5 Best Single-Season Power Plays in NHL History

The Winnipeg Jets are on pace to make NHL history this season. 

The Jets are leading the NHL in points at the season’s halfway mark, and they are doing so with one of the greatest power plays in league history. Winnipeg has scored on more than 32 percent of its man-advantage opportunities thus far and is currently the best-scoring power play since the league began tracking power-play data in the 1977-78 season.

Having an elite power play can make a huge difference for a team to make the playoffs, but it does not necessarily guarantee postseason success. Here is a look at the top-five single-season power plays of all-time, and how each fared come playoff time.

5 Best Single-Season Power Plays in NHL History

5. Edmonton Oilers, 2019-20 

Power Play rate: 29.5 percent (59 goals on 200 attempts)

Regular season record: 37-25-9, 83 points, second place in the Pacific Division.

What happened: This year’s Detroit Red Wings are currently pacing as the No. 5 power play in NHL history, but we did not include them since they need to play a full season. 

This is the first of two Connor McDavid-led Oilers teams on this list, though 2019-20 was the Leon Draisaitl show, especially on the PP. Draisaitl finished second in the NHL in power-play goals (16) and had 44 PP points en route to the Hart Trophy that year. 

Edmonton rode its incredible skill and white-hot power play to the playoffs, which were held in a bubble at Rogers Place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Oilers power play kept up its scorching-hot pace by scoring five goals on 17 chances (29.4 percent), but the unconventional playoff format doomed Edmonton, which lost to the underdog Chicago Blackhawks in four games in the best-of-5 qualifying round.

4.  New York Islanders, 1978-79

Power Play rate: 31.2 percent (81 goals on 260 attempts)

Regular season record: 51-15-4, 116 points, first place in Patrick Division

What happened: The Islanders were on the cusp of greatness since this was the year before the first of their four consecutive Stanley Cup wins, and 1978-79 was the second of four Patrick Division titles in a five-year span. 

Mike Bossy scored an NHL-high 69 goals, with a league-leading 27 on the power play. Bossy finished with 50 man-advantage points and was one of four Islanders players with at least 40 power-play points – along with defenseman Stefan Persson (40), Norris Trophy winner Denis Potvin (42) and Hart Trophy winner Bryan Trottier (44).

But the Isles’ white-hot power play did not carry over to the postseason. Despite sweeping the Chicago Black Hawks, New York’s man advantage scored just three goals on 31 power-play chances in the playoffs. The Isles PP was 1 for 20 in six games in their upset semifinal loss to the New York Rangers. 

3. New York Islanders, 1977-78

Power Play rate: 31.4 percent (71 goals on 226 attempts)

Regular season record: 48-17-15, 111 points, first place in Patrick Division

What happened: The Isles of a year prior had an even-more lethal man-advantage, again keyed by sniper Mike Bossy, who led the league with 25 power-play goals while scoring 53 total goals and earning Calder Trophy honors.

Denis Potvin again won the Norris Trophy, the second of his three in a four-year span, and led New York with an eye-popping 42 power-play points. Bossy had 40 power-play points, and five Islanders players had at least 25 points with the man-advantage that season.

The Islanders were heavy favorites entering their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but despite taking a 2-0 lead, their power play scuffled by scoring three goals on 28 chances (10.7 percent). The Leafs won four of the final five games, including their 2-1 overtime victory on Lanny McDonald’s winner in Game 7. 

2. Montreal Canadiens, 1977-78

Power Play rate: 31.9 percent (73 goals on 229 attempts)

Regular season record: 59-10-11, 129 points, first place in Norris Division

What happened: The lone Stanley Cup winner on the list, the 1977-78 Habs were a machine, falling just three points shy of their single-season record (132) set the season prior. Forward Guy Lafleur may have led all players with 60 goals, but he was second on the Canadiens in power-play goals (15) to Steve Shutt’s 16.

Lafleur had 36 of his NHL-high 132 points on the power play, helping Montreal finish atop the league standings. Montreal then scored 14 power-play goals on 54 man-advantage attempts (25.9 percent) – a less-prolific rate, but still superb – over 15 playoff games, while going 12-3 and winning its 19th Stanley Cup championship and third of four in a row.

1. Edmonton Oilers, 2022-23

Power Play rate: 32.4 percent (289 goals on 275 attempts)

Regular season record: 50-23-9, 109 points, second place in Pacific Division

What happened: The 2022-23 Oilers were an offensive machine. Led by Connor McDavid’s eye-popping 64 goals and 153 points, they led the NHL in goals (325) and produced the most prolific power-play season ever. 

McDavid had 71 power-play points, and Leon Draisaitl had 62 man-advantage points, with a league-high 32 power-play goals. Edmonton finished with five players with at least 25 power-play points and had three players – McDavid, Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins  – put up at least 50 points on the power play that year.

Edmonton’s power play remained smoldering through the playoffs, since it scored 18 man-advantage goals on 39 attempts (46.1 percent) over 12 postseason games. But the Oilers were done in by shoddy goaltending (.894 save percentage, minus-4 goals-saved above average) in their six-game second-round loss to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights.