Under the umbrella: how it works

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This article was published 03/12/2014 (4031 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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THE JETS ‘UMBRELLA’ POWER-PLAY ADJUSTMENT

 

The Jets:

33 – Dustin Byfuglien

67 – RW Michael Frolik

55 – Mark Scheifle

8 – Jacob Trouba

9 – Evander Kane

 

THE BACKGROUND:

The Jets had gone seven games without a power-play goal heading into their three-game road trip last week, a streak which had reached 0-for-25 before Evander Kane scored against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

During the Columbus game the Jets unveiled a new ‘umbrella’ look on the power-play — ‘new’ for them, at least — that could also be called a 1-3-1. The Jets power-play was 2-for-4 on the power-play against the Blue Jackets (the second was an empty netter), but followed that up by going 1-for-3 against Buffalo a night later and 1-for-5 against Boston. It marked the first time this season the Jets had scored with the man advantage in three straight games.

 

BIG BUFF SCORES AGAINST THE BIG BAD BRUINS

The umbrella look helped provide the Jets with their only goal in a 2-1 overtime loss in Boston last Friday. On the play, Mark Scheifele (55), Dustin Byfuglien (33) and Jacob Trouba (3) are spread out to form the umbrella, with Michael Frolik (67) and Evander Kane (9) down low.

Scheifele feeds Byfuglien, the Bruins’ penalty killer at the top is late to come over, freeing up a simple shot toward the net. Frolik steps in front of Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask and an innocent-looking shot attempt finds its way through traffic into the back of the net.

 

J.P. ON WHY THE ‘UMBRELLA’ IS WORKING:

“Most coaches talk about moving north and south, east and west. When you get the puck down low, the penalty-kill unit collapses to try and shrink the rink. If you can get that puck moving from low to high quickly or by moving your feet, the shooting lanes and options increase dramatically.

“The key lately has been the shots getting through to the net. The Jets were getting lots of shots, but many were being blocked. What is also important is how the Jets are moving without the puck. When a power-play is stagnant and the players are set in their positions on the ice it’s very easy for the four penalty killers to defend by taking away passing or shooting lanes.”

 

J.P.’S LAST WORD

“A lot of this recent success for the Jets and their power-play has to do with confidence, too. When you’re confident, moving the puck and having success you can’t wait to get on the power-play. And when you’re not confident, it’s a lot tougher no matter what you do on the power-play.

“Just the fact they’ve had success with this formation helps breed that confidence and guys can’t wait to get on the attack with the man advantage.”

J.P. Vigier, who grew up in Notre Dame de Lourdes, Man., is a former NHL winger (Atlanta Thrashers, 2000-07) who finished his career in the Swiss league. He does Jets analysis for both TSN 1290 and Radio Canada and teaches power skating and skill development for kids of all ages (jeanvigier11@gmail.com).

— Ed Tait