Innovative Design: How Malkin, Penguins pulled off stunning power-play winner
Few things in hockey are more daunting than attempting to defend against a Pittsburgh Penguins power play.
The Edmonton Oilers learned this the hard way Wednesday by failing to keep Pittsburgh's top unit from scoring the eventual game-winner with less than eight minutes remaining in the third period.
Here's a look at how the Penguins executed their deciding strike with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins helplessly looking on from the penalty box after being called for interference.
The play began with defenseman Kris Letang (No. 58) controlling the puck in the defensive zone and preparing to lead a breakout.
Shortly after crossing the Penguins' blue line, Letang dropped the puck back to Phil Kessel (81) while Evgeni Malkin (71) came alongside at the back end of the rush.
Kessel and Malkin skated through the neutral zone uncontested, and caught up with the rest of the top power-play unit just prior to entering the offensive zone. Sidney Crosby (87) can be seen to the left of Malkin, with Letang and Patric Hornqvist (72) to Kessel's right.
As it became clear that Kessel was going to carry the puck into the zone rather than dump it in deep, the Oilers' penalty killers descended on him and Malkin. On the ice at the time were defensemen Adam Larsson (6) and Darnell Nurse (25), as well as forwards Matt Kassian (44) and Drake Caggiula (91).
Still, a quick pass from Kessel to Malkin could not be stopped, as seen from a different angle.
Malkin was able to cut between Larsson and Caggiula. Left with a clear look at Cam Talbot in net, Malkin made no mistake on the wide-open opportunity.
He promptly deposited the puck into the back of the net with a wrist shot to Talbot's glove side.
Here's the play and goal at full speed.
The power-play marker was Pittsburgh's 16th of the season, tying the Penguins with the Tampa Bay Lightning for most in the NHL. Both teams have been afforded 54 opportunities, good for a success rate of 29.6 percent. Only the Dallas Stars have been more efficient on the man advantage, scoring 12 goals on 39 chances (30.8 percent).
Malkin's goal gave him nine power-play points on the season, and the assists for Kessel and Letang marked their eighth points respectively on the man advantage.
Only Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos has more with 10, while Nikita Kucherov and the Flyers' Shayne Gostisbehere also have eight power-play points apiece.
It's remarkable that Pittsburgh was able to craft such a perfect play with Crosby acting more as a decoy than a participant, and a testament to the star power head coach Mike Sullivan has at his disposal.
Memo to the opposition: Try to stay out of the box.
(Photos courtesy: NHL.com)
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