Fear the Penguins' power play

The Pittsburgh Penguins worked on their power play in practice Sunday. Viewer discretion was probably advised.

The five-man unit was comprised of forwards Phil Kessel, Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Patric Hornqvist, and defenseman Kris Letang, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dave Molinari and Seth Rorabaugh.

Yeah, that group may score some goals. And Penguins goalie Marc Andre-Fleury's going to have one of the best views in hockey.

Kessel took up his regular spot on the left wall, his off wing, where he can be lethal thanks to his lightning-quick release, which is easily one of the best in the league. He has eight goals with the man advantage in each of the last two seasons.

Malkin, who has 16 power-play goals in the last two seasons (nine in 2014-15 and seven in 2013-14), was on the right wall. Hornqvist was atop the crease, Crosby in the slot, and Letang at the point.

Crosby has 21 goals on the power play over the past two campaigns, and his move to the slot - after playing usually where Malkin found himself Sunday, on the right half wall - was the biggest change to the squad. What makes Crosby so dangerous in his old position is his ability to battle for loose pucks off the boards - his lower-body strength is underrated, and a key to his possession game, especially down low. It also gives him options: He can shoot, as evidenced by his 21 power-play goals since 2013, or pass. He has 48 power-play assists over the last two seasons.

"That guy in the middle, he has to be one of your smartest players," Penguins head coach Mike Johnston said.

And we all know there's no smarter player in the game than No. 87

"Putting Sid in the middle there, we found he really feeds off people and he knows when to move down low for support," Johnston added. "He knows when to give a stick in the slot, be ready to shoot."

Nothing's set in stone, according to Johnston, and the team will put in its reps during the preseason.

The second power-play unit is also comprised of four forwards, for now: Beau Bennett, Nick Bonino, Chris Kunitz, David Perron, and Derrick Pouliot.

Pittsburgh ranked 10th in the league last season on the power play, at 19.3 percent, but allowed a league-worst 11 shorthanded goals. Kessel's addition, and Crosby's potential move to the slot, should send the former number higher.