The Toronto Maple Leafs are coming off a 5–0 win at home against the Vancouver Canucks. The Leafs have now obtained 16 out of 18 possible points since the end of last year, and are now just one point out of a playoff spot.
What stood out in this recent stretch was the Leafs’ power play. The power play has been phenomenal and has been a reason why they have been winning hockey games. Last night, for example, the Leafs went two for four on the power play.
A month ago, power play stats like this were unheard of and a pipe dream. Now it’s become a reality. Let’s take a look at where the power play was, and how it’s been in the recent stretch of games.
The olden times
The power play this season is shaping up to be a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde-type season. Before promoting Steve Sullivan to the power play coach, the Leafs had the worst power play in the league. From October 7, 2025, through December 23, 2025, the Leafs’ power play ranked dead last at 32 with a 13%.
The Leafs were also tied for 32nd in power play opportunities with 92. If the power play is not scoring, then you are potentially losing out on critical points. Up until this point, the Leafs have lost nine one-goal games and lost five two-goal games. If the power play showed up at least once in half of those games, how many more points do the Leafs have? The Leafs could be in a playoff spot right now had their power play been middle of the pack.
It would be different if they were not scoring, but they gained momentum from the power play; something to build off of and continue to push for offensive zone possession. But it wasn’t like the Leafs’ power play was generating momentum.
No, the power play was often opposite: deflating. The Leafs were tied for 3rd in the league in shorthanded goals against with 4. This lowered their already abysmal 13% power play percentage to a net power play percentage of 8.7%, the worst in the league.
However, December 27th would be Steve Sullivan’s debut as the Leafs’ power play coach, and what a debut it was.
A Christmas miracle
On December 27th, the Leafs faced the Ottawa Senators. The Leafs went two for three on the power play. Two power play goals in a game was simply unheard of. But it was how the Leafs were playing that was night and day.
Previously, the Leafs players would defer to Auston Matthews. On the one hand, it makes sense. Matthews is now the Leafs’ franchise leader in goals and can save the season. However, it makes the power play too predictable. In addition, the Leafs were close to stationary and lacked movement– both in terms of skating and puck-moving.
Whether the players did not like Marc Savard, or they tried their best to implement Savard’s system, we will never know. But what is clear after watching these last eight games is that the power play now is a threat. The team no longer defers to Matthews, and there are multiple scoring threats. The Leafs attack the net and the offensive zone aggressively with movement, giving the team options when the penalty killers block passing lanes.
Since Sullivan’s promotion, the Leafs’ power play is tied with the New York Rangers for first in the league with 38.9%. The Leafs are first in the league in net power play percentage with 38.9%. Yes, they have not allowed a shorthanded goal against (yet) with Sullivan as their power play coach.
Since December 27th, the Leafs are 23rd in power play opportunities with 18. They are also 30th for power play time on ice per game with 3:39. The fact that the Leafs are near the bottom of the league in power play time per game, yet have the highest power play percentage, to me suggests just how much they have optimized the few power play opportunities they have received.
Will the hot power play last?
The Leafs’ power play will likely not remain at 38.9% for the rest of the season. But generally, every power play since the coaching change, even the ones where the Leafs didn’t score, looked dangerous. The power plays generate momentum instead of being deflating. What has been notable is that both power play units look dangerous.
Nicolas Robertson is seemingly reaching his potential. He has scored three power play points in the last eight games, and scored on the power play in last night’s game against the Canucks. Before Sullivan, and for much of the Matthews era, if the first unit could not get it done, the power play would die with the second unit.
The Leafs are in crunch time with a grueling schedule ahead. The Eastern Conference is tight, and the Leafs are going to need every point they can get. Whether the Leafs will target someone at the trade deadline or stand pat remains to be seen. However, a strong power play not only wins hockey games but also wins championships, if the Leafs can make it there.
