The Vancouver Canucks have struggled 5-on-5 as of late, but the power play has remained strong and continues to be the main reason for the team’s success. The Canucks will need to stay inside the top 10 for special teams if they wish to make the playoffs.
We are 25 games into the Vancouver Canucks 50th season and the biggest highlight this far has been the dominant power play. The incredibly dangerous threat has the Canucks sitting pretty, currently 4th place league-wide, sporting an impressive 26.7 percent conversion rate. On top of that, the Canucks lead the league in goals scored on the man-advantage. They went into Monday night’s contest with 27 power play goals. Who could have possibly seen that coming?
For a first unit power play to be successful, all the right pieces need to fit into place and mesh well with one another. One man can’t do it all himself. Even the “King” of the one-timer, Alex Ovechkin needs a good supporting cast in order to light the lamp while up a man.
According to, Frank Seravalli of TSN, Elias Pettersson just might be the next best thing, calling him, “The Prince” of the one-timer. Some very kind words from the reporter, but he might be on to something here. It’s no doubt that Pettersson has an amazing shot, we’ve all seen it time and time again. But in order for Pettersson to get that filthy shot off, he needs to be fed the puck from a reliable source — insert the rookie roamer, Quinn Hughes.
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The jaw-dropping defender got promoted to the first power play unit seven games into the season and he hasn’t looked back. The power play saw an immediate upgrade and personally, I can’t recall a better quarterback in years prior. Confidently, I can say he’s the best offensive-defender the team has ever had and I don’t think many people would argue that.
The Orlando, Florida native has the most power play points among all NHL defencemen with a whopping 13. He is ahead of franchise players such as, John Carlsson, Drew Doughty, Erik Karlsson and every other back end threat the league has to offer. What an accomplishment considering he spent the first handful of games on the second unit. You can be sure that he is forever a lock on unit one.
Last season, Brock Boeser was the fourth forward slotted in at the point for wrist shots from the left circle. This year, he has been moved to left wing in favor of moving Pettersson to the point with Hughes. His hand-eye coordination has been superb and serves as a last line of defence as opposing teams attempt to dump the puck.
Boeser has found success in his new spot and with the umbrella formation having Hughes at the top, it gives him two options for one-time bombs — Pettersson on the right and Boeser on the left. Two absolutely deadly shots to choose from at each wing with two great puck retrievers in J.T. Miller and Bo Horvat screening the goaltender in front and gaining positioning for rebounds.
The first unit power play for the Canucks combines for a total of 58 points. Pettersson is tied for 3rd in the league with 15, trailing only Connor McDavid (21) and Leon Draisaitl (16). Hughes leads all d-men with 13, while Boeser, Horvat and Miller all have 10 each.
There are five Canucks players all sitting in the top 16 for power play points, but why? The team is clicking on all cylinders and the Canucks know they have to maintain this success if they want to make a playoff push.
So what do you think, Vancouver fans? Will the Canucks puck luck run low, or is this powerhouse of a power play unit legit? Can they maintain the course and make a push for the playoffs? Time will reveal the answer, but at this point, I’m happy to have Petey and Hughes on our side. The rookie sensation feeding the puck to the “Prince of the one-timer” is just the beginning. The best is yet to come.