It's too bad the Colorado Avalanche opted to play Jean-Sebastien Giguere instead of Semyon Varlamov in goal at New Jersey on Thursday -- the fans at Prudential Center would have been treated to perhaps the best shootout matchup since the tiebreaker was adopted in 2005.
New Jersey's Ilya Kovalchuk has turned into the NHL's deadliest shootout sniper and Varlamov has become a brick wall in the tiebreaker. It's an amazing turnaround for both players, neither of whom had been very successful in shootouts before this season.
Kovalchuk, one of the NHL's most dangerous scorers during the past decade, entered 2011-12 with 11 shootout goals in 42 attempts, a 26.2-percent success rate that's well below the League average of about 32 percent -- and far below what you'd expect from a player with nine straight 30-goal seasons. But with some advice from goaltender Martin Brodeur, Kovalchuk has become a terror in the tiebreaker. He scored for the 10th time in 12 tries against Giguere on Thursday, becoming the fourth player to score 10 shootout goals in one season -- and breaking the single-season mark with his seventh game-deciding goal.
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Inside The Numbers
(Page 5 of 10)
Inside the Numbers
Kovalchuk, Varlamov emerging as shootout stars
Friday, 03.16.2012 / 10:15 AM / Inside the Numbers
John Kreiser - NHL.com Columnist
Stamkos ready to join elite club
Friday, 03.09.2012 / 11:05 AM / Inside the Numbers
John Kreiser - NHL.com Columnist
He didn't do it on Thursday. But sometime soon -- perhaps as soon as Saturday night against Carolina -- Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos is poised to join an exclusive club.
Stamkos is two goals away from becoming the NHL's first 50-goal scorer this season. When he does, he'll join an elite group of six players who've had multiple 50-goal seasons before their 23rd birthday (he turned 22 on Feb. 7). Wayne Gretzky did it four times; Mike Bossy, Mario Lemieux, Joe Nieuwendyk and Alex Ovechkin each had two seasons with at least 50 goals before turning 23 -- though Bossy, Nieuwendyk and Ovechkin had the disadvantage of not playing in the NHL until after their 20th birthdays.
Stamkos is two goals away from becoming the NHL's first 50-goal scorer this season. When he does, he'll join an elite group of six players who've had multiple 50-goal seasons before their 23rd birthday (he turned 22 on Feb. 7). Wayne Gretzky did it four times; Mike Bossy, Mario Lemieux, Joe Nieuwendyk and Alex Ovechkin each had two seasons with at least 50 goals before turning 23 -- though Bossy, Nieuwendyk and Ovechkin had the disadvantage of not playing in the NHL until after their 20th birthdays.
Blues defying the odds by winning with No. 1 goalies
Friday, 03.02.2012 / 9:49 AM / Inside the Numbers
John Kreiser - NHL.com Columnist
Most NHL teams, especially successful ones, have a defined No. 1 and No. 2 goaltender. The St. Louis Blues are defying that trend this season.
The Blues started with Jaroslav Halak as the clear No. 1, backed up by Brian Elliott. But when Halak struggled in the early going and Davis Payne was replaced as coach by Ken Hitchcock, Elliott got a chance to show what he can do -- and has carved out a nearly even share of playing time. Elliott enters the weekend leading the NHL with a 1.63 goals-against average
Halak hardly has been a slouch, however -- he's 5-1-0 in his last six starts after beating Edmonton 5-2 on Wednesday, and is fourth in the NHL with a 1.94 goals-against average.
The Blues started with Jaroslav Halak as the clear No. 1, backed up by Brian Elliott. But when Halak struggled in the early going and Davis Payne was replaced as coach by Ken Hitchcock, Elliott got a chance to show what he can do -- and has carved out a nearly even share of playing time. Elliott enters the weekend leading the NHL with a 1.63 goals-against average
Halak hardly has been a slouch, however -- he's 5-1-0 in his last six starts after beating Edmonton 5-2 on Wednesday, and is fourth in the NHL with a 1.94 goals-against average.
