The NHL's Newest Power Play Breakout Wrinkle... 3rd Man Slingshot
Exploring the 'third man' power play slingshot
Set breakouts are a core piece of an effective power play (PP). Typically, a power play break out serves to simply enter the offensive zone where the unit can set up and go to work generating chances.
But every once in a while, there is a set PP breakout that generates directly off the entry. These are rare, as the penalty kill (PK) adjusts to take that away and use the red and blue lines to their advantage.
Last time we checked in on this subject, we looked at Jussi Jokinen’s Finnish Controlled Power Play Breakout, which created direct offense. That has made way for the drop pass PP breakouts that we see in the NHL so often today. The new wrinkle we’ve seen recently is what we are calling the ‘third man slingshot’.
Exploring the Third Man Slingshot
Exploiting speed differentials is key in any sport. Creating space is often the job of the second man (the pass receiver/dummy), while exploiting that space offensively is the job of the third man (Neither passer or receiver/dummy). We’ve touched on this briefly within soccer and the context of recently vacated space.
Here is an example of this play in action:
Those stretch/pin players push back the PK formation to spread things out and push defenders deeper in the neutral zone.
Justin Faulk (#72 white) carries the puck with speed, effectively pushing defenders further back. Meanwhile, Robert Thomas (#18 white) and Jordan Kyrou (#25 white) generate speed with their low turns up the ice. So far, it looks like a very standard starting point for a PP breakout in today’s NHL.
Usually, the player gaining the big speed differential is the player receiving the drop pass, while the rest of the team is caught stopping at the offensive blueline. That player receiving the drop pass then navigates the neutral zone (NZ) to try and enter the offensive zone.
In this case, the biggest speed differential is actually Kyrou (#25 white) at the bottom of the screen, which has regrouped below the stretch/pin players. Noticing that the best advantage on the ice is no longer his, Thomas passes to Kyrou at full speed. A great finish to a wonderful set play/read scores the goal.
Another great detail is Blues defenseman Jake Neighbours (#63 white) setting a small pick of the Seattle defender. You can see his stick completely in the air and scrambling to recover.
Let’s watch this again a few times. Focus on a different player and their role each time. It’s a thing of beauty!
It’s only a matter of time before more teams in the NHL try this out.
Further Reading