The Edmonton Oilers have improved when it’s come to killing penalties, which is excellent for the team as the postseason approaches. However, over the last few games, the Oilers power-play has faltered a bit.
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton has gone without a power-play goal in three of its last five games, and they haven’t scored on six of their last opportunities. While the team has 22.1 percent of success on the power play, which is sixth-best in the league, the Oilers have not scored on their last six opportunities.
With the playoffs right around the corner, Edmonton needs to look at their power-play and make sure the top-two units are making the most of their minutes.
First off, the Oilers need to establish more shots from the point. The team tries to make too many pretty passes, and they are often predictable and therefore, intercepted. This, of course, leads to clears, and Edmonton having to completely restart.
The Oilers have a variety of defenceman who can establish a strong shot from the point. For instance, Andrej Sekera and Oscar Klefbom are known for their excellent point shot, but Adam Larsson and Kris Russell are also underrated. Matthew Benning can also benefit from more power-play ice time and has potential as a puck-moving blueliner.
Additionally, the Oilers need to mix up the wingers they have on the top unit. They should not continue to utilize Milan Lucic on the top unit, as Patrick Maroon fits better and has better chemistry with the other members of the first unit. Additionally, the Oilers benefit from not only big bodies in front, but speed and precise passing in the zone.
Lastly, the Oilers need to maintain possession of the puck and do a better job of keeping the puck in the offensive zone. If they don’t let up the pressure, they will surely get a goal sooner rather than later.