A statistical look at 2011-12 at three-quarter mark
Tuesday, 02.28.2012 / 10:53 AM / Inside the Numbers
John Kreiser - NHL.com Columnist
It's hard to believe, but the 2011-12 regular season is in the home stretch. The three-quarter mark passed Saturday night, and less than six weeks remain before all 30 teams wrap the regular-season.
Here's a look at the season so far, by the numbers:
0 -- Shootout victories by the Carolina Hurricanes. The 'Canes are the only team that has yet to win a post-overtime tiebreaker (they've lost six), and are trying to avoid becoming only the second team since the shootout was adopted to go through a whole season without winning one. The only one so far: the 2006-07 Hurricanes, who were 0-5.
Here's a look at the season so far, by the numbers:
0 -- Shootout victories by the Carolina Hurricanes. The 'Canes are the only team that has yet to win a post-overtime tiebreaker (they've lost six), and are trying to avoid becoming only the second team since the shootout was adopted to go through a whole season without winning one. The only one so far: the 2006-07 Hurricanes, who were 0-5.
Streak-busting Canucks' formula: score first, hold lead
Friday, 02.24.2012 / 11:10 AM / Inside the Numbers
John Kreiser - NHL.com Columnist
Though they had to come from behind on Thursday to end Detroit's record home winning streak, the Vancouver Canucks generally have a simple formula for success -- score first and shut down the opposition in the final 20 minutes.
The Canucks enter the weekend having scored first a League-high 40 times in their 61 games -- and have turned those 40 first-goals into 33 wins. No other team has won more than 29 times when scoring first, and their .825 winning percentage is fourth.
The flip side of Vancouver's success in taking leads is its ability to keep them. The Canucks have led after two periods 25 times this season -- and turned all 25 into victories. They have the most wins of any team that's perfect after two periods - the others are Boston (24-0-0) and Washington (17-0-0).
The Canucks enter the weekend having scored first a League-high 40 times in their 61 games -- and have turned those 40 first-goals into 33 wins. No other team has won more than 29 times when scoring first, and their .825 winning percentage is fourth.
The flip side of Vancouver's success in taking leads is its ability to keep them. The Canucks have led after two periods 25 times this season -- and turned all 25 into victories. They have the most wins of any team that's perfect after two periods - the others are Boston (24-0-0) and Washington (17-0-0).
Comparing Wings' streak to teams they passed
Friday, 02.17.2012 / 11:14 AM / Inside the Numbers
John Kreiser - NHL.com Columnist
They took place in different eras, with different rules and under different conditions. So which home winning streak is the best?
Detroit's is unquestionably the longest -- the Wings set the single-season mark with their 21st straight home victory by beating Dallas 3-1 on Tuesday night. A win Friday against Nashville will match the most consecutive wins at home ever, equaling the 22 in a row won by the Boston Bruins in 1929-30 and '30-31.
Before this season, the 1929-30 Bruins and 1975-76 Philadelphia Flyers shared the record with 20 consecutive wins, a total the Wings matched last Sunday -- ironically by beating the Flyers. Detroit hopes to avoid the ultimate fate of its predecessors: Though both the Bruins and Flyers finished first in the regular season, neither won the Stanley Cup -- both lost in the Final.
Detroit's is unquestionably the longest -- the Wings set the single-season mark with their 21st straight home victory by beating Dallas 3-1 on Tuesday night. A win Friday against Nashville will match the most consecutive wins at home ever, equaling the 22 in a row won by the Boston Bruins in 1929-30 and '30-31.
Before this season, the 1929-30 Bruins and 1975-76 Philadelphia Flyers shared the record with 20 consecutive wins, a total the Wings matched last Sunday -- ironically by beating the Flyers. Detroit hopes to avoid the ultimate fate of its predecessors: Though both the Bruins and Flyers finished first in the regular season, neither won the Stanley Cup -- both lost in the Final.
Red Wings' win streak, by the numbers
Monday, 02.13.2012 / 1:01 PM / Inside the Numbers
Brian Hedger - NHL.com Correspondent
DETROIT -- The only way to assemble the kind of home-ice roll the Detroit Red Wings currently are riding is to have the narrowest focus possible.
