Blog Archives

Quick Thoughts: 4-Forward Power Plays and Protecting A Lead

The other day I tweeted out a bunch of stuff about why teams may want to avoid a 4-forward power play when they’re up late. I’m not going to bother turning this into a full post, but I’ve linked the

Tagged with: , ,
Posted in Powerplay

Second Units and Zone Entries: Why teams should go all-in on the 4 forward power play

Using 4 forwards on the power play is generally a good strategy. Four forward units take more shots, score more often on those shots, and post a better goal differential than 3 forward groups do. It’s also a strategy that

Tagged with: , , ,
Posted in Powerplay, Uncategorized

Measuring the Importance of Structure on the Power Play

This post originally appeared on Hockey Graphs. tl;dr We can measure a team’s power play structure using shot location data, creating a Power Play Structure Index that quantifies their ability to establish and shoot from a structured formation. A Team’s

Tagged with: , , ,
Posted in Powerplay, Special Teams

Predicting Which Players Will Succeed on the Powerplay

This post originally appeared on Hockey Graphs. Alexander Semin did not have a good season last year. After producing decent numbers in his first two seasons in Carolina, with 35 goals and 51 assists in 109 games, Semin struggled in

Tagged with: , , , ,
Posted in Powerplay, Special Teams

Why teams should use 4 forwards on the powerplay

A few days ago, James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail brought up one of the first significant shifts in tactics under the Mike Babcock regime in Toronto. Parenteau playing as fourth forward on Leafs PP and scores. New look

Tagged with: , ,
Posted in Powerplay, Special Teams

The Benefits of the 4-Forward Powerplay

On Friday night I wondered aloud why coaches don’t play a 3F/1D setup during overtime, given the unpredictable nature of the shootout and the single point they’d already guaranteed themselves. And so naturally, as I often do, I started to

Tagged with:
Posted in Powerplay