On the surface, the concept of using five forwards on the power play makes total sense: In an advantageous situation, why not send out your five best scorers, who typically are forwards?
Although NHL coaches have been slow to embrace the five-forward setup, it has gained some traction this season, including in Toronto. Over the past seven games, the Maple Leafs’ No. 1 power-play unit has featured Michael Bunting, Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares. (Other teams that have deployed five-forward units this season include the Blackhawks, Bruins, Canadiens and Panthers.)
The results have mostly been encouraging. In 19:47 of ice time, the Leafs’ souped-up top unit has scored three goals on 51 shot attempts — a true shooting percentage of 5.9. That includes 27 shots on net, 14 misses and 10 blocked attempts.
“As I said when we went to five forwards, I don’t see it as a long-term solution,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters Monday. “But I’ve been happy with what we’ve seen from it, and I think we owe it the opportunity to grow and really see it, rather than overreacting to one thing that might go wrong or might not look good.”
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Keefe said that before Marner was left to fend for himself against a charging Brandon Saad, who maneuvered around Marner on the Blues’ game-opening shorthanded goal Tuesday. On the flip side, Bunting ripped an inner-slot shot past Jordan Binnington to tie the score in the third period. Those two plays encapsulated the high-risk, high-reward nature of the five-forward configuration.
Bunting, who has taken the place of Morgan Rielly and Rasmus Sandin on the No. 1 unit, has benefited most from the new arrangement, scoring twice from the bumper. On Bunting’s power play goal Tuesday, the threat of Matthews on the back door drew the attention of Blues defenceman Niko Mikkola, leaving Bunting wide open in the slot.
“He’s really upped his competitiveness in the last couple (of) weeks, and he’s been a huge part (of) our success,” Matthews said.
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St. Louis' shorthanded goal aside, Marner’s ability to read plays from his perch atop the attacking zone has given Keefe less reason to have a defenceman there. Marner has blocked five clearing attempts over the past seven games, extending offensive zone possession time for Toronto.
“Mitch has done an incredible job in managing his role on the power play in terms of distributing the puck and being in good spots,” Keefe said. “(He) really hasn’t made many mistakes.”
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Keefe has been particular about when he puts the five-forward unit on the ice. Eight of its 20 shifts have come with the Leafs trailing. Another five have come with the Leafs up by multiple goals, lessening the impact of a shorthanded goal against. Unsurprisingly, all 20 shifts have started in the offensive zone.
Few teams can match the Leafs’ firepower up front. The sight of Bunting, Marner, Matthews, Nylander and Tavares on the ice at the same time must be terrifying for opposing penalty killers.
“We need to give it a little bit of time if we’re serious about it, and we are serious about it,” Keefe said. “We’ve seen enough progress to be able to let it breathe a bit.”
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