Line Combos: 2024-2025 Powerplay Discussion

[JianYang]

Kostitsyn - Plekanec - Kovalev
Markov - Streit

Unit 2:
Higgins - Koivu - Ryder
Hammer - Brisebois

2007-08. They led the league in PP%.

Maybe im mixing up the years but I seem to recall koivu down low on pp1

Kost-plek- kovalev was a 5 on 5 line that year.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Maybe im mixing up the years but I seem to recall koivu down low on pp1

Kost-plek- kovalev was a 5 on 5 line that year.

Those 3 were also the top 3 PP goal scorers.

Kovy - 17
Pleks and Kostitsyn- 12

(Higgins also had 12)

 

[Kennerback]

Slaf has finally found his forever home of Net Front on the #1PP. He’ll need to make the best of it.

 

[the]

Maybe im mixing up the years but I seem to recall koivu down low on pp1

Kost-plek- kovalev was a 5 on 5 line that year.

Yeah, it was Koivu down low on PP1 in 07-08.

Higgins - Koivu - Kovalev
Markov - Streit

That's what I recall.

 

[JianYang]

Yeah, it was Koivu down low on PP1 in 07-08.

Higgins - Koivu - Kovalev
Markov - Streit

That's what I recall.

So maybe I'm not imagining things after all.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Those 3 were used together but not nearly as much as Kost-pleks-Kovy.

Pleks was with Kovy on the PP more than Koivu.

PP goals involving both Koivu and Kovy: 8
PP goals involving both Pleks and Kovy:18

Yeah, it was Koivu down low on PP1 in 07-08.

Higgins - Koivu - Kovalev
Markov - Streit

That's what I recall.

So maybe I'm not imagining things after all.

 

[Rapala]

As of today the PP is 15th at 21.5%. With Laine in the mix now, I think we should see us rise back around 10th. Also the PK is at 82.6% and they say if your special teams adds up to 100% or more you're probably in good shape for PP/PK.

100% needs to be the floor it's roughly mid pack and you still need stout 5v5 numbers to win games.
Our problem is we have to put both parts together we were much better 5v5 last season.
We need to open up another front either with a second line or a combined effort including D scoring.
We are trending behind last season's goal total which would be a real bummer.

 

[Maitz]

I would put someone else instead of Slaf, he doesn't do a lot out there.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

So far our PP is pretty respectable. Clicking at 22 percent. With Laine now on the first unit I suspect we'll be going up in the rankings. Three guys who can fire the puck very well and Slaf who can go to the net. Add in Hutson and it's a very good group.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Laine and Hutson.

Man, it's insane !

 

[morhilane]

I would put someone else instead of Slaf, he doesn't do a lot out there.

His main job is to screen the goalie and deflections, he's never going to have a lots of puck touch where they are using him. That also means his great passing ability is being wasted.

 

[417]

Having two willing and capable shooters on the PP opens up everything else.

 

[Kennerback]

I would put someone else instead of Slaf, he doesn't do a lot out there.

He plays net front. You need someone that can withstand hard cross checks and physical play. You can’t put Dach. Anderson? Armia? I don’t see anyone else there.

 

[Maitz]

He plays net front. You need someone that can withstand hard cross checks and physical play. You can’t put Dach. Anderson? Armia? I don’t see anyone else there.

Honestly, I would mind either of Anderson or Armia, I really don't like Slaf this year and I think him and Dach doesn't deserve to be on the PP. They should earn their icetime

 

[Habssince89]

He plays net front. You need someone that can withstand hard cross checks and physical play. You can’t put Dach. Anderson? Armia? I don’t see anyone else there.

Arber Xhekaj

 

[Marioesque]

His main job is to screen the goalie and deflections, he's never going to have a lots of puck touch where they are using him. That also means his great passing ability is being wasted.

It's up to him if he's Zach Hyman or Nick Paul in that role.

 

[Redux91]

Slaf has finally found his forever home of Net Front on the #1PP. He’ll need to make the best of it.

Rather have him PP2 right wall then.. he thrives in that spot on the PP , think he will still with Dach on the other side able to feed him
(Problem is Matheson would go back to ignoring him lol)

 

[Habssince89]

Rather have him PP2 right wall then.. he thrives in that spot on the PP , think he will still with Dach on the other side able to feed him
(Problem is Matheson would go back to ignoring him lol)

Slaf just needs touches to be used effectively on the PP. And especially since he's a lefty he need to be used more. I'd love to see Laine draw some defenders and feed slaf an easy one.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Slaf just needs touches to be used effectively on the PP. And especially since he's a lefty he need to be used more. I'd love to see Laine draw some defenders and feed slaf an easy one.

Had a good look off the one-timer, they need to set that up more when teams inevitably sag off to Laine and Caufield.

 

[ahmedou]

Laine: 9 PP Goals in 14 Games

PP = Power Play Patty

 

[ahmedou]

The Montreal Canadiens are ranked 11th best PP team of the NHL!

 

[Redux91]

The Montreal Canadiens are ranked 11th best PP team of the NHL!

View attachment 960396

Yup
The days of being dead last on the PP are ovah
Not so much getting rid of Burrows but more just all around better PERSONEL deployment basically

So much so, that pretty soon were gonna have 'too' many PP1 candidates
But that's obviously a 'good' problem to have
Just gotta sort it out as we go along

 

[LaineBOOM]

Suzuki (roaming around, including behind the net, side of the net, down low)
Laine (left half wall)
Caufield (bumper)
Slaf (right half wall)
Hutson (top of the diamond)

Maybe Laine and Caufield switch spots.

I respond to this message by @26Mats from the earlier PP-thread:

Why not try a variation of this, in this style:
Slaf (or Suzuki) (roaming around, including behind the net, side of the net, down low)
Caufield (left half wall)
Suzuki (or Slaf) (bumper)
Hutson (right half wall)
Laine (top of the diamond)

Laine and Caufield can switch spots during the play if thats the best way to keep possession in the specific play. If they switch spots so that left half wall moves to top of diamond with the pick, then the guy can either choose to pass back to left half wall for a one-timer or one can put in a slapper/wrister from speed or cut even closer to net and pass to backdoor (as it opens up as defenders shift towards Laine/Caufield who has the puck).

I get it, there is one big risk factor: Laine loses possession and isnt as fast as Hutson to recover. BUT imo this would be worth he shot. Laine with his BOMB can blast one timers from that spot, or pass to Caufield, or Hutson can pass to either of them etc etc, it gives so many options.

Laine has NEVER been tried in that spot as far as I can recall. Laine has only been right half wall but its not optimal for his shot, although its less risky defensively.

 

[LaineBOOM]

Cant find the perfect picture with all correct handedness but imagine this one:

Currently Hutson has the puck and can pass to either Laine or Caufield for a one-timer. Or Laine can pass to Caufield on the left half wall.

A loy of great examples on the second half of this short vid:

 

[LaineBOOM]

What do you guys think? Are there risks of Laine losing the puck and being too slow to recover the thing that alone stops this from being tried?