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Inside the unlikely Maple Leafs power play unit taking the NHL by storm

 (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
Mitcher Marner celebrates a power play marker from Nazem Kadri, something he’s been doing a lot recently. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)

One of the most remarkable stories in the NHL this season has been the rise of the Columbus Blue Jackets, largely on the strength of a league-best power play. In recent weeks, however, Columbus has returned to earth going 5-5-0 in its last 10 with its famed power play dropping to 17th league-wide since the calendar turned to 2017.

In that time, another team has emerged as the league’s top 5-on-4 threat: The Toronto Maple Leafs. This (calendar) year the Maple Leafs have scored 12 power-play goals in 10 games and converted on a league-best 38.7 percent of their opportunities with the man advantage.

This flurry in scoring is not being done by the prolific Auston Matthews, or even the club’s current power-play points leader William Nylander. Instead, the Maple Leafs have assembled a rather unassuming quintet of Nazem Kadri, Tyler Bozak, James van Riemsdyk, Mitch Marner and Nikita Zaitsev that has caught fire and accounted for 11 of the 12 goals in question.

The group is an odd one for a number of reasons. First of all, there is no thunderous point shot penalty killers must account for. Zaitsev has one goal in his first 45 NHL games, and it took lucky bounces off Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Steven Oleksey’s stick and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury’s mask for it to go in:

He has scored as many as 12 goals in a season at the KHL level, so there’s likely some potential for growth, but Shea Weber he is not.

Even outside of the point, the Maple Leafs’ new grouping lacks an Alexander Ovechkin or Steven Stamkos who can bury high-velocity one-timers with consistency. Nylander has some potential in this area, but no one on their new top unit fits the bill.

Despite the lack of conventional weaponry, there is no arguing with the unit’s results of late. A rag-tag band with two rookies – and three veterans who combined for 33 power-play points last season – can’t be stopped right now.

How are they doing it? By playing very specific roles and playing them well.

Here’s a look at 2017’s scariest power play unit piece-by-piece:

Nazem Kadri

2017 PP Goals: 5

2017 PP Assists: 2

Role: The Finisher

No one has piled up more goals for the Leafs recently than Kadri, who tied his career-high of 20 with two markers on Monday night, including an impressive power-play tally:

The 26-year-old has primarily accomplished this of late with a concerted effort to drive to the net, but as the play above shows he’s not just dangerous hovering around the blue ice.

After a remarkably poor shooting year in 2015-2016, Kadri is back on track and the established Marner-Bozak-van Riemsdyk unit has meshed with him perfectly and consistently fed him the puck with excellent results.

Mitch Marner

2017 PP Goals: 0

2017 PP Assists: 7

Role: The Creator

Sometimes Marner gets criticized for his tendency to distribute the puck rather than seek his own opportunities, but his style fits perfectly in this grouping. The 19-year-old is the one who brings a touch of magic to the unit, using his speed to create space and finding his teammates’ sticks in tight spaces.

Against the Canadiens on Jan. 7, he flashed his creativity by embarrassing Weber with a behind-the-back pass to set up Bozak for an easy finish:

Marner’s power-play goal totals are likely to remain fairly modest as the 164-pound winger isn’t going to camp out down low anytime soon. Even so, his ability to imagine and execute wildly ambitious passing plays in a split second is what makes him special and those around him better. The success of this group belongs to Marner more than anyone else.

James van Riemsdyk

2017 PP Goals: 2

2017 PP Assists: 7

Role: The Net Presence

Having a big, strong guy stand in front of the net on the power play seems simplistic to the point of crudeness, but it’s undeniably effective.

There aren’t many players in the NHL who can create a disruption in the crease like van Riemsdyk. He pairs that ability with the kind of hands that have him scoring goals almost no else can:

In a fairly unusual squad, van Riemsdyk is the most conventional piece, which is far from a criticism. He screens goalies, moves defenders and deflects point shots. All things that need doing to make life for everyone else easier.

For instance, on a Kadri goal against the Washington Capitals, his ability to draw attention at the net allows his teammate to glide in from the slot and bang one in.

The power forward has also put up more than his fair share of assists. While some of them have been of the rebound variety, he’s no slouch passing the puck.

Tyler Bozak

2017 PP Goals: 3

2017 PP Assists: 4

Role: The Slot Man

Bozak probably plays the most versatile role on this power play and it shows in his goal and assist totals. His initial task is to win the faceoff, but from there he seems to fill in the gaps where he’s needed.

One of the things the 30-year-old centre has reliably done well during his career is shoot the puck. He has a career shooting percentage of 15.6 and a respectable 36.8 percent success rate in the shootout because of his dangerous wrister.

As a result, Bozak can often be found creeping into the slot looking for a shot. When his teammates can find him in traffic he’s a good bet to convert his chances, as he did against Ottawa on Saturday:

Nikita Zaitsev

2017 PP Goals: 0

2017 PP Assists: 2

Role: The Facilitator

On paper, Zaitsev has contributed very little, with only two points to show for his time on this unit. That said, the 25-year-old rookie has been a steady hand, holding the line and spreading the puck.

When the opposing penalty killers put the pressure on down low Zaitsev has been a solid outlet for his forwards. He reliably maintains possession, pivots, and re-directs the play where it needs to go. His contributions here are quiet, but essential.