Two power plays can score at the same rate while sharing almost no structural similarity.
There is a temptation to evaluate a power play by its personnel, and for a long time that was close to sufficient. The modern version is more like a system: a rehearsed entry pattern, a defined rotation, and a shot-selection rule that the unit follows even when a better individual option is available.
System over personnel
The variety is the interesting part. Units that succeed do not converge on a single approach. Some build everything around a single shooting threat from the half-wall; others generate their chances from the goal line. What they share is that the entry is reliable and the rotation is timed, so the unit spends its two minutes in the offensive zone rather than retrieving the puck.
Where the edge comes from
That is a coaching achievement more than a talent one, and it shows in the results of teams that are not especially deep. A structured power play is one of the few areas of the game where a mid-market roster can outperform a richer one over a full season.

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