The Oilers' power play is struggling, but why? From injuries to stagnant play and blocked shots, here's a breakdown of their early-season woes.
The Edmonton Oilers' power play has traditionally been one of the NHL's most lethal, but it's taken a significant step back early in the 2024-25 season.
Once a key strength for the team, it now ranks 27th in the NHL at 15.8 percent, leaving questions about what’s gone wrong.
A closer look at what's behind the issues reveals some intriguing facts.
It Missed McDavid's Magic
At the end of October, Connor McDavid missed three games due to injury. During his absence, the Oilers’ power play struggled to produce, going just 1-for-5.
McDavid's not the only reason the power play has struggled – it hasn't been great even when he is around – but it's really bad when he's not there to get the Oilers set up in the offensive zone.
The captain's unique ability to create scoring chances and stretch opposing defenses was sorely missed. He flies through the neutral zone, forcing defenders to back off. He then often drops to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who drops to Evan Bouchard, and the Oilers are set. When McDavid isn't on the power play, the Oilers often have to settle for a dump-in-and-retrieve situation.
Needless to say, his return gives the Oilers better odds of scoring on the man-advantage.
Zach Hyman's Absence And The Lack Of A Suitable Replacement
The Oilers’ power play thrives when they can establish a strong presence in front of the net, a role Zach Hyman typically fills.
Without him in the lineup for the last two games, Edmonton has gone 0-for-5 on the man advantage.
The team has experimented with Corey Perry as a potential replacement, but he has struggled to provide the same level of net-front presence. He's gritty and savvy, but he's not Hyman. Without a consistent threat in that area, the Oilers’ power play has lacked the necessary chaos to create clean scoring opportunities.
When the Oilers need to simplify the power play, simply getting the puck on net is the key. Hyman is a nightmare for opposing goaltenders. It makes an initial save much easier when he's not in their kitchen.
Evan Bouchard's Increased Shot Block Issues
Evan Bouchard has seen a troubling increase in the number of shots blocked on his power-play attempts this season. Nearly half (47 percent) of his shots have been blocked, up from 37 percent last year, according to moneypuck.com. At 5-on-4, 53 percent of his shot attempts were blocked compared to 41 last season.
The percentages were lower in the seasons before that as well. But this trend is particularly problematic on the power play, where the Oilers rely on clean shots from the blueline to create scoring chances.
Bouchard’s struggles with shooting into defenders limit the effectiveness of the team’s power play and prevent them from capitalizing on opportunities.
He even acknowledged that assistant coach Paul Coffey had talked to him about it and wasn't at all happy with the concerning trend, according to Oilers color commentator Louie DeBrusk.
Stagnant Movement And Lack Of Shots
Overall, the Oilers’ power play has been far too stagnant. Players are not moving the puck quickly or efficiently, and there's a lack of simple plays being made to break down defenses.
With the second-fewest shots on goal at 5-on-4, only Chicago has fewer, per moneypuck.com.
At the current pace, the Oilers are on track for just 242 power-play shots over the full season, a massive drop from 345 last season and even further from their 2022-23 total of 425.
The team’s inability to generate shots at a high rate has limited their ability to score, even with high-end talents, such as McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, on the ice.
The Oilers’ power-play issues stem from multiple sources – injuries, individual struggles and systemic inefficiencies. If they are to reclaim their spot as one of the NHL’s most dangerous teams with the man advantage, they’ll need to address these issues quickly. It's not a stretch to say that their power-play is their most lethal weapon, and without it clicking, they aren't a Stanley Cup front-runner.
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