Syracuse’s power play on pace to be its best in program history

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Syracuse head coach Britni Smith couldn’t have envisioned a better start to its season. In SU’s home opener on Oct. 4, it showed total dominance in a 4-0 victory over Stonehill.

Despite numerous roster changes over the offseason that remodeled Syracuse’s lineup, its chemistry appeared unphased. It displayed a relentless forecheck and received a 20-save performance by goalie Allie Kelley in the contest. Still, SU’s power play was its most lethal weapon. The unit converted on 2-of-3 chances, a feat it achieved in just three games last season.

Syracuse (2-5-0, 0-0-0 Atlantic Hockey Association) started its campaign with back-to-back wins over Stonehill, but has dropped its last five games. Despite recent struggles, SU’s power play has provided a consistent threat. Led by center Tatum White and newcomers Jessica Cheung and Jackson Kinsler, the unit is currently first in the AHA and sixth in the nation with a 4-for-13 (30.8%) rate.

“Special teams is important, so to be able to have two power play goals and be perfect on our penalty kill in game one gives your team momentum,” Smith said after Syracuse’s first win over Stonehill.

At the end of last season, the Orange lost four of their top five scorers — Darci Johal, Rachel Teslak, Kate Holmes and Alexandria Weiss. Syracuse then looked to the transfer portal and the incoming freshman class to make up for its lack of depth.

It hasn’t taken long for SU’s new additions to make an impact in player-up opportunities. Six different players have notched at least a point on the power play for SU thus far. White leads the team with two goals while defenders Charli Kettyle and Cheung have notched two points each on the player advantage.

“(We want) our team’s success to come from our depth this year,” Smith said. “We want to be a team that can play four lines and really work as a deep unit.”

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Kettyle and Cheung have led the unit through displaying patience. When the Orange maintain possession in the offensive zone, they often rely on their defenders to set up from the point. In Syracuse’s first game against Stonehill, its power play fed players on the blue line and reaped the benefits.

Already ahead 2-0 late in the second period, Syracuse received its second power play of the game. After receiving a pass from Kettyle on the right side of the blue line, Cheung had possession in the Skyhawks’ zone.

Instead of forcing a pass or quickly slapping it toward the net, she hesitated for a moment. Seeing no options and only open ice in front of her, Cheung took a few strides forward and fired home a slap shot from distance for her first-career goal.

Two games later in its first road test against then-No. 8 St. Lawrence, Syracuse’s power play ran through the points once again.

Working the puck around the back of the net, Kettyle dished to Bryn Saarela near the top of the zone. Saarela quickly zipped a snap-shot, which deflected off a Saints defender in front and slid right to White, who was in the right place at the right time to finish the rebound.

Not only has SU’s power play been guided by long-range shooting, but it also has excelled at creating time and space for its forwards. Kinsler, a sophomore transfer from Boston University, has quickly become a staple of Syracuse’s attack.

In SU’s first loss of the season against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Kinsler provided the lone bright spot for the Orange. In the final moments of a period in which SU was outshot 14-5, the forward capitalized.

Working the puck down low, Heidi Knoll passed it back to Sami Gendron at the point. Moving from left to right across the blue line, she shifted just enough to create an open lane for Kinsler along the boards. Kinsler received the puck and drove toward the goal with just one player to beat.

As she winded up for a shot, an RPI defender layed out for a block. In one movement, Kinsler faked the shot and toe-dragged around the player to give herself a clear line to the net. The ensuing shot blew past the goalie’s glove and into the back of the net.

Though the Orange are only seven games into their regular season schedule, their power play is on pace to become the best in program history. In SU’s 17 years as a program, its power play has never finished a season above 20%.

With two power-play goals this year, White is on track to finish the season with 10. The total would mark the most by an SU player since the 2014-15 season when Melissa Piacentini notched 11.

Accounting for over a quarter of its tallies this season, Syracuse’s power play performance may prove to be the difference between sitting out of the postseason or returning to the AHA playoffs.

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