Power play and save struggles

#ChicagoWolves trying to capitalize another PP #CHIvsTOR pic.twitter.com/B0qbvIu3mQ

— Courtney Terlecki (@coco_terlecki) May 11, 2014

The power play is a fascinating advantage that you don’t see in many other sports. In basketball you get free throws, in football you get penalty yards, but in hockey you take a person off the ice for a up to a few minutes.

Yet teams like the Chicago Wolves have had difficulty capitalizing on these opportunities.

The Wolves were last in the AHL in power play percentage in the regular season. While their first round of playoffs fared slightly better, they have continued to struggle.

Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals proved again that the Wolves are lacking in a vital area as they went 0-for-3 in the power play.

Game 2 against the Toronto Marlies has not changed.

A PP chance from the line of Jaskin, Aucoin, and Cracknell slides just wide before MacIntyre makes a diving stop. #CHIvsTOR

— Chicago Wolves Live (@ChiWolvesLive) May 11, 2014

Late into the second period, the Wolves had two power play opportunities, and were unable to score on either.

#ChicagoWolves get a few looks with the extra man, but MacIntyre continues to come up big for the Marlies. #CHIvsTOR

— Chicago Wolves Live (@ChiWolvesLive) May 11, 2014

Outside of the power play, the series thus far has had an uneven match up between goaltenders; Jake Allen of the Wolves and Drew MacIntyre of the Marlies.  Through the playoffs leading up to Game 2, Allen averaged 3.24 goals allowed, while MacIntyre averaged only 1.5.  Allen had a .882 save percentage, and MacIntyre saving .953 percent of shots attempted.

Through the first period of Game 2, MacIntyre was 8-for-8 on goals saves while Allen only 4-for-7.

While the Wolves have generally managed to maintain a slight lead on shots, Allen will need to step up for the team to have a chance in this series.

#ChicagoWolves get a flurry of chances late in the period, but MacIntyre turns them away. #CHIvsTOR

— Chicago Wolves Live (@ChiWolvesLive) May 11, 2014

The #ChicagoWolves have controlled much of the play the last few minutes, but haven’t been able to get one past MacIntyre. #CHIvsTOR

— Chicago Wolves Live (@ChiWolvesLive) May 11, 2014

At the close of the second, with the Wolves still scoreless, MacIntyre continued to show strength with saves.

At close of the second period, MacIntyre goes 13-of-13 for the save, Allen 14-of-17

— Courtney Terlecki (@coco_terlecki) May 11, 2014

With the struggle on the power play coupled with the Marlies advantage at goaltender, the Wolves will continue to struggle if they can’t turn it around for Games 3, 4 and 5.