Solving the JVA Special Team Issues

It is clear that if you have watched Pennsbury's JVA team play hockey, their power play unit is more of a "powerless play unit" and there is one crucial reason why. Well, they don't have a set power play unit. Special teams is a very critical part of any hockey game and normally the team that does the best on the power play or penalty kill ends up with the winning tally at the end. What the coaches need to do is evaluate and set their power play units. I have had a few combos for both that they could work on, you can't just send the unit you just had on the ice out and call it your Power Play Unit. Overall, the penalty kill has been solid but there is some things the coach can do to get creative with the power play. Here is how I look at it

Power Play 5 on 4 Unit 1

Millen-Boltersdorf-Perlstein

Costello-Lefbvre

Now, plenty of people may question the having a forward at the point, but if you have someone who can run the side of the point and has fast skating to get back on defense why not? Kyle Okposo and Doug Weight do it for the Islanders, Mike Richards does it for the Flyers, Evgeni Malkin does it for the Penguins and so fourth. Having Lefbvre operating the power play would make sense as he usually does, being the best offensive defenseman the team has. Costello has displayed his slapshot on many occasions and it is one hell of a shot. The power play is the perfect time for him to mutilate this and use it to the Falcons advantage. If anyone, Costello is the man to do it. Having Perlstein, the team's leader in points only makes sense and he showed in the game against North Penn that he has good chemistry with Jason Millen, who has strong work ethic and a good wrist shot;Millen scored twice against North Penn. Boltersdorf provides the power with his size and he was also apart of that line's success in the North Penn game. At this point in the season, it doesn't hurt to try and maybe netting more goals for Ben Herring on special teams would help. Especially when you are given the chance to capitalize on the extra man.

Power Play 5 on 4 Unit 2

Stitt-Morrow-Michael
Gindhart-Faro

This second unit could produce with it's fair share of time as well. Faro has shown he can be a balanced defenseman and Gindhart has shown he can rip a shot when he hits the net and his aggressiveness could be useful with the extra man as long as he doesn't get too aggressive. Stitt has a powerful shot and playing aside Morrow, he may get the chance to display it. Morrow has displayed nice passing out there and playing with Jeff could polish the stat sheet as well. Michael is what I would call an underdog player, he has a very nice shot and on the goals he has scores this season he has shown it. IF the Falcons can keep it in the offensive zone, that is when he plays his best. Faro is known for taking initial shots and creative rebound opportunities so if someone plays out front, they can go for the big finish.

Penalty Kill

Having Perlstein play on any penalty kill unit would only make sense as he has displayed to be the best forechecker on the team, this has given Perlstein a few steals for breakaways. Liana Eyre is a very good skater and when she has the puck, she normally dumps it in the offensive zone for the "dump and chase" so her skating tagged on with her aggressive play in the defensive zone. Paul Kim is a defenseman who is more of a stay at home guy and playing with a big hitter like Lefbvre backing him up would lead to a solid unit, no matter if they were to be paired on the first or second unit. This would leave a familiar pairing of John Gindhart and Derek Faro, who have shown some chemistry together on the ice. The Falcons actually have every forward that is a solid penalty killer. Sean Costello has shown great ability to break through multiple defensemen, backchecking forwards and he could make a scene. It's a wonder he doesn't get much playing time. Players like Hank Kaufman give it a nifty clear when they get the puck and as long as Herring or Stitt stands tall in net, the penalty killing unit should be fine.