Oilers Mistakes Provide Valuable Insights for the Toronto Maple Leafs

#3: The Oilers Power Play Fizzled Out

Overall, the Oilers’ power play finished the postseason at a 29.3% clip. But that number includes the Cup Final.

When looking at the Cup Final alone, the Oilers’ power play went 3 for 22, good for a 13.6% rate. Specifically, the Oilers did not score with the man advantage in the four games they lost while going 0 for 2 in Game 6, which they won.

Beyond the loaded top unit, the Oilers’ second power play unit was non-existent.

No one beyond McDavid, Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins, Bouchard, Hyman, and Ekholm registered a power play tally. Only Evander Kane and Darnell Nurse registered one power play assist apiece.

Similarly, the Maple Leafs top power play unit is as lethal as they come. But when the power play goes ice-cold, there is no one there to pick up the slack.

All too often, we have seen the Leafs fall short with the man advantage, giving other clubs an opportunity to neutralize the Leafs’ attack.

This postseason, the Leafs finished at the bottom of playoff clubs with a 4.8% power play percentage. Needless to say, that won’t cut it for a team looking to make a deep run. Moving forward, Craig Berube will need to balance both power play units to make life hard for opposing defences.

Assuming the Leafs can improve their consistency on the power play, there is cause for optimism as the club hopefully makes the playoffs next season.