Perspective: The Lions' super dominance must be dismantled - a secret weapon in the fourth line

MILANO.

The Lions have a problem: the power play isn’t working.

The first power play looks like one of the toughest in Finnish history on paper. Miro Heiskanen on the blue line. Mikael Granlund on the left side distributing. Mikko Rantanen on the right shooting. Sebastian Aho in the center of the square and Roope Hintz in goal.

It should be translating to the scoreboard. That hasn’t happened yet, and it hasn’t been particularly close.

Of course, it’s important to remember that the tournament is just beginning and there haven’t been many opportunities to play on the power play: twice in the first game against Slovakia and now four times against Sweden.

Six power plays, zero goals. Although there have been relatively few power play opportunities so far, the power play has not given any reason for cheers. Right now, there’s no reason to expect it to improve like magic.

In my view, one big problem is that all players on the first power play are left-handed. This means that the threat of a direct shot comes from only one side. At this level, it makes it much easier for the penalty kill unit to operate when they can completely “forget” the one-timer threat from the other side.

The Lions’ head coach Antti Pennanen does not share my view, but firmly believes that the pieces are in place for the first power play.

– It doesn’t scream [right-handed], it has the right pieces. It will definitely work. We haven’t had much power play, that should be remembered. It has the right pieces, Pennanen responded to SuomiKiekko after the Sweden game.

The absolute minimum requirement for such a completely left-handed power play would be to run the play almost exclusively from the left side. This way, Granlund could distribute passes for a direct shot to both Heiskanen on the blue line and Rantanen across the ice. If the play drifts to the right side for long periods, nothing really happens.

In an ideal situation, there would be a gap for Patrik Laine, but speculation is pointless. In fact, there are a couple of interesting right-handed players in the current team who could be given a chance on the first power play: Joel Armia or Oliver Kapanen.

Kapanen was in the stands against Slovakia. He was brought into the lineup for the Sweden game, but didn’t get any ice time. Therefore, Kapanen’s spot on the power play might be hard to come by.

But what about fourth line Armia? The guy is already on the second power play. Against Sweden, Armia showed – while on the penalty kill – just how skilled he still is. Rantanen aptly said after the Sweden game:

– He is an underrated player. Skill-wise, he is at the level of top lines. He is a really important player for us.

So important that he could be tried on the first power play alongside elite-level playmakers?

Jaakko Perttilä
X: @JaakkoPerttila