System Analysis: Red Wing Power Play Drop Pass

As we draw closer to the playoffs, the ability to execute at special teams becomes increasingly important. As goals become tougher to come by, a good power play can determine the outcome of an entire season. Due to the skill of teams today, most special teams play is decided at the blue line. I’m going to breakdown how and why the Red Wing’s drop pass took their Power Play to the top of the league and why decreasing their reliance on this play could improve their efficiency even further.

The outcome of special teams situations is dependent on the ability of the offensive team to enter the offensive zone with control. To prevent a controlled entry, defenders try to match the speed of the oncoming forwards to maintain a good “gap” (the distance between the defender and the attacker). By gradually limiting this space, the defenders can disrupt the attack before the offense enters the zone. Since the penalty killers depend on maintaining a good gap, coaches design breakouts to disrupt this gap and create more time and space for their offensive players. The Red Wings do this by using a drop pass to a trailing forward. To examine how effective this play is, I tracked the Red Wing's power play breakouts over the past 15 games. During this 15 game stretch, 21 of the set breakouts that led to a controlled entry utilized a drop pass. Typically, the drop pass breakout starts with Kronwall in possession of the puck behind the net as forwards swing on opposite sides. 

Kronwall then carries into the neutral zone, forcing the defenders back as they attempt to maintain a good gap. Once Kronwall pushes the defenders back to the blue line he drops a pass back to Zetterberg.

The drop pass creates space between Z and the defenders. As a result of the poor gap, the Wild defenders are flat footed and Z is able to attack with a full head of steam.

Without the ability to match speeds, the defenders are unable to prevent Z from carrying the puck into the zone and setting up the Power Play.

Despite the success of this designed breakout, more teams are focusing on taking away the drop pass. Late in the year and particularly in the playoffs, when teams are more familiar with the opponent, the Red Wings will find more teams attempting to take away this play. We have seen this recently as the teams has only 2 successful entries following a drop pass over the last 5 games. Despite the defense’s focus on the drop pass, the Wings tend to force the pass rather than taking advantage of the available space. Here we see an example from the game against Winnipeg. Once again the breakout starts with Kronwall carrying the puck up ice. Unlike Minnesota, the Jets try to prevent the drop pass by positioning a defender behind Kronwall.

Despite the defender, Kronwall drops the puck back to Weiss. With no room to make a play Weiss eventually turns the puck over and the Red Wings are forced to retreat and regroup.

Instead of forcing the drop pass, the puck carrier needs to carry the puck into the zone themselves to keep the defenders honest. We see an example of this on the very next breakout. This time it is Datsyuk who carries the puck through center and once again the Jets' forward is positioned to defend the drop pass.

But instead of forcing the pass back through the defender, Datsyuk uses his speed and skill to push the other defenders back and gain the zone on his own.

The drop pass has worked exceptionally well for the Wings and there is no reason to abandon the play completely. However as teams take more time to scout the Wings' breakout, Detroit needs to adopt counter-moves to stay ahead of their opposition. By alternating between the drop pass and directly carrying the puck into the zone, the defense will be unable to focus on only one play, leading to more successful entries. Thankfully the Wings have the brightest mind in the game behind the bench, so there is no reason to think this PP won't maintain its place atop the league.