NHL Teams Struggle With Power-Play Slumps

Several NHL teams are trying to fix underperforming power plays despite having capable offensive talent. New Jersey has scored on 17.5% of its chances, with captain Nico Hischier accounting for four of its seven power-play goals; too much passing and too few shots are cited as problems. Montreal’s power play has slipped from a top-10 unit last season to 29th at 11.4%, with injuries to Ivan Demidov and Nick Suzuki prompting coach Martin St. Louis to keep testing combinations, including moving Kirby Dach onto the top unit. Another proposed Montreal adjustment is to give Zachary Bolduc, who has scored two of the team’s four power-play goals, a larger role while keeping Lane Hutson in a position that suits his playmaking. Los Angeles, meanwhile, is seeking better results after ranking 28th last season, with faster puck movement and more effective use of Artemi Panarin’s passing and Adrian Kempe’s shooting among the suggested solutions.