Canucks: 2021 Playoff picture is tied to power play success

The Vancouver Canucks had the fourth-best power play just one year ago and appeared to be “just scratching the surface” of what they were capable of becoming. But in the 2020-21 campaign, the team’s two deadly man-advantage units have become completely average. Vancouver’s 2019-20 conversion rate of 24.2% sinking to just 17.4% through 19 games in 2021.

It’s a severe and alarming drop in offensive production, especially when you consider just how much the Canucks relied on their special teams in order to be a winning team last season. Through offseason changes and roster moves, it appears that the 2021 Canucks operate the same way — with the power play being vital to overall success. The only difference is that the power play this year has yet to find its groove.

It should only be a matter of time until Vancouver’s man-advantage group gets back on track, but considering the fact that their top unit features the same five players from last season (Elias Pettersson, Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes), it shouldn’t be taking this long.

“We weren’t making the plays. We weren’t breaking in the puck like we normally do. I think we just have to keep high standards. This year, the power play hasn’t been as good as we want to want it to be, but we’re talking about it before every game and practice, working on it every chance we get.” said Pettersson post-practice on Tuesday.

The top unit certainly hasn’t been terrific, but can’t be the only ones to blame. One thing the power play isn’t getting this year is extra help from unit two. Vancouver’s second unit hasn’t scored while up a man this year and has surrendered two shorthanded tallies. That’s concerning when you factor in their contributions from 2019-20. The Canucks’ powerplay converted 69 times that year and the second unit potted 19 of those goals.

Fiddling with options, Travis Green hasn’t been able to find the right fit for unit two. Nils Hoglander has been a terrific addition to the line, but for whatever reason, the chemistry hasn’t formed between players. On defence, Nate Schmidt hasn’t been the dynamic, power play specialist he was brought in to be, and NHL veterans like Tanner Pearson and Tyler Myers haven’t been able to step up and convert.

With a record of 7-11-1, the Canucks currently find themselves in sixth place of a seven-team all-Canadian division. And playing a condensed 56-game season in a very short amount of time, the Canucks need to find their power play now.

Vancouver is back in action tonight against the Calgary Flames.