RSS
Home
2009-10 Season Preview: Power Play combinations
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Like all line predictions before the season starts, mine were way off base.
So, I will forgo putting up the third scoring line.
At best, my predictions were good for discussion.
And now with the final lines in place, fans can move on…to special team line predictions.
The biggest improvement on the power play from last season will be the play of Erik Johnson.
He will no doubt quarterback the first unit with a lot of firepower up front that had success last season.
PP1: Brad Boyes – Andy McDonald – Paul Kariya
Erik Johnson – Carlo Colaiacovo
Boyes was the sniper of the unit last year, setting up shop around the right face-off dot. His one-timer became an effective weapon combined with the playmaking skills of McDonald.
McDonald and Kariya’s speed will only make this unit more effective with the man-advantage.
We saw Kariya’s power play expertise early in the season before his injury. Hopefully he can pick up where he left off. I think Kariya's vision and experience can vault this combination to another level. He has the ability to see the seems in the defense, move the puck effectively and find the scoring opportunity.
Colaiacovo was given Johnson’s duties last year when he was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs and performed well. His skills moving the puck out of his own end and connecting the breakout pass were invaluable with the absence of a real quarterbacking defenseman. I’d like to see him improve his shot from the blueline, but his first duty will be moving the puck along the line to Johnson.
He and Johnson also have the ability to carry the puck into the zone, rather than playing dump and chase.
Johnson showed his booming shot from the point during the 2007-08 season and fans are hopeful his golf cart mishap and missed season don’t hinder the production of the first unit.
