(Photo Credit: @GoldenKnights on X/Twitter)
When the Golden Knights get a power play, everyone in the arena knows what’s coming. Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Tomas Hertl, Mark Stone when he’s available, and leading goal-scorer Pavel Dorofeyev. It’s a menacing unit that has spent the better part of the last two seasons scoring at an extraordinary pace.
Typically, that group, considered the first unit, has the chance to operate for a majority of the power play time available. To illustrate just how often they play, the Golden Knights have been on the power play for 95:47 this season. Marner has been on the ice for 81:27 and Eichel’s been out there for 79:58.
You want competition. I still believe that first unit is elite when they are healthy and going. It’s good for the second unit to feel part of it. They know the other unit is going if they feel fresh. -Bruce Cassidy
In each of the last two games, the second unit has used its time wisely. No one has been more effective in that regard than Colton Sissons. The 4th line center, most known for his faceoffs, was recently inserted onto the power play as a net front presence. He’s been on the ice for just 2:36 of power play time, and the Golden Knights have scored twice.
I’ve got to give Sissons credit. Both goals he’s been parked right on top of the goaltender, legally, taking his eyes away. -Cassidy
Look at his positioning on each goal.
We just want to get some action at the net. We don’t have a ton of time usually when we get out there so I’m trying to get some traffic in front and guys are making some great shots. -Colton Sissons
Last night, Sissons was on the ice for 34 seconds and Theodore for just 40 with the man advantage. They say the key when they have such a limited amount of time is to keep it simple.
We have guys at the net, we have sticks in front, we’re getting good looks on the weak side. It was a great shot from Smith the other night, and I was fortunate enough to find the net too. -Shea Theodore
Last season, the second unit scored just four times the entire season, including the playoffs. The two in the previous two games have opened up an opportunity for Cassidy when making decisions on the bench. He says it’s always tricky trying to decide whether or not to allow the first unit to keep working or pull the plug and go to the second group.
It makes your job easier when those other guys are creating scoring chances. -Cassidy
Don’t expect Cassidy to shift to a 50/50 split between the two units moving forward. He’s mentioned many times that he believes the most effective power play units are loaded up and get a majority of the ice time. But, if the second unit keeps converting, he’ll be a little quicker to give them the chance, and that’s healthy for a power play that has found its sea legs again.
