Fixing the power play

[Big Guava]

On 8/29/2025 at 10:38 AM, dudacek said:

 

 

And this is where Josh Norris comes in: 61.2% on PP faceoffs last year.

He's also effective on the PP in general: he averaged 3 minutes a game last year and his career goals per 60 on the PP is 2.83

These are the Sabres numbers from last year in that stat:

• Zucker 3.16
• Thompson 1.90
• Benson 1.70
• Peterka 1.61
• Krebs 1.46
• Tuch 0.95

 

 

This. Or maybe Quinn.

Bumper is the most unsettled, least effective spot on the unit. it's a spot that some teams utilize to deadly effect.

You need quick hands and quick reads to make sudden plays in tight, the ability to find seams and create space, and an accurate shot.

Benson can read plays and pass in traffic better than any other forward, but he lacks separation and a killer shot.

Quinn has the hand skills, but frequently isn't sudden enough. Still he creates separation and has a deadly wrister.

I think you lean into one of those guys, hoping Benson's shot has improved, or Quinn's willingness to get to the net and make good puck decisions has returned.

Maybe they could get Bumper to play Bumper?

[SABRES 0311]

Just my opinion on the power play. TT is obviously a threat with his one timer from the left half wall/faceoff circle. Dahlin is the quarterback at the point. To me the question is what other three fill what other roles.

Id like to see Tuch stay between the slot and crease. He can screen or move out for a slot one timer.

Norris can be the behind the net guy. His primary outlets are TT on the left half wall or Tuch in front.

Byram fills the right point and dare I say Quinn on the right half wall. They present secondary shooting/outlet options and are dangerous enough to warrant coverage. 

Scheme: Use Byram, Norris , and Quinn to spread out defenders. This opens passing lanes to the primary shooters, TT and Dahlin.

Tuch stays mobile by moving from crease to high slot and back. As he moves out Norris slides to top of the crease. As Tuch moves down Norris goes behind the net. You maintain a net front screen/tip potential.

Half wall guys (TT and Quinn) carry the puck high or low on the walls. Point and Norris are their outlets.

Center of Gravity: Puck movement high and player movement low. Defenders have to choose one to focus on. Make defenders open their box to open passing lanes.

Primary Result: TT one timer with a Tuch screen. A Tuch one timer from the mid to high slot with Norris screening or looking for a rebound.

Secondary Result: Dahlin shot from the point with a Tuch screen, Norris on the rebound. Or a Quinn one timer on a Tuch screen.

[DarthEbriate]

27 minutes ago, SABRES 0311 said:

Just my opinion on the power play. TT is obviously a threat with his one timer from the left half wall/faceoff circle. Dahlin is the quarterback at the point. To me the question is what other three fill what other roles.

Id like to see Tuch stay between the slot and crease. He can screen or move out for a slot one timer.

Norris can be the behind the net guy. His primary outlets are TT on the left half wall or Tuch in front.

Byram fills the right point and dare I say Quinn on the right half wall. They present secondary shooting/outlet options and are dangerous enough to warrant coverage. 

Scheme: Use Byram, Norris , and Quinn to spread out defenders. This opens passing lanes to the primary shooters, TT and Dahlin.

Tuch stays mobile by moving from crease to high slot and back. As he moves out Norris slides to top of the crease. As Tuch moves down Norris goes behind the net. You maintain a net front screen/tip potential.

Half wall guys (TT and Quinn) carry the puck high or low on the walls. Point and Norris are their outlets.

Center of Gravity: Puck movement high and player movement low. Defenders have to choose one to focus on. Make defenders open their box to open passing lanes.

Primary Result: TT one timer with a Tuch screen. A Tuch one timer from the mid to high slot with Norris screening or looking for a rebound.

Secondary Result: Dahlin shot from the point with a Tuch screen, Norris on the rebound. Or a Quinn one timer on a Tuch screen.

Swap Tuch out for Zucker and you’re probably spot on (with Byram if they ever add the D2). Zucker is better on the PP historically than Tuch has ever been, including saving the PP from being league-worst single-handedly last season. Zucker gets deflections, goes to the net, and wins possessions. Save Tuch for PK1 and PP2. 

[dudacek]

I think we’ll probably see Zucker, Tage and Dahlin back in the same spots, with Tage being asked to move around more.

Norris will be on PP1, I’m just not sure if he’s bumper or in Peterka’s old spot.

If he’s in Peterka’s spot Im concerned they’ll make the mistake of Tuch in the bumper again.

If they put him in the bumper, I think Kulich might get Peterka’s spot, which makes sense if they’re looking for the guy most able to give what Peterka gave.

But part of me thinks they will be giving Quinn every opportunity to be a 30-goal man and Appert will be pushing hard to get him on PP1.

Im not expecting them to change their approach much in terms of how they set things up.

Me I’d kinda like to see Byram added for motion and Benson for traffic play because the PP Ned’s more passing.

I think Quinn has the skill set to be excellent on the PP but he was too unreliable last year. 

Tuch would not be a PP1 option for me.

Something like this with lots of rotation and the low guys setting some things up for below the goal line

      Quinn.      Benson

Dahlin.                      Byram 

                  Tage

PP2 

      Tuch           Zucker

Norris.                 Kulich

              Power

[Carmel Corn]

IMHO - the team still needs a player who is a puck handler capable of gaining access to the offensive zone.  We can't rely on dump and chase to reacquire possession and then setup, but rather somebody who can maintain possession getting over the blue line.  

[Mustache of God]

The team needs to learn how to get both the puck and the players moving once they establish possession. They all seemed to stand still once they got the puck and just passed it around the perimeter before eventually taking a low % shot. I can't believe Tage only had 7 PP goals last season, that  needs to increase. It seems like teams figured the guy covering him could cheat a little bit knowing the Sabres players really don't move around a lot. 

I wouldn't mind seeing Tage and Kulich on both walls and Dahlin can help cycle the puck to open up some space for one of those guys to start ripping one timers.