power play has struggled for the better part of the 2018-19 season. Their 17 percent conversion rate ranked 21st out of 31 NHL teams entering play Thursday. But the Coyotes’ power-play issues have grown even worse lately.
Rookie Conor Garland scored the team’s last power-play goal on Jan. 23 in Montreal -- before the All-Star break. Since then, the Coyotes are 0 for their last 14 on the man-advantage.
“Special teams is such a big part of the game,” Coyotes forward Alex Galchenyuk said. “We’ve got to find a way to do better at it. I think we need to be more active as a unit and not waiting for the one person with the puck to make a play. All of us need to attack the net more. We’re winning the battles, but we just need to attack the right way.”
The Coyotes’ power play is no longer a nagging issue. It’s seriously hurting them.
The Coyotes led Dallas 2-1 when they were staked to an all-you-can-score, five-minute power play late in the second period, but failed to do anything with it. The Stars quickly flipped the momentum starting the third period and scored three goals in a 71-second span to win the game.
A similar disaster unfolded the following night in Nashville. The Coyotes led 1-0 in the second period and a 5-on-3 opportunity for more than 40 seconds, but failed to generate anything resembling a high-quality scoring chance. The Predators quickly gained all the momentum and blitzed for three unanswered goals to clinch the game.
“I thought we were the better team against San Jose and Dallas in terms of chances and zone possession,” Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet said of the recent road trip. “But when it comes to special teams and high-end situations, (Dallas and Nashville) made the plays and we didn’t. That’s the key for us is that, when we get in those moments, we have to seize those moments.”
One thing to consider is the absence of Nick Schmaltz, expected to miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury. When Schmaltz was in the lineup, a stretch of just 16 games, the Coyotes were converting on the power play at 20 percent (10 goals in 50 chances).
While 20 percent would only be good enough to rank 17th in the NHL entering play Thursday, Schmaltz added a different dimension to the Coyotes’ power play. He was extremely effective on the half-wall (the section of boards stretching from the end line to the blue line) and showed a willingness to attack the net as well as spread the puck around.
That same dynamic has not been present lately. Players such as Galchenyuk and Clayton Keller seem to be jammed up and point men such as Oliver EkmanLarsson aren’t generating enough chances from the middle.
“As a coach, you’re looking at your options in a sense where I need Galchenyuk and I need Keller,” Tocchet said. “... I need those guys to really take charge because what are my other options? Do I just go down four lines? I don’t think that’s the proper way, but there needs to be a message to these guys that we need results. We don’t need to score but we need momentum. We’re not even getting chances on a 5-on-3 and that’s upsetting to me. I want to keep rolling these guys out there, but they need to give me something.
“I need to see more diligence and leadership on that power play. Someone has to be willing to make a read and attack instead of deferring. We’re not shooting. Everyone wants to score but nobody wants to do the dirty work. You never want that kind of power play, but that’s on me. I’ve got to get these guys to do it.”
Tocchet also wants to see more chances generated from the middle of the ice, a reason why rookie defenseman Kyle Capobianco could be the Coyotes’ next power-play experiment. Capobianco, recalled from AHL Tucson on Jan. 31, runs the Roadrunners’ power play and could get a look with the Coyotes’ manadvantage as well.
For a team already battling more adversity than it can handle — the Coyotes were missing nine regulars during Wednesday's game in Nashville due to injuries — there is simply no room to give away games in this manner while mired in a Western Conference playoff race.
The Coyotes entered play Thursday just three points out of a wild card spot. To close that gap, they'll need to find a way to start taking advantage of their man-advantages.
Richard Morin covers the Coyotes and Diamondbacks for azcentral sports. He can be reached at rmorin@arizonarepublic.com and by phone at 480-316-2493.