Sullivan seeing year-over-year power play improvement
Compared to where it stood last year, the Penguins' power play has showed improvement through the first 30 games of the season: They have the ninth-most power play goals (19) in the NHL and rank eighth in power-play goal differential as they've only allowed one short-handed goal. A year ago, the power play ranked 28th and led the league-lead in short-handed goals allowed, this while averaging the seventh-most time on ice.
Mike Sullivan was asked about that Wednesday and replied, "I think they’ve made a significant difference and what I like about them is they are scoring goals and we’re not giving up any, quite honestly. That’s the difference. So, for me the biggest thing is in the process and how they are going about it. The players that have been on it, have been doing a good job. It’s been a little bit of a mixed bag, we’ve had our moments when we’ve been really good and we’ve had our moments when it’s been a bit of a struggle."
Sullivan said that success stems from having better entries into the zone while also buying into the game plan that David Quinn has put in place.
"When I look at the body of work of the group of players, regardless of what those combinations look like, their entries have been much better, we went from one of the bottom teams in the league in entries to around 10th or 11th, and that gives us a chance. If you win faceoffs and have successful entries, you've got a chance to establish zone time and it gives them an opportunity to act on their instincts and do what they do best. Then it’s just a matter of executing night in and night out."
THE ASYLUM
Sullivan seeing year-over-year power play improvement
Compared to where it stood last year, the Penguins' power play has showed improvement through the first 30 games of the season: They have the ninth-most power play goals (19) in the NHL and rank eighth in power-play goal differential as they've only allowed one short-handed goal. A year ago, the power play ranked 28th and led the league-lead in short-handed goals allowed, this while averaging the seventh-most time on ice.
Mike Sullivan was asked about that Wednesday and replied, "I think they’ve made a significant difference and what I like about them is they are scoring goals and we’re not giving up any, quite honestly. That’s the difference. So, for me the biggest thing is in the process and how they are going about it. The players that have been on it, have been doing a good job. It’s been a little bit of a mixed bag, we’ve had our moments when we’ve been really good and we’ve had our moments when it’s been a bit of a struggle."
Sullivan said that success stems from having better entries into the zone while also buying into the game plan that David Quinn has put in place.
"When I look at the body of work of the group of players, regardless of what those combinations look like, their entries have been much better, we went from one of the bottom teams in the league in entries to around 10th or 11th, and that gives us a chance. If you win faceoffs and have successful entries, you've got a chance to establish zone time and it gives them an opportunity to act on their instincts and do what they do best. Then it’s just a matter of executing night in and night out."
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