Goligoski Key to Improved Powerplay

The Penguins started the season slightly lacking on their powerplay (0 / 13 opportunities) and have recently improved to 11 / 40 since then (27.5 %).

According to assistant coach Mike Yeo who oversees the team's powerplay units, one of the keys to the Pen's successful turn-around has been rookie defensemen Alex Goligoski.

“He’s not playing like a rookie out there,” assistant coach Mike Yeo said. “He’s showing great composure when he gets the puck. He’s making some great reads. “Every team plays differently and you have a bunch of different options out there. It’s up to the player to choose the right option and he’s done a great job with that so far.”

With top defensemen Ryan Whitney and Sergei Gonchar out of the lineup due to injuries, Goligoski stepping up as the point-man on the powerplay has been crucial to the Penguins!

Here's Goligoski take on the situation:

“On the power play, we’re starting to move it around a little better,” Goligoski said.
“The last couple of games, we’ve been pretty good. It’s a learning process. I’m out there with some really good players. I’m not highly relied on with those guys (on the ice). It’s been going pretty well.”

“Everything is a little bit better,” he said of the NHL. “It’s a little faster, a little more physical, a little smarter. Everything is a level up. I can’t specifically point to one thing but the overall game is just better. It’s going as well as expected, I guess.”

Taken from the Penguins webpage: Goligoski scored the Penguins first power-play goal of the season with one second left against the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 5. It was also Goligoski’s first career NHL goal. He also has 6 points made up of three goals (two were on powerplays) and three assists in 11 games this season.