Sullivan, Tippett, Vigneault in race for Adams Award, numbers say

NHL.com goes Behind the Numbers during the season pause to examine the frontrunners for each NHL award using underlying statistics. This week we look at three potential finalists for the Jack Adams Award, which is presented to the top coach during the regular season, based on performance and other statistical factors.

Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins (40-23-6) are third in the Metropolitan Division with 86 points, four behind the first-place Washington Capitals. Their place in the standings is impressive considering the Penguins played without centers Sidney Crosby (core muscle surgery) for 28 games and Evgeni Malkin (lower-body injury and two undisclosed illnesses) for 14, and forward Jake Guentzel (shoulder) hasn't played since Dec. 30. Pittsburgh also has played without defensemen Kris Letang, Brian Dumoulin and Justin Schultz, and forwards Jared McCann, Patric Hornqvist, Bryan Rust and Nick Bjugstad for significant stretches because of injury. Forward Teddy Blueger and defenseman Marcus Pettersson are the only Pittsburgh skaters to play all 69 games. The Penguins power play is 16th in the NHL at 19.9 percent and their penalty kill is 10th at 82.1 percent. The injuries to Crosby and Malkin likely explain the lower-than-average power play for the Penguins; from 2013-14 through 2018-19 they were second in the NHL at 22.4 percent (Washington Capitals, 22.8 percent). Despite the abundance of injured skaters, the Penguins are 10th in SAT (plus-115), which could show how Sullivan has maximized the skill of his depth players.

Dave Tippett, Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers (37-25-9) are second in the Pacific Division with 83 points, three behind the first-place Vegas Golden Knights. Part of Edmonton's success has been its special teams play. The Oilers power play is first in the NHL at 29.5 percent, more than five percent ahead of the second-place Boston Bruins (25.2 percent). Tippet has maximized power-play production from forwards Leon Draisaitl (44 points) and Connor McDavid (43 points), who are first and second in the NHL in power-play points. The Oilers penalty kill is second in the NHL at 84.4 percent (San Jose Sharks, 85.7 percent), a big improvement from 2018-19 when they were 30th at 74.8 percent. Edmonton has 22 wins when getting outshot by its opponent, which is tied for third with the New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning and Vancouver Canucks, two behind the first-place New York Rangers and Anaheim Ducks. The Oilers are 27th in shot attempt differential at minus-273, suggesting that though they have been out-attempted at 5-on-5, they have made the most of their scoring opportunities.

Alain Vigneault, Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers (41-21-7) are second in the Metropolitan Division with 89 points, one behind the Capitals. The Flyers power play is 14th at 20.8 percent and their 81.8 percent penalty kill, 11th in the NHL, is an improvement from their 78.5 percent last season, which was 26th. Philadelphia's plus-107 SAT is 11th and its shooting plus save percentage is eighth at 100.8. Vigneault has helped with the development of 21-year-old goalie Carter Hart, who leads the NHL in save percentage at home (.943) among those to play at least 20 games. Vigneault also can be praised for increasing forward Travis Konecny's role on the power play. He leads the Flyers with an NHL career-high 23 power-play points averaging 2:52 of power play ice time per game, the most in his four seasons.

The winner is ...

Vigneault's quick turnaround of the Flyers, who missed the Stanley Cup playoffs last season, is notable, and Tippett's improvements to the Oilers' special teams is impