This article is part of our The Man Advantage series.
Here's a look at power plays to target this week, and some others that are running cold.
HOT POWER PLAYS
Colorado Avalanche
When their top line is rolling, the Avalanche usually win. Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen have combined for 12 power-play points in the last two weeks, more than any pair of teammates in the league. Their torrid scoring has helped convert six of 15 chances during the Avs' four-game winning streak, and it has vaulted their power play to a tie for first with the Jets at 30.4 percent. The Avs have four games this week and all four opponents have penalty kills that rank in the top half of the league, but the smart money is still on the Avs' unstoppable duo.
Florida Panthers
They have a top-10 power play that's gone 7-for-14 in their last six games, including six points from Keith Yandle the past two weeks. They've lost three consecutive games since losing Vincent Trocheck to injury, but his replacement, Mike Hoffman, has filled in with two goals and an assist in three games. The Panthers may not get their season back on track at all, but their top players should continue to be top power-play performers. Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau and Evgenii Dadonov are on pace to set career highs in power-play goals.
Minnesota Wild
The Wild had scored at least one power-play goal in five consecutive games before going 0-for-6 against the rival Jets, but at least they pulled out a
Here's a look at power plays to target this week, and some others that are running cold.
HOT POWER PLAYS
Colorado Avalanche
When their top line is rolling, the Avalanche usually win. Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen have combined for 12 power-play points in the last two weeks, more than any pair of teammates in the league. Their torrid scoring has helped convert six of 15 chances during the Avs' four-game winning streak, and it has vaulted their power play to a tie for first with the Jets at 30.4 percent. The Avs have four games this week and all four opponents have penalty kills that rank in the top half of the league, but the smart money is still on the Avs' unstoppable duo.
Florida Panthers
They have a top-10 power play that's gone 7-for-14 in their last six games, including six points from Keith Yandle the past two weeks. They've lost three consecutive games since losing Vincent Trocheck to injury, but his replacement, Mike Hoffman, has filled in with two goals and an assist in three games. The Panthers may not get their season back on track at all, but their top players should continue to be top power-play performers. Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau and Evgenii Dadonov are on pace to set career highs in power-play goals.
Minnesota Wild
The Wild had scored at least one power-play goal in five consecutive games before going 0-for-6 against the rival Jets, but at least they pulled out a 4-2 win. A big reason for their success recently has been the play of their second unit, specifically Mikko Koivu and Matt Dumba, both of whom have scored five power-play points in the last two weeks. The Wild spread out their talent and run 1A and 1B units, so it makes betting on any individual player more difficult, but as a whole the team's power play ranks 11th in the league and one percent shy of cracking the top 10.
COLD POWER PLAYS
Columbus Blue Jackets
They've gone 1-for-9 on the power play in their last five games, Artemi Panarin and Zach Werenski have not registered a point with the man advantage since Nov. 9, Boone Jenner since Nov. 6, and Josh Anderson's still looking for his first. The second unit has fared much better, thanks to Cam Atkinson's hot hand, but overall the team continues to struggle and its power play now ranks 25th. John Tortorella is as stubborn as they come, but you wonder if it's time to maybe make a change or two, if only to shake things up temporarily.
Dallas Stars
Maybe their MVP is John Klingberg after all. Since losing their star defensemen, the Stars have gone 2-for-25 on the power play, dropping their ranking to 21st in the league and their efficiency to a five-season low. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin have just one power-play point between them the last two weeks, and that's a huge problem, especially considering offense is the team's greatest strength in a tough division. Jim Montgomery has tried both Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell on the point with no significant results, but it looks like he will stick with his top line and Jason Spezza with Heiskanen or Lindell until it starts to click.
Detroit Red Wings
The Dead Things are no longer the Dead Things with six wins in nine games, but their power play hasn't made a sound in five games. Their last goal with the man advantage came on Nov. 13 against Arizona, when Dylan Larkin banked it off the stick of Michael Rasmussen, who had been knocked down onto the ice just moments earlier. They've gone 0-for-11 since and none of Jeff Blashill's combinations have worked, though it's clear he prefers a four-forward setup with either Dennis Cholowski or Mike Green on the point. One forward pairing Blashill used earlier this season but hasn't since is Anthony Mantha with Andreas Athanasiou; maybe if the situation gets more desperate he might just do it.
Edmonton Oilers
Maybe under Ken Hitchcock they'll do better, but the Oilers have gone 5-for-26 in their last 10 games, including a three-game stretch in which they failed to score a single power-play goal. Connor McDavid has just two power-play points in the last two weeks, and it's unacceptable to have a team with two superstars to have such a mediocre power play. They still don't draw a lot of penalties, though that's improved this year. Reinforcements are coming with the acquisition of Chris Wideman, and having another right-hand shot defenseman may help, but expectations aren't high when the cost is a conditional sixth-round pick.
Vancouver Canucks
Scoring goals were a problem during the Canucks' eight-game losing streak when they went 5-for-31 on the power play, including 1-for-5 on Long Island and 1-for-6 in Minnesota. The silver lining is that Sam Gagner has been called up, providing Travis Green with a serviceable playmaker on his roster, and Elias Pettersson continues to amaze in his rookie season. With a five-game homestand coming up, this might be a good time for the travel-weary Canucks to turn it around. However, without Brock Boeser in the lineup the Canucks can only count on Pettersson to do so much.
