Craig Berube on why the Maple Leafs receive so few power-play opportunities: "You'd have to ask the league"

"Well, I am not making excuses. We get one power play a game, maybe two. That is a little bit of a problem, for sure. In saying that, we have to do a better job of executing on our power play with the chances we have. For me, we haven't executed well enough. That is really what it boils down to. There have been plays that we've had in tight, or good chances, and we've missed the net, or we just didn't execute well enough. That is the biggest thing for me."

"Do you want to see more shot volume on the power play? Berube: No, I think we have been shooting the puck. If I look at the stats, we are one of the top teams in shooting the puck on the power play. That's good; it's not a problem, and we have to keep shooting it and attacking, but we need to execute better on our grade-A chances."

"I don't know. You'd have to ask the league. In the last eight games, our zone time in the offensive zone has been really good and has gone up. To me, you work in the offensive zone and make people take penalties. We just have to stay with it. We can't focus on it or worry about it. We just have to keep doing the work we're doing. Eventually, it will come around."

The Maple Leafs are leading the league in five-on-five goals while ranking near the bottom in power-play percentage. The team averages only one to two power plays per game and must improve execution on grade-A opportunities despite already shooting the puck frequently on the man advantage. Offensive zone time has increased over the last eight games, which should produce more penalties if sustained. William Nylander has started the season strong. The Robertson–McMann line is noted for its play. Joseph Woll has been assigned to the Marlies for a conditioning stint, and practice lines show Matthews with Knies and Nylander.

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