Why the Detroit Red Wings’ power play has worked so well?

The Detroit Red Wings have been one of the biggest surprises in the Eastern Conference so far this season, winning five of their first six games and putting themselves in the playoff conversation in the early going. Many of their new additions have played a big role in their early success, particularly the ones that are on their dynamic power play.

Their power play currently sits third in the league with a 34.3% success rate, and that’s helped their league-leading goal scoring pace at the moment. Part of that success has been because of their zone entries, and how they’ve utilized them to quickly capture offensive zone pressure.

Jon Goyens joined Tyler Yaremchuk and Colby Cohen on Daily Faceoff Live to talk about what’s allowed the Red Wings power play to work, including their zone entries.

Jon Goyens: You realize that they’re coming at you in waves in terms of speed. They do use the power play drop from time to time, and they use it a lot on regroups, however they’re using more of a crisscross between Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat to come in with a lot of speed with options of kick outs with Shayne Gostisbehere and David Perron. Perron, really quickly, one of the more flexible power play guys out there. He’s been able to play the one-timer side, the downhill side, the bumper position, and goal line position.

Now you’re talking about one of the best power plays in the league that’s playing with two defensemen. Give them credit for putting a power play together based on the ingredients they have, and not based on what everybody else is doing. When we go to the numbers, last year this time they were 18.8%, this year they’re 34.3%, so I think it is a mix between having DeBrincat, but let’s not kid ourselves, Moritz Seider is the poise of that power play, and he’s phenomenal.

You can watch the full segment, including a video breakdown, here…