Nashville Predators Power Play
Overall Grade: F
Look no further into why this team is barely outpacing last season's disaster than the 30th ranked power play. They at least climbed out of last place in that department with an Evangelista power play goal last night in the losing effort to Tampa Bay.
There's no way this team is even sniffing 80 points in the standings if this power play doesn't improve greatly. It's so baffling to see the skill level, even if they're past their primes, not be able to at least be around a 20 percent power play.
The main issues I see with this power play is no one ever seems to be on the same page. Everything looks rushed and like it's the first time any of these guys have ever skated with each other. A lot of indeciviness and second-guessing.
There is also the issue of overall team speed. They have a hard time exiting the zone after the puck is cleared and a really hard time even breaking through the neutral zone to even get set up. Usually by the time they do get set up, time is ticking and they have to rush it.
The great power plays around the NHL get set up fast and camp in that zone. They're methodical and wait to strike for that perfect moment that the goalie has very little chance to stop. The Predators on the other hand usually look like they're panicking right away and making way to many extra passes rather than just forcing the goalie to make a save at least.