With the NHL preparing to return to the ice after taking some time off for the Olympics, it's a good time for "Inside The Numbers" to take a look at a key number that's affected Western Conference teams so far this season. For a look at Eastern Conference teams, click here.
Columbus Blue Jackets: 18 -- One-goal wins by the Blue Jackets, who are 18-7 in games decided by a single goal. The Jackets' problem is that they have another "18" on their ledger -- they've also lost 18 games by three or more goals. In fact, when the game is decided by more than one goal, Columbus is just 5-28.
Chicago Blackhawks: 409 -- No, we're not paying tribute to Beach Boys or a cleaning solution. That's the number of times the Blackhawks were shorthanded in their 57 pre-Olympic games, the most in the League. Chicago is on track to give the opposition more than 560 power plays over a full season, a number that would shatter the NHL single-season mark.
St. Louis Blues: 27 -- Margin the Blues have been outscored by in the third period. The Blues have scored 45 third-period goals, next-to-last in the NHL, and allowed 72, more than any team except the Pittsburgh Penguins. Third-period troubles are a main reason the Blues' 25-year streak of making the playoffs will end this season.
Pacific Division
Dallas Stars: 8 -- Shootout victories by the Stars, in as many chances. The Stars are the only team that has not lost a shootout. One reason for their dominance is the brilliance of rookie Jussi Jokinen, who has scored in every shootout and is 8-for-8 overall.
Los Angeles Kings: 69 -- Number of 5-on-4 power-play goals allowed by the Kings, the most in the League. In all, the Kings have surrendered 83 power-play goals, 28th among the 30 teams and 13 more than any other team that reached the Olympic break holding a playoff spot.
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim: 1 -- That's the number of points the Mighty Ducks have earned when they've trailed after two periods. The Ducks have been behind after 40 minutes just 12 times (one more than Detroit's League-low total of 11), but have gotten as far as an overtime loss only once. In contrast, division-leading Dallas has won eight times when trailing after two periods.
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Jonathan Cheechoo has notched three hat tricks since San Jose's acquisition of Joe Thornton.
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San Jose Sharks: 27 -- Goals since Dec. 1 by Jonathan Cheechoo, the most over that stretch by any player in the NHL. Cheechoo has been the hottest goal-scorer in the NHL since the Sharks landed center Joe Thornton from Boston in a trade on Nov. 30. He had only seven goals before the deal.
Phoenix Coyotes: 17 -- Wins by the Coyotes on Thursday and Saturday nights, when the Coyotes are 17-11-1. Add in a 2-0-0 mark on Friday and Phoenix is 19-11-1 from Thursday through Saturday and 8-17-3 on the other four days of the week.
Northwest Division
Calgary Flames: 77 -- Goals scored by the Flames 5-on-5. That's the lowest total in the NHL, The playoff team with the next-lowest total at full strength is Nashville (96). Despite that, the Flames still lead the Northwest, partly because they've also allowed only 69 goals at full strength, tied with Ottawa for the lowest total in the NHL.
Vancouver Canucks: 31-12 -- Home and road goal differential for the Canucks, who have outscored the opposition by 31 at GM Place, where they have a 20-5-3 record, but have been outscored 99-87 on the road, where they are 13-16-2.
Colorado Avalanche: 75 -- Goals scored in the first period by the ?Lanche, the highest total in the League. Colorado is plus-18 in the first period, plus-13 in the second, but minus-3 (65 GF, 68 GA) in the third.
Edmonton Oilers: 11 -- Shootouts involving the Oilers, the most in the NHL. The Oilers are tied for second with six shootout victories, but also tied for the second-highest number of losses with five.
Minnesota Wild: 61 -- Point scored by Brian Rolston, the most by an American-born player in the NHL this season. Rolston is on target to become the first player in Wild history to average a point-per-game over a full season.
