The Winnipeg Jets are on tempo to make NHL historical past this season.
The Jets are main the NHL in factors on the season’s midway mark, and they’re doing so with one of many biggest energy performs in league historical past. Winnipeg has scored on greater than 32 % of its man-advantage alternatives to date and is presently the best-scoring energy play for the reason that league started monitoring power-play information within the 1977-78 season.
Having an elite energy play could make an enormous distinction for a group to make the playoffs, however it doesn’t essentially assure postseason success. Here’s a have a look at the top-five single-season energy performs of all-time, and the way every fared come playoff time.
5 Finest Single-Season Energy Performs in NHL Historical past
5. Edmonton Oilers, 2019-20
Energy Play charge: 29.5 % (59 targets on 200 makes an attempt)
Common season report: 37-25-9, 83 factors, second place within the Pacific Division.
What occurred: This 12 months’s Detroit Purple Wings are presently pacing because the No. 5 energy play in NHL historical past, however we didn’t embrace them since they should play a full season.
That is the primary of two Connor McDavid-led Oilers groups on this checklist, although 2019-20 was the Leon Draisaitl present, particularly on the PP. Draisaitl completed second within the NHL in power-play targets (16) and had 44 PP factors en path to the Hart Trophy that 12 months.
Edmonton rode its unimaginable talent and white-hot energy play to the playoffs, which have been held in a bubble at Rogers Place because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Oilers energy play stored up its scorching-hot tempo by scoring 5 targets on 17 probabilities (29.4 %), however the unconventional playoff format doomed Edmonton, which misplaced to the underdog Chicago Blackhawks in 4 video games within the best-of-5 qualifying spherical.
4. New York Islanders, 1978-79
Energy Play charge: 31.2 % (81 targets on 260 makes an attempt)
Common season report: 51-15-4, 116 factors, first place in Patrick Division
What occurred: The Islanders have been on the cusp of greatness since this was the 12 months earlier than the primary of their 4 consecutive Stanley Cup wins, and 1978-79 was the second of 4 Patrick Division titles in a five-year span.
Mike Bossy scored an NHL-high 69 targets, with a league-leading 27 on the ability play. Bossy completed with 50 man-advantage factors and was one among 4 Islanders gamers with no less than 40 power-play factors – together with defenseman Stefan Persson (40), Norris Trophy winner Denis Potvin (42) and Hart Trophy winner Bryan Trottier (44).
However the Isles’ white-hot energy play didn’t carry over to the postseason. Regardless of sweeping the Chicago Black Hawks, New York’s man benefit scored simply three targets on 31 power-play probabilities within the playoffs. The Isles PP was 1 for 20 in six video games of their upset semifinal loss to the New York Rangers.
3. New York Islanders, 1977-78
Energy Play charge: 31.4 % (71 targets on 226 makes an attempt)
Common season report: 48-17-15, 111 factors, first place in Patrick Division
What occurred: The Isles of a 12 months prior had an even-more deadly man-advantage, once more keyed by sniper Mike Bossy, who led the league with 25 power-play targets whereas scoring 53 whole targets and incomes Calder Trophy honors.
Denis Potvin once more gained the Norris Trophy, the second of his three in a four-year span, and led New York with an eye-popping 42 power-play factors. Bossy had 40 power-play factors, and 5 Islanders gamers had no less than 25 factors with the man-advantage that season.
The Islanders have been heavy favorites getting into their first-round sequence in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs, however regardless of taking a 2-0 lead, their energy play scuffled by scoring three targets on 28 probabilities (10.7 %). The Leafs gained 4 of the ultimate 5 video games, together with their 2-1 additional time victory on Lanny McDonald’s winner in Recreation 7.
2. Montreal Canadiens, 1977-78
Energy Play charge: 31.9 % (73 targets on 229 makes an attempt)
Common season report: 59-10-11, 129 factors, first place in Norris Division
What occurred: The lone Stanley Cup winner on the checklist, the 1977-78 Habs have been a machine, falling simply three factors shy of their single-season report (132) set the season prior. Ahead Man Lafleur might have led all gamers with 60 targets, however he was second on the Canadiens in power-play targets (15) to Steve Shutt’s 16.
Lafleur had 36 of his NHL-high 132 factors on the ability play, serving to Montreal end atop the league standings. Montreal then scored 14 power-play targets on 54 man-advantage makes an attempt (25.9 %) – a less-prolific charge, however nonetheless excellent – over 15 playoff video games, whereas going 12-3 and successful its nineteenth Stanley Cup championship and third of 4 in a row.
1. Edmonton Oilers, 2022-23
Energy Play charge: 32.4 % (289 targets on 275 makes an attempt)
Common season report: 50-23-9, 109 factors, second place in Pacific Division
What occurred: The 2022-23 Oilers have been an offensive machine. Led by Connor McDavid’s eye-popping 64 targets and 153 factors, they led the NHL in targets (325) and produced probably the most prolific power-play season ever.
McDavid had 71 power-play factors, and Leon Draisaitl had 62 man-advantage factors, with a league-high 32 power-play targets. Edmonton completed with 5 gamers with no less than 25 power-play factors and had three gamers – McDavid, Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – put up no less than 50 factors on the ability play that 12 months.
Edmonton’s energy play remained smoldering by the playoffs, because it scored 18 man-advantage targets on 39 makes an attempt (46.1 %) over 12 postseason video games. However the Oilers have been accomplished in by shoddy goaltending (.894 save proportion, minus-4 goals-saved above common) of their six-game second-round loss to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights.
