Power-Play Performance: Hockey Backgrounds and Road Trip

power-play performance: Against Boston, we had a tough time, according to Toronto Star. They were quick and they pressured us in our own zone, so set-up is very important, Gardiner said after the Leafs worked diligently on their power-play game plan for a second straight day before heading out on a three-game road trip that starts Wednesday night in Winnipeg. Order this photo By Mark Zwolinski Sports reporter Tues., Oct. 18, 2016 They come from widely different hockey backgrounds, but defencemen Jake Gardiner and Nikita Zaitsev share the same perspective on the Leafs' so-far fruitless power-play performance: it very much a work in progress. Gardiner was referring to the Leafs' 4-1 home-opener win over Boston on Saturday, in which they went 0 for 4 with the man advantage to make it 0 for 8 through two games. Having several newcomers on the power play, including top rookies Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, is a factor but not an excuse, the Leafs say. While it a small sample size, special teams production is a high priority after a season in which the Leafs had the second-worst conversion rate in the NHL and the fourth-fewest power-play goals. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.