Power plays are dwindling. What does that mean for UND?

Mar. 13—GRAND FORKS — No penalties were called in Friday's game between UND and Omaha.

That hadn't happened in a UND game since Feb. 22, 1997.

It wasn't out of the blue, though.

Power-play chances are dwindling in college hockey and the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

UND is feeling the squeeze.

The Fighting Hawks are averaging 2.91 power plays per game. It is UND's lowest number since college hockey began keeping online stats in 1999.

Twice this year, UND hasn't had a single power play. In 16 of its 35 games, it had two or fewer.

The Fighting Hawks went through a seven-game stretch in January and February where it never had more than two power plays.

It's not just UND.

Penalties are down across the board in the NCHC.

NCHC teams are averaging 3.84 penalties per game, the lowest since the league began in 2013-14. It's the fourth season in a row that penalties have declined in the league.

NCHC champion Western Michigan averages 5.7 penalty minutes per game, the lowest number of any NCAA team since at least 2001, when CollegeHockeyStats.net began compiling national statistics.

"We know the standard right now," UND coach Brad Berry said. "It takes a lot to draw a penalty. We have to make sure we play the way where we can draw more penalties. If we're in the offensive zone, it's making it hard for them to take the puck from us. It's making it a situation where when we're in a scoring area, they have to drag you down to nullify you scoring a goal."

The same trend is happening nationally.

The Big Ten, Central Collegiate Hockey Association, Atlantic Hockey and ECAC are all calling even fewer penalties than the NCHC.

Boston University is the most penalized team in the nation this season. The Terriers are averaging 13.9 penalty minutes per game.

Ten years ago, that number would have ranked eighth.

Fifteen years ago, it would have ranked 29th.

Twenty years ago, it would have ranked 56th.

"Over time, we've gotten more strict in calling penalties," NCHC director of officiating Mike Schmitt said. "I think we're tougher more nowadays with the calls. But I think players and coaches have adjusted to that. They're not taking those restraining penalties as much."

There are plenty of theories for the decline.

One is that the game has moved toward skill, especially among defensemen. Big, punishing defenders like Matt Greene who rack up over 100 penalty minutes a season are few and far between in the current era of college hockey.

Last season, no player in college hockey had more than 80 penalty minutes. This season, only one has hit 70.

Another theory is that with advanced analytics, teams can track how valuable it is to get power plays. On the flip side, they're being more cautious to avoid taking penalties.

"They try to stay out of the box as much as they can," Schmitt said. "You don't have the big, bruising play."

With a dwindling number of power plays, it puts more pressure on taking advantage of limited power-play opportunities. It also means it's more critical to be able to score at 5-on-5.

UND's power play has never been more efficient.

In the era of online team stats (since 1999), UND's three best power plays have been the last three years.

UND is at 25.5% this season. It was at 25.5% last season and 27.3% in 2022-23. All three ranked in the top 10 nationally.

"When you only get one or two power plays," Berry said, "you have to make sure that you try to score one or at least try to get momentum."

UND's most effective power-play scorers are Cameron Berg (seven power-play goals), Jayden Perron (five) and Sacha Boisvert (four).

Owen McLaughlin has 10 power-play points (six in the last five games). Defenseman Jake Livanavage has 10 power-play points. Abram Wiebe has nine.

But power-play opportunities have dried up to an even greater extent in the second half.

In the last 14 games, UND is averaging 2.57 power plays per game.

"Being a power play guy, you want as many power plays as you can get," Perron said. "But especially in playoff hockey, they're not going to be calling a lot. So, you've got to figure out a way to score 5-on-5."

UND might not be able to count on its power play to win this weekend's NCHC quarterfinal series at Omaha in Baxter Arena.

The Fighting Hawks have found it difficult to draw power plays in the playoffs historically.

UND's last power-play goal in the NCAA tournament was from Paul LaDue in the 2016 NCAA regional final. It was an empty-net goal.

That team only received three power plays in two NCAA Frozen Four games. It won the national championship due to 5-on-5 production.

In last year's NCAA tournament game against Michigan, UND only had 71 seconds of power-play time.

"If penalties aren't being handed out, as far as getting four or five power plays a game, that puts you in a situation where 5-on-5 play becomes a place you have to score more or try to generate more offense," Berry said.

This season, UND's most productive forward at 5-on-5 has been Boisvert. He's averaging 2.11 points per 60 minutes of ice time at even strength.

The next most efficient even-strength producers are Ben Strinden (1.76) and Dylan James (1.69).

Some of UND's best power-play producers have gone through even-strength scoring droughts.

Perron had a 17-game stretch this season with one even-strength point. Berg, who missed two months with a foot injury, snapped an eight-game even-strength point drought last Saturday.

When NCAA teams gather in Florida in April for annual meetings, the standard for calling penalties could be a topic.

Although this is not a rules change year, the NCAA does allow for updated interpretations.

"My message to Mike Schmitt all the time, and I think he's doing a really good job, is anything in the offensive zone, scoring areas, when you're nullifying someone — a stick on the hands, hook, slash — and inhibiting scoring chances, that's where you have to call penalties," Berry said. "A lot of times, it does. But sometimes, it doesn't."

Topics

Colts sign familiar face at kicker to roster; what does it mean for Matt Gay?

The Indianapolis Colts signed a familiar face at kicker to the roster. What does it mean for Matt Gay?
Yahoo Sports - 8h
What does February's inflation report mean for me?

Egg prices went up and airfare prices went down. Here's what to know about February's inflation report.
The Hill - 23h
What does Raiders' deal for Geno Smith mean for Sam Darnold’s free-agent options?

The Geno Smith-Pete Carroll reunion opens up a quarterback slot in Seattle, putting Darnold in play for the Seahawks.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 5
What does the first job report under Trump mean for the economy?

A new jobs report released Friday shows 151,000 new jobs were added last month short of the 170,000 jobs expected. The early data does not yet take into account the mass layoffs across the federal ...
NBC News - 5d
What does Ontario's electricity surcharge mean for New York?

A 25% surcharge on electricity from Ontario, Canada, took effect in three U.S. states on Monday in response to planned tariffs from the Trump administration. New York is the nation's biggest ...
CBS News - 3d
What does Canada’s new prime minister mean for the US?

Canada has a new prime minister-in-waiting. Following Justin Trudeau’s resignation in January, the governing Liberal Party elected Mark Carney as its leader in a landslide victory on Sunday. ...
The Hill - 1d
An Australian politician called Trump’s tariffs a ‘dog act’ – but what does it mean and how offensive is it?

A ‘dog act’ isn’t simply ruffling someone’s feathers – it’s an act of betrayal. Caitlin Cassidy explains the meaning of the Australian phrase to Julia Hollingsworth.. Follow our Australia news ...
The Guardian - 1d
Reporter Notebook: What does curiosity sound like?

Science fiction writer Isaac Asimov said, "The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' but 'That's funny...'" John Dickerson explains how ...
CBS News - 3d
2025 NFL free agency: Steelers tender Jaylen Warren, what does this mean for Najee Harris?

Warren is staying in Pittsburgh, but is Harris?
CBS Sports - 3d