The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed a notebook article discussing the Red Wings’ suddenly competent power play under new assistant coach Alex Tanguay:
With the addition of assistant coach Alex Tanguay, more offensive depth, and some simple career growth, the Wings look sharper on the man advantage, having scored goals in each of the first two games and clipping along at a 28.6% success rate.
Small sample size but quite good so far.
“They have an understanding of what Alex wants them to do, which is pretty simple,” Blashill said. “Quick puck movement, take what’s given, be ready to attack.”
Special teams are a big component of success in the NHL. If a team takes advantage of the power play, and conversely is effective at killing penalties, it’s likely they will be a winning hockey team.
Blashill is pleased with the way the power play has looked, but he was quick to add it’s a long season and there’s room to grow.
“We’ve got to keep getting better at it,” Blashill said. “It’s going to be a big piece of success. I gave our guys a stat before the year, that in the last five years if a team won the specialty teams battle, 76% of the time you’re going to win the hockey game. That’s a huge percentage. So let’s find ways to make sure we win the specialty teams battle.”
