WINNIPEG — The power play scatters responsibility throughout the offensive zone, with skaters set up at the point, against the half-wall and in the slot.
But one position in particular can determine the effectiveness of everyone, and that's the person planted in front of the net — a role the Wild's Joel Eriksson Ek has thrived in this season.
"You're not going to score unless the goaltender has some element of a screen or a deception," coach Dean Evason said. "That's when you're going to have more success scoring goals. Eriksson Ek commits in that area."
Eriksson Ek delivered from that spot Monday, redirecting in the game-winning goal in the 7-4 victory over Detroit that featured three power-play tallies overall. He did it again Wednesday, scoring in the first period against the Jets.
Not only was that the ninth time Eriksson Ek has scored on the power play, which ranked tops on the team and accounted for almost two-thirds of his total goals, but only nine players in the NHL had converted more ahead of Wednesday's slate of games.
This is also the most consistently Eriksson Ek has appeared on the power play in his NHL career.
In five previous seasons, he had one goal.
"If you go there, there's a good chance you get rewarded," said Eriksson Ek, who tends to capitalize around the crease at 5-on-5, too.