Maple Leafs and Flyers Expected To Use Same Unorthodox Tactic Against Each Other

The modern hockey game has shifted towards more offense with how much talent is now available on a nightly basis and one of the areas in which we see that on full display is with most of the NHL's power play units.

At one point in time, a power play clicking at 20% was seen as top-tier, but things have shifted so much in recent years that 25% is the new norm. For teams that feature a lot of talent, like the Toronto Maple Leafs, creativity is at an all-time high and it shows with their 5-forward first PP unit.

Generally speaking, most teams will operate with 4 forwards and 1 defensemen on both units, but there are off-chances where we see a fully loaded 5-forward first unit.

The Maple Leafs have given this tactic a decent amount of run recently with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies.

It's still not a very common trend despite some of the talent that some teams have at their disposal, but for at least one night, we will be watching a game with two 5-forward first power plays units as the Philadelphia Flyers have joined in on the fun as well.

The Flyers' power play has been abysmal this season, but that's not surprising considering how they've ranked in recent years. They set an NHL record last year after finishing with the worst power play league-wide for the third straight season, and this year is no different as they are ranked 30th.

They enter tonight's game on a 0-for-30 run in the month of March, and while they've tried to change things up in recent weeks, they've finally caved today and have committed to forming a 5-forward unit.

It will be interesting to see how both teams defend the power play as well with their respective penalty killing units. The Flyers' penalty kill has sagged in recent weeks as well, which gives Toronto a leg-up on in the special teams battle.

Tonight's game is a big one for Toronto and can be perceived as a trap game. They dropped a 5-2 contest to Nashville on Saturday and will look to avoid the same fate tonight with the Flyers having gone 1-9-1 in their last 11 games.