Penguins break up forwards Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin on power-play units in practice
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Radim Zohorna was in a familiar place during the Pittsburgh Penguins’ practice session Thursday in Cranberry.
The front of the net.
But the context was different.
The 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward was on the top power-play unit.
So was fellow journeyman Vinnie Hinostroza along with mainstays such as All-Star forwards Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel and defenseman Erik Karlsson.
Meanwhile, the second until comprised forwards Evgeni Malkin and Reilly Smith, formerly of the top unit, skating with the likes of forwards Jeff Carter, Alex Nylander and defenseman Kris Letang.
Breaking up Crosby and Malkin might seem drastic. But considering the team has failed to score a power-play goal for the past five games — including a bleak 0-for-5 performance in a 1-0 home loss to the New York Rangers on Wednesday — no augmentation can be dismissed as irrational.
“The last power-play goal we scored was against (the Buffalo Sabres) at home (on Nov. 11),” Zohorna said. “That was a long time ago. The power play is one of the most important things in a game. It’s a game-changer. We need to work on it.”
To further illustrate how futile the Penguins have been with the man advantage, the goal Zohorna referenced came in a 4-0 home win against the Sabres. Karlsson was credited with a goal after he forced a pass to Crosby only to have Sabres defenseman Erik Johnson inadvertently redirect the puck into their own cage.
That is their only power-play goal in 20 chances over their past eight games. For the season, the Penguins are 7 for 51, equating to a success rate of 13.7%, 25th best in the 32-team NHL.
That is clearly an unacceptable rate of return for a team with a menagerie of All-Stars and MVPs on its roster.
“We, obviously, have everything we need to be a successful power play, especially when we have one more guy than the other team on the ice,” Karlsson said. “We’ve just have to figure out a way to be successful together. We haven’t really found a consistent level of that yet. We’re still searching for it.”
The Penguins have broken up their stars in previous years when the power play has hit rough patches going back to Dan Bylsma’s time as coach nearly a decade ago. Rarely has that division of labor lasted more than a game or two. On Thursday, current coach Mike Sullivan suggested the groups the team used Thursday might be a temporary deployment.
“We feel like, as a staff, that a little bit of change might be a good thing at this particular point in time,” Sullivan said. “It could be a short-term thing. It might not be. … Listen, these guys care. They care a lot. They’re proud guys. When it doesn’t go the right way, nobody feels it more than them. Sometimes, a little bit of change can free up the mindset a little bit (and) get an opportunity to simplify the game. We’ll see where it goes.”
With each unit, a point of emphasis appeared to be having someone go the front of the net to create an impediment for the goaltender. That’s nothing new for the massive Zohorna.
“I was net-front on the power play with the (second unit),” said Zohorna, who has played that role with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League and in the professional ranks in his native Czechia. “I was on the flank, I was net front, I’ve been everywhere. I feel good everywhere.”
Top-six right wingers Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust aren’t feeling too good at the moment because of undisclosed injuries that have sidelined them. Their absences have allowed Hinostroza to claim an assignment — albeit temporary — with the top unit skating alongside All-Stars such as Crosby and Karlsson.
“You let those guys do their thing,” Hinostroza said. “I try to create space for them and try to be there in the middle as that top guy in the middle of the power play. Always available if they need an outlet. Either get a shot or try to kick it back to one of them. We’ll see what happens. Just try to listen to them. Observe as much info as you can because everyone has different tendencies.
“Trying to learn that stuff today.”
Part of that learning process Thursday involved some very rudimentary methods. At one point, each unit skated against a trio of defenders in two tripod “dummies” and assistant coach Ty Hennes (as well as a goaltender).
Much of that was done in hopes of realizing the cliched “simplifying” of the power play.
What’s the best way to describe that pursuit?
“To me, it just means don’t try to beat (an opponent) one on one if there’s other (teammates) on the ice,” Hinostroza said. “Move the puck, get it behind (the opponent). … Not trying to overcomplicate things, make too many plays, not make the beautiful play. Sometimes, it’s just got to be a greasy chip-in or something like that.”
Given the futility with the man advantage, the Penguins will take a power-play goal of any stripe.
“When you win, you keep it the same,” Karlsson said. “When you don’t, things get changed up. Sometimes, it makes sense. Sometimes, you just got to do it to change something. Hopefully, it can get us going a little bit and we can move forward.”