Primary & Secondary Patterns on the PP

Anaheim Ducks powerplay (2026 Playoff Playbook Part 11)

One underrated aspect of coaching a powerplay is finding the sweet spot between overly predictable and totally haphazard. Ineffectual PPs tend can fall on either side of the spectrum, whereas high-functioning ones strike both via reliable primary patterns and unexpected secondary patterns.

The Anaheim Ducks are still trying to find the right PP1 mix, but the following sequence from Game 5 is a valuable proof of concept.

0:00 - ANA2 Jackson LaCombe dishes to ANA23 Mason McTavish, who protects the puck at the left flank against two VGK skaters

0:05 - McTavish’s small-area skills force VGK to over-defend the left side, opening up a station-to-station play to ANA61 Cutter Gauthier. The shooting angle and distance aren’t ideal, but the change of side, the uncontested nature of the shot and Gauthier’s high-end finishing skills make this a viable primary pattern

0:12 - Gauthier misses the mark, but McTavish retrieves the loose puck and finds ANA45 Beckett Sennecke under the goal line

0:16 - Sennecke gets the puck to Gauthier, who’s now playmaker rather than shooter. Gauthier waits for Sennecke to get lost behind the net, then deliver the puck through the crease as ANA17 Alex Killorn drives through the PK box.

Sennecke scores on the rebound as Vegas is slow to react to this secondary pattern

The Anaheim Ducks ranked 23rd in terms of PP conversion during the 2025-26 regular season. They should do much better next season if they continue to leverage this compelling one-two punch.

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Jack’s work doesn’t just present information—it connects overlooked details in a way that sharpens how people understand the game. - Adam Nicholas (Montreal Canadiens Director of Hockey Development)