Penguins Power Play Is Dreck

In the middle of October the Pittsburgh Penguins set off west to begin a daunting stretch of games.  It is the kind of stretch that tells us a lot about a team and who they are.  After blowing another game late in the third period to the Vegas Golden Knights, I think we have a good idea.  They aren’t an awful team, but they aren’t good, either.  

In the past nine games they have gone 2-6-1 and are tied at 12 standings points with the Philadelphia Flyers.  As fun as last season was, this one is not going to carry those vibes. The product won’t be appalling and they’ll sprinkle in some fun games.  Ultimately, it is looking like a long shot for them to return to the playoffs unless some things dramatically change.

Big picture, this may not be the worst thing in the world.  

I think this outcome is pretty much ideal – you arent building to tank but have a down year that grabs you a potential impact player but without a fully gutted roster. Long way to go though, could (likely will) still pick in the early teens

— Jay32600 (@jay32600.bsky.social) 2026-11-04T02:56:18.063Z

I agree with this.  The Penguins aren’t going to do a full tank job.  Even if they did a proper tank, you would have years to navigate while hoping you hit in a draft lottery that doesn’t have great odds.  They’ve started to build up their futures and have a healthy cap situation moving forward.  

Sliding down the standings this year and landing a top ten pick (maybe earlier if they trade veterans) is probably close to a best case scenario at this point.  

Even though some of the Penguins underlying numbers aren’t bad, they can’t forfeit the number of standings points they have been.  You have to make them up somewhere and the consistency in play isn’t likely to create that path forward.

The power play is dreck

I despise the Pittsburgh Penguins power play.  It is a huge problem and it is costing them hockey games.  Last night, they had it on a platter to take control late in the game when they were awarded a 5v3.  Instead of looking determined and playing with purpose with the opportunity, they played patty cake on the perimeter hoping that Vegas would abandon their responsibilities on their own.  It was a pathetic showing.  Vegas of course killed it off and then earned a power play immediately after.  They scored and the Penguins lost.

There is no movement for Pittsburgh.  I’m not talking about the puck, either.  They just stand in their spots hoping that the passing mesmerizes the killers.  It never does because why would it.  You need a concert of players moving with puck movement.  

You need to be willing to shoot on net for rebounds to create chaos.  Maybe you win a rebound battle for a goal (like Hertl), but most times it creates a scramble situation.  This is ideal because now the killers aren’t in their shape and have to be desperate.  Pittsburgh never creates these situations.  They wait for the perfect shot.

The 5v3 is such a simple problem to solve.  RUN THE PHIL KESSEL CURL PLAY. 

1.  Umbrella setup with two staggered players in front of the net.
2.  Pass to player on the half wall who is on their off wing.
3.  Run a scissor play way up high towards the blue line with middle umbrella guy going towards vacated half wall area and the half wall player is now swinging up to the blue line and coming downhill on main street.
4. Read the top triangle PK guy. If he gives you room, unload your best snap shot using the double screen or have a shot/pass/tip attempt.
5.  If the top triangle PK guy steps up top, he just vacated a huge east west lane behind him.  Pass it right away to the other half wall guy who can immediately zip it across that vacated east west lane to the player who went from top of the umbrella to the vacated half wall.
6.  That guy attacks net, forces another triangle guy to step.  Now you have a 2v1 near the net front.
7.  Win rebound battles and RINSE REPEAT UNTIL POWER PLAY IS OVER.

My god it isn’t that hard.  It pisses me off.  You have the advantage.  Dictate what they penalty killers do.  Who cares if you lose a rebound battle once and a while.  If they ice it your goalie comes out and passes up to the red line and you have a freebie zone entry on a 5v3.  Do it all over gain.  

Instead, what we get is meaningless passing in non-dangerous areas of the ice which still lead to losing rebound battles because nothing is done with purpose and it is all random hope plays.  

It took me a while to find this goal, but I’m so upset I wasn’t posting this article until I found it.  The clip should start at 2:40

They didn’t run this one exactly how I outlined above, but you can see conceptually why it works.

Imagine running Egor Chinakhov coming around the bend like that.  You want to get Chinakhov going on the power play?  Use this play and put him on the 5v3!

The way the Penguins currently do it is complete DRECK

Grace period is over

Everybody has empathy for what Andrei Kuzmenko went through this fall.  I think the team handled the situation exactly how they should.  I’m certain the players on the team have given him the proper support he deserves.  I think Dan Muse has been patient with the player.  I also think we are now entering the territory where it isn’t fair to other players scraping to make the lineup to continue to play behind him.

He has one point in 11 games and never looks like he is building towards making anything happen on the ice.  

It is time for guys like Rutger McGroarty and Avery Hayes to start taking that ice time.  Kuzmenko isn’t the kind of player who is going to be here long term.  Elmer Soderblom will eventually be health and now with Justin Brazeau back there just isn’t room for a player not meeting the standard.

The Penguins have one more game to finish this grueling ten game stretch and it will be against the Boston Bruins who have the fourth best record in the NHL at the moment.  Playing good enough to win and blowing games late can only go on so long.  Eventually, you’re going to have to make up those points by beating good teams whichever way you can.