One-Man Power-Plays

by Hawerchuk on Feb 8, 2010 9:00 AM EST Comment 2 comments

I thought this was an interesting list - players who were on the ice for the highest percentage of their teams' power-play goals. Clearly power-play usage has changed over the years - Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr went on the ice for every PP and didn't come off the ice until the Bruins scored or the penalty was over. Brian Leetch is probably the last player to have been used in this manner.

Player	Team	Season	PP+	Tm PPG	PP%
Esposito	BOS	1972-73	67	67	100.0
Esposito	BOS	1973-74	65	65	100.0
Potvin	NYI	1976-77	56	56	100.0
Mikita	CBH	1967-68	37	37	100.0
Esposito	BOS	1969-70	80	81	98.8
Orr	BOS	1970-71	79	80	98.8
Potvin	NYI	1977-78	70	71	98.6
Macinnis	STL	1998-99	60	61	98.4
Leetch	NYR	1991-92	79	81	97.5
Orr	BOS	1969-70	79	81	97.5
Esposito	BOS	1970-71	78	80	97.5
Lemieux	PIT	1987-88	106	110	96.4
Persson	NYI	1978-79	78	81	96.3
Marotte	LAK	1972-73	50	52	96.2
Esposito	BOS	1971-72	71	74	95.9
Leetch	NYR	1998-99	68	71	95.8
Kariya	MDA	1994-95	22	23	95.7
Leetch	NYR	1990-91	87	91	95.6
Lysiak	ATF	1973-74	42	44	95.5
Orr	BOS	1973-74	62	65	95.4

The list over the last decade is somewhat more defense-heavy:

Player	Team	Season	PP+	Tm PPG	PP%
Gonchar	WSH	2002-03	54	57	94.7
Boyle	TBL	2006-07	65	69	94.2
Ovechkin	WSH	2008-09	80	85	94.1
Kovalchuk	ATL	2003-04	55	60	91.7
Zubov	DAL	2001-02	55	60	91.7
Weight	EDM	2000-01	54	59	91.5
Gonchar	PIT	2006-07	85	94	90.4
Kovalchuk	ATL	2007-08	47	52	90.4
Timonen	NSH	2001-02	43	48	89.6
Leetch	NYR	2000-01	58	65	89.2
Savard	BOS	2006-07	63	71	88.7
Malkin	PIT	2008-09	55	62	88.7
Zubov	DAL	2002-03	55	62	88.7
Phaneuf	CGY	2007-08	52	59	88.1
Gonchar	WSH	2001-02	51	58	87.9
Tarnstrom	PIT	2003-04	57	65	87.7
Bure	FLA	2000-01	40	46	87.0
Enstrom	ATL	2007-08	45	52	86.5
Housley	CGY	1999-00	51	59	86.4
Tverdosky	MDA	2000-01	57	66	86.4

It was really only a small number of coaches during a short period of time who kept a small number of truly dominant players on the ice for the entirety of every PP. Indeed, eight of the 20-highest percentages of all time are from Harry Sinden (as coach and GM) keeping Esposito and Orr on the ice at all times.

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My brother and I were noticing the other day that Boudreau works Ovechkin into the ground on a regular basis, so there’s “hope” yet. Now if only Washington didn’t have so many damned good players…

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by Bettman's Nightmare on Feb 8, 2010 12:38 PM EST reply actions

Ovechkin and Mike Green usually play the point for at least 1:30 of a PP. When the PP is on fire they all move around a good deal though and sometimes Brendan Morrison or Tom Poti will man the point.

What's ya major, dude?

by HBK on Feb 9, 2010 10:41 AM EST up reply actions