PITTSBURGH — Last offseason, when the Penguins coaching staff huddled to discuss areas in which the team could improve, the focus quickly shifted to special teams.
With assistant coach Mike Vellucci in the fold last year, the Penguins implemented a high-pressure kill that ideally puts opponents under stress up the ice and also at the blue line. The point was to limit zone time and thus limit scoring chances.
However, the strategy and the execution often weren’t on the same page. The Penguins finished last season with the NHL’s fifth-worst penalty kill, snuffing out just 77.4% of opposing power plays.
