The Avs actually allowed opponents four fewer power plays than they did in 2009-10 (314, down from 318). But they drew 53 fewer advantages, a big reason why Colorado fell from a playoff berth to 29th in the League standings.
Special Teams Goal Margin: -29
The power play wasn't bad, finishing 11th at 18.5 percent, though opponents scored 11 shorthanded goals. But the penalty killers got torched, allowing a League-worst 75 goals and finishing 30th on the penalty kill at 76.1 percent.
Goals by defensemen: 22
The Avs were in the bottom-three in scoring by defensemen and saw six of those goals leave when John-Michael Liles was dealt to Toronto. They're hoping midseason acquisition Erik Johnson will manage more than the 8 goals he scored in 77 games with St. Louis and Colorado.
COLORADO AVALANCHE
2010-11 SEASON STATS
Category | Rank (Conference) |
2010-11 Points | 68 (14th West/29th NHL) |
Change from 2009-10 | -27 |
Home Points | 36 (14th West/29th NHL) |
Road Points | 32 (14th West/29th NHL) |
Total: 12-7-1 OT: 6-7 SO: 6-1
The Avs were one of the NHL's best in the shootout, but none of the three goaltenders who took part in the tiebreakers (Peter Budaj, Brian Elliott, Craig Anderson) are on the roster this season.
Times Scored First: 33
Record: 18-11-4
Only Atlanta had a lower winning percentage than the Avs' .545 mark when they managed to score first.
Best 2010-11 Number: 7-4-1
Colorado's record on Fridays, the only night of the week in which the Avs won more than half their games.
Worst 2010-11 Number: 5-25-2
The Avs' record after the All-Star break. The Avs were 25-19-6 before the break, but went 1-11-1 in February and 2-10-1 in March to fall completely out of the playoff race.
Scheduling
Colorado is facing a tough start -- they open at home against Detroit then have a five-game Eastern trip. They have an eight-game homestand in November and December as part of a 15-in-20 stretch at the Pepsi Center, but play nine of 12 January games on the road.