Examining the Minnesota Wild numbers

Advantage Margin: +38
Discipline is a given on a Jacques Lemaire-coached team, so it’s no surprise that the Wild was among the League leaders in fewest power plays allowed, though there was a huge difference at home (+36) and on the road (+2).

Even-Strength Goals Margin: +16
No player with 25 or more points was a minus player last season. No Minnesota player had more than 36 even-strength points, but eight had between 23 and 36, and Brian Rolston and Marian Gaborik each had 18 even-strength goals. 

Special Teams Goal Margin: +25
One reason the Wild was so dominant at home and ordinary on the road: Minnesota was plus-24 on special teams at the Xcel Energy Center, just plus-1 away from it, Overall, Minnesota allowed just 48 power-play goals, the second-lowest total in the league.

Goals by defensemen: 22
Amazing stat of the year: As a defenseman, Petteri Nummelin was 3-17-20 in 51 games. But in shootouts, he was an amazing 6-for-7, and his .857 percentage was the best of any player with more than three attempts.

Goals by forwards: 203
Lemaire emphasizes defense, but Minnesota has some forwards who can put the puck in the net — five had 20 or more goals. Gaborik overcame injuries and had 30 in 48 games — a 50-goal pace over a full, healthy season.

Overtime Record: 17-1-7 (OT: 7-1, SO: 10-7)
The Wild tied Vancouver for the most victories in games that were tied at the end of regulation. Their shootout success was attributable to the shooters, who scored on 43.5 percent of their chances, led by Mikko Koivu (8-for-15). New No. 1 goalie Nicklas Backstrom had six of the eight overtime/shootout losses.

Times Scored First/Record: 41 (Record: 30-7-4)
No team put itself in a hole more often than the Coyotes. Phoenix opened the scoring fewer times than any team in the NHL — including just 14 times at home, also a League low.

Best 06-07 Number: 33-9-6
Minnesota’s record in games when Gaborik was in the lineup. The Wild went 15-17-2 in the 24 games he missed with a groin problem. Gaborik scored a goal in 23 games; the Wild was 19-2-2 in those games.

Worst 06-07 Number: .476
Minnesota’s winning percentage on faceoffs, the third-worst in the NHL. The Wild is hoping that the addition of Eric Belanger (53.1 percent on 1,368 draws) will help them improve in the faceoff circle.

Scheduling:
The Wild spends the first week of the season at home, playing three games before heading west four a four-game trip. The Wild also ends the season with four home games before a season-ending visit to Colorado.