Freshman forward Jessica Sibley has scored nine goals this season for a share of the team lead.

But it was her power play goal in the first period of Friday night’s game that extended the Orange’s division-leading mark to 24.

For the Orange (12-9-2, 4-4-2 College Hockey America), the power play has been a usable tool to exploit its opponents’ weaknesses. When on the advantage, the foundation for SU’s power play success comes down to two things.

“We’re best on the power play when we move the puck quickly and connect on tape-to-tape passes,” Sibley said.

With Sibley’s goal, Syracuse has now converted on at least one power play opportunity in each of its last seven games.

It has become a daily routine for the team to split up into two squads during practice, with each team alternating focus on defending and converting power plays.

Head coach Paul Flanagan attributes his team’s success on the power play to its ability to move the puck around and produce quality shots while on the advantage.

“[The power play] is the kind of play where we’re trying to get the goalie moving side-to-side and get the killers in transition,” Flanagan said. “Sometimes we’re very predictable in that strategy and it doesn’t always work out.”

The occasional struggle for Syracuse on the power play could perhaps be attributed to being overambitious or energized, according to junior forward Allie LaCombe. In addition, she acknowledges the high intensity of each power play scenario.

“One bad pass breaks down everything and you go back to the other end and start all over,” LaCombe said. “It’s all about controlling our energy and making good passes.”

On paper, Syracuse has looked almost equally impressive defending as it has possessing the power play. SU has yielded 18 goals on the penalty kill, which is good enough for second best in the conference.

Flanagan’s goal of a 90 percent penalty kill has been unobtainable for Syracuse so far this season. Despite allowing a power play goal Friday against Rochester Institute of Technology, Syracuse has maintained a respectable 84 percent kill rate on opponents’ power play opportunities.

“On the penalty kill, it’s a lot of hard work on our side,” Flanagan said. “It’s all about staying in shooting lanes and making sure we’re determined in blocking shots.

“The old adage goes that your goalie is the best penalty killer on the ice.”

Indeed, SU keeper Jenesica Drinkwater has been a vital part of the counter attack, responsible for allowing only eight power play goals this season.

As she’s quarterbacked the Orange’s defense, Drinkwater has helped the shorthanded SU squad whittle down the remaining seconds of each penalty kill.

“Blocking shots is our number one goal,” Drinkwater said. “The more shots we block on defense, the easier it is on me in the goal.”

Drinkwater faces a unique battle on the ice during each penalty kill. She reiterated the challenge of keeping her eyes on the puck at all times after yielding a power play goal on a shot she couldn’t get a glimpse at.

The senior goalie is the last line of defense for a defensive unit that prides itself on debunking the opposition’s power play.

Junior defenseman Kaillie Goodnough is one of several important killers for the Orange and had a scaled down interpretation of SU’s penalty kill.

“We all just need to bear down,” Goodnough said. “Working harder never hurt anyone.”

Published on January 22, 2014 at 1:43 am

Contact Connor: cgrossma@syr.edu | @connorgrossman