They've won 20 straight games at Joe Louis Arena, which tied the 1929-30 Boston Bruins and 1975-76 Philadelphia Flyers for the NHL record -- and might not be done yet. The Wings will host the Dallas Stars on Tuesday for a chance to become the only team in League history to win more than 20 in a row on home ice, but if you think they might risk upper-body injuries patting themselves on the back, think again.
Their approach to the streak has been simple, yet incredibly effective. They never get too far ahead of themselves with it and they rarely take a peek over their shoulders to admire what they've done. Their focus is incredibly narrow, going from game-to-game down to period-by-period down to shift-by shift.
They've won 20 straight games at Joe Louis Arena, which tied the 1929-30 Boston Bruins and 1975-76 Philadelphia Flyers for the NHL record -- and might not be done yet. The Wings will host the Dallas Stars on Tuesday for a chance to become the only team in League history to win more than 20 in a row on home ice, but if you think they might risk upper-body injuries patting themselves on the back, think again.
Their approach to the streak has been simple, yet incredibly effective. They never get too far ahead of themselves with it and they rarely take a peek over their shoulders to admire what they've done. Their focus is incredibly narrow, going from game-to-game down to period-by-period down to shift-by shift.
Power plays per game reach three-decade low
Friday, 02.10.2012 / 9:52 AM / Inside the Numbers
John Kreiser - NHL.com Columnist
When play resumed in 2005 after the work stoppage, much was made of the increase in restraining fouls called. The NHL's reply to critics of the spate of power plays was that the numbers would go down as players acclimated themselves to the way the games were being called.
Looks like the League was right.
With the season set to pass the two-thirds mark on Saturday, the average number of power plays in a game has fallen to levels not seen in more than three decades. Entering the weekend, the 810 games played this season have had an average of 6.90 power plays -- the lowest figure since 1978-79, when the 17-team NHL averaged 6.77 power plays in its 680 games.
Looks like the League was right.
With the season set to pass the two-thirds mark on Saturday, the average number of power plays in a game has fallen to levels not seen in more than three decades. Entering the weekend, the 810 games played this season have had an average of 6.90 power plays -- the lowest figure since 1978-79, when the 17-team NHL averaged 6.77 power plays in its 680 games.
Gagner joins elite company with 8-point night
Friday, 02.03.2012 / 9:32 AM / Inside the Numbers
John Kreiser - NHL.com Columnist
Gordie Howe never had eight points in a game. Neither did Bobby Hull, Bobby Orr, Mark Messier, Mike Bossy or Brett Hull. In fact, before Thursday night, only 10 players in the history of the League had managed that feat.
That's what makes Sam Gagner's eight-point night so stunning.
Gagner became the first NHL player in more than 23 years to get eight points in a game when he did it Thursday night in Edmonton's 8-4 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks. Gagner, 22, wasn't even born the last time someone turned an eight-point night.
That's what makes Sam Gagner's eight-point night so stunning.
Gagner became the first NHL player in more than 23 years to get eight points in a game when he did it Thursday night in Edmonton's 8-4 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks. Gagner, 22, wasn't even born the last time someone turned an eight-point night.
Numbers: Original Six domination of standings a rarity
Friday, 01.20.2012 / 9:59 AM / Inside the Numbers
John Kreiser - NHL.com Columnist
They are celebrated as the Original Six -- the half-dozen NHL clubs that pre-date the 1967 expansion and hearken back to a different era. But not since the early days of expansion have the Original Six been on track to be as dominant as they've been this season.
Entering this weekend, four of the top five teams in the NHL standings are members of the Original Six. Detroit, a 3-2 shootout winner at Phoenix on Thursday, is first with 63 points, one ahead of a group of three teams that includes the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks, and two points in front of the Boston Bruins -- who have played only 44 games, fewer than any team in the NHL. Only the St. Louis Blues, the other team in the three-way tie with 62 points, breaks up the Original Six party.
Entering this weekend, four of the top five teams in the NHL standings are members of the Original Six. Detroit, a 3-2 shootout winner at Phoenix on Thursday, is first with 63 points, one ahead of a group of three teams that includes the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks, and two points in front of the Boston Bruins -- who have played only 44 games, fewer than any team in the NHL. Only the St. Louis Blues, the other team in the three-way tie with 62 points, breaks up the Original Six party.
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