The NHL's last-rated power-play unit is taking in another makeover.
The St. Louis Blues, who went 0-for-4 in a 5-1 loss against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, shuffled the deck for the umpteenth time in an effort to get its man advantage some sort of boost.
At 10.6 percent heading into action Wednesday, the Blues were just behind the Philadelphia Flyers (10.8 percent) in power-play futility.
So what they did was here:
Some of the most notable changes included putting point men Torey Krug and Scott Perunovich on the same unit, with Krug playing the right flank.
"Me and 'Kruger' were laughing about it because a couple years ago, we were playing 3-on-3 and me and him were out there and we were pretty good together," Perunovich said. "He said something like, 'It's about time,' or something, just joking.
"We're similar players and we think the game similar. I'll try to get the puck in his hands, he'll try and get it in mine, move it over and just kind of different looks."
It's interim coach Drew Bannister taking a guy regularly playing the point and feeling comfortable putting more puck handlers on the same unit.
"I think 'Kruger' played a little of that in Boston too off the flank with him and [Brad] Marchand," Bannister said. "They would switch up every once in a while, so I think he's comfortable in that position, but both of them move the puck well, they have good vision and I think you could see today, they scored a few goals. That unit was really good out there."
Also, Oskar Sundqvist and Jake Neighbours occupied the net front positions, something Bannister feels is lacking. And Colton Parayko with his big hammer slap shot will be used on one point.
"I think the biggest thing we're missing right now is our net front presence," Bannister said. "We switched up 'Jakey' because he's done a real good job at the net front. That's why we made the change at the net front. That's why we made the change with that today and also with 'Sunny' being at the net front helping with retrievals. We've moved different guys into different positions.
"Obviously we've moved [Jordan] Kyrou and Robby [Thomas] on different flanks here at times. 'Buchy' [Pavel Buchnevich] stays in the middle because 'Buchy' is good in the middle and it's hard to find guys that are good and enjoy playing in the middle. That second unit today, we feel like we need more of a net front presence. That's why we put 'Sunny' there. 'Saader's [Brandon Saad] been good in the middle; he's been able to score there. The switch up of the 'D,' I think we just want to give a different look on the first unit to have somebody different up top to have more of a shooting presence. That's why 'Pary' was up there today."
For a stretch there, the Blues were hitting at roughly a 20 percent clip right around when Bannister came on board, but since Christmas, they're at 5.6 percent. They had one at the beginning of the third period down 2-1 but did nothing with it, yet another chance to make a difference in a game.
"It's frustrating. We'd be lying if we said it wasn't," Neighbours said. "Power plays are meant to make differences in games. So far this year, we haven't really done that. In saying that, we're not even at the halfway point in the season yet and there's a lot of time left. I think 'Otter' [assistant coach Steve Ott] told us a couple games ago on our last 10 games or something, we were 20 percent. It's coming around, but finding it consistently is something that we're still striving to do. Shuffling it around, give guys different looks make sense and just be more direct, try and get stuff to the net and keep doing what we're doing. We're getting a lot of really good looks. It's just a matter of finishing them."
Even in going 0-for-4, the Blues had eight shots on goal, but for all the positives in the buildup is fine and dandy, the end result continues to lack.
"I think we're getting a lot of good looks since, I can't remember the date, we're almost 20 percent," Perunovich said. "Even yesterday, that top peeper unit was buzzing around, they had a lot of good looks, they were moving the puck around well. Just kind of have to stick with it, but I think it's been a lot better as of late. We've got a lot of guys, a lot of skill guys. Hopefully we can come together.
"I think I definitely need to be more of a shooting threat. I've been saying for a while now that I just have to do it, plain and simple. Obviously I like setting guys up and I like putting guys in certain positions, but once I start shooting, it opens things up more. That's definitely something I'm getting too predictable in and need to work on."
And the bottom line for Bannister is results, and that's why another change is in order.
"Yeah I think so. I think it's time," Bannister said. "We've continued to kind of be patient with the power play. Obviously we are getting good looks, but as I mentioned yesterday, we have to find ways to score. I think changing it up, changing the look. A lot of the same guys are out there other than 'Sunny' net front on the one unit and 'Jakey' switched up to the other unit. We switched the d-men up a little bit. But I liked the look. Guys moved the puck around here pretty good here today, so hopefully that continues."
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