Paul Maurice and Company have work to do on Powerplay

by Bob Wage on Sep 14, 2009 10:49 PM EDT

Paul Maurice directs traffic for the Carolina Hurricanes. (photo by LTD)

The Carolina Hurricanes' powerplay finished the 2008-09 regular season near the middle of the NHL with a success rate of 18.7%. Detroit and Washington were both at the top and achieved at better than a 25% clip while the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Rangers finished last at 12.7% and 13.9% respectively.

But what happened in the playoffs? The Canes dropped to 10%, ahead of only St. Louis and Montreal, two teams who failed to win a single game in the postseason. During the summer, the club not only lost two players (Anton Babchuk and Dennis Seidenberg) who regularly played the point while the team was with the man advantage, but they also chipped in huge point contributions. So, what's the plan for this year?

I recently had a chance to ask Paul Maurice, who will play the point?

"One direction I think we will be looking at this year is moving Matty Cullen back there," Maurice said. "He was very good back there a couple of years ago. Then the powerplay struggled a bit and they changed some personnel around. But we think that Cullen will go back there. Joni Pitkanen would play about 36 minutes a night if given his choice, so he's going to be a big part of that. And Joe Corvo has that huge shot, obviously. Then we have a couple of other guys like Alberts, who can skate well and move the puck, and Ward, we'll be looking for shots from them. But we are going to need to move a forward to the back and probably work with that for awhile. But we aren't going to be flipping around, pulling a lot of different guys back there."

It sounds like the coaching staff will be trying a few different scenarios, to see what works best. Some teams have their number one defenseman double shift and stay on the point for almost the entire powerplay, and Pitkanen might get a taste of that. And Matt Cullen did have success at the point when he was healthy.

But Aaron Ward and Andrew Alberts averaged less than 20 seconds of powerplay time between the both of them last year. It will be interesting to see what they do with their chances.

One thing seems certain, the "Powerplay Professor" Ron Francis will have his work cut out for him this preseason.

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awesome, im curious to see how it all shakes out. Cullens one of my favorite players on the team. Hes sneaky, he can finish, and hes a great chemistry kinda guy.

by TylerA7707 on Sep 14, 2009 11:03 PM EDT reply actions

From that quote it sounds to me like he doesn’t have a clue what is going to happen. Maybe have one of our defensive defensemen there to stop the possiblity of a shorthanded goals and one offensive guy to run the show. I like how he said first that he was ging to try some people out and later that there wouldn’t be many changes. Maybe we’ll use all of our centers on the ice at once.

by EricinSC on Sep 14, 2009 11:24 PM EDT reply actions

Think of the games we could have and should have won last season because of the failed PP.

I see it getting worse instead of better with no star on the point except Corvo. Of course we haven’t seen our new team yet, but it may be our downfall next season. Hopefully Cullen will come through like we know he can. The powerplay should be our #1 priority since we were one of the top teams last season to draw penalties from opposing players and one of the least penalized teams in the NHL. We gave up a lot of points we should have scored.

by c59 on Sep 14, 2009 11:31 PM EDT reply actions

“Then we have a couple of other guys like Alberts, who can skate well and move the puck”

Uhhh… what?

-Jonathan Hawkins
My Site | Canepedia

by DaleCooper on Sep 15, 2009 12:37 AM EDT reply actions

I was anticipating this topic

It seems that they are really banking on Joni. hopefully rodney, being the pp specialist, shows what he can do and makes the team. If not, we could be one injury away from having a dismal pp.

Right now only corvo, joni, and cullen have decent experience playing the point (in the nhl). they (coach lav) put staal back there, but that didn’t work out so well.

I think this is why rutherford said that rodney’s spot on the team was his to lose.

Or maybe alberts is a better skater and has a better shot than we all thought?

by briney on Sep 15, 2009 1:08 AM EDT reply actions

When did JR say that about Rodney? I must have completely missed that one.

Still not a crook!

by TrickyD26 on Sep 15, 2009 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I think he ws quoted saying that sometime before the end of last season. I know he said it, but cant remember when. Bob mentioned it here

by briney on Sep 15, 2009 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions

forgot link

try this

by briney on Sep 15, 2009 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh ok, so this was a while back. Thanks for the info!

Still not a crook!

by TrickyD26 on Sep 15, 2009 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Personally I’m rooting for Rodney to make the team and then join the PP unit, mostly because he was extremely friendly, and came over to talk to me when he had a break during the conditioning tests on saturday!

by mariokohler on Sep 15, 2009 2:08 AM EDT reply actions

I think McBain would be the better fit for the powerplay. He’s a natural offensive defensemen (BTW, little grammar sidebar, but is there a better term than that? He’s not saying things that are offensive, he’s just looking to score, but I digress). The only problem with putting a rookie on the point is that it sets you up to give up short handed goals. Even still, I’d like to see McBain get some time there this season if/when he gets a call up.

by C-Leaguer on Sep 15, 2009 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Hmmm? Looks like I ain’t the only one that loves Cullen and wants to puke over the PP. I think this is the one place Bab’s was a huge help. If he would of learned to aim that cannon he would of had maybe 10 more goals. Alas, would of, should of and could of. I don’t see Alberts being the guy for sure. Cullen will do well, but he can’t do it alone, we need snipers. Think Stillman, sneaky sob that as soon as you lose track he shows up at the corner of the net. Bodies to the net will get these guys going, course with out a Holmstrum or Franzen most teams in the league seem to suffer at this. Maybe Alberts big ass parked in the grill of opposing net minders is his new calling. Maybe just pounding shots on net and not looking for some cutsie pass? While the stats may put us around 500, the PP sucked and has sucked for awhile. I think this is a key area and Rod the Bod and Yelle’s prowess in the circle should give the PP a chance if it clicks.

by Paladin6 on Sep 15, 2009 6:21 AM EDT reply actions

Tuomo had some success screening during the playoffs, IMO. Cole some too. Maybe now that Babs is gone they can find willing volunteers to stand in the face of death-defying slapshots :-)
I see Yelle more on the PK than the PP.

by Caniac1026 on Sep 15, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah, ruuts did have the most success @ the front, screening. But, I’m thinking the reason they brought in Alberts (and may even Kost.) is to take some of that burden off of Ruuts. Ruutu, like Joikinen, is so versitale and could play many positions on the power play (maybe even the point??).

To be parked out in front, you’ve gotta have some grit, be willing to take a beating, and have great hands. Eric Cole has 2 of these three – hands of stone.

by briney on Sep 15, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

To run the point...

you have to be able to skate…. Ruutu cant skate. =)

by packpigskinfan25 on Sep 15, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I pretty much agree with all three of you. Ruu did do some dirty work. Proof that you need a tough thick skinned dude up there. I also agree he ain’t the guy to run it. Actually when Cullen was on he was a specialist, I’d like to see him get more than the nod, i’d like to see him get thrown into it. Not sure why Cullen is so streaky, but sometimes he can be the best guy on the ice. I think he does well under pressure and is able to handle it long term. I think if they say here it is and let it ride for a couple months and tweak in around him with the rest of the talent, we may find the answer. Joni, Jussi, Ruu, Ray, Sami, Staal, Rosie, etc…there has got to be a combo in there that is deadly with an extra man.
That said, i don’t think cole has the hunger anymore, particularly to do trench warfare infront of the net.
I’d be interested to see Alberts, hell if nothing else that big ass will be a killer screen!!

by Paladin6 on Sep 15, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Seems like Mo said that Thursday is “Powerplay Day” at Camp (in the video yesterday). Maybe a good day to spend an hour at the RBC.

A Jussi- fan from Dallas jumped in when this came up over the summer to say #36 would be a big help and performed well for the Stars. Think Stillman, sneaky sob that as soon as you lose track he shows up at the corner of the net. – From what we say in the playoffs (on a few key golas), you could sub Jokinen for Stillman in this sentence without dropping a beat.

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by Carolyn Christians on Sep 15, 2009 7:49 AM EDT reply actions

Power-Play

I agree we do need a stronger power play. From what I remember from the playoffs last season we need to be better in the power play area of the game. Cullen is a great addition to the team. Should help a lot on the power play.

robert

by BOOBY on Sep 15, 2009 10:10 AM EDT reply actions

Sometimes I think you’re on here just messing with people. :) Is this Chad LaRose?

by yeaus on Sep 16, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL – good one.

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by Carolyn Christians on Sep 16, 2009 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Power Play

I have always thought that we need to post a big guy in front of the net to block the goaltenders view – a la Detroit ! It does not make sense to put Staal in front of the net to let the D-man take shots at him. Staal had a lot of success paying point with his laser, and also remember Walker came to the NHL as a D-man.
Let’s show the league that hockey can survive in the south !!!

by McCorkle on Sep 15, 2009 7:18 PM EDT reply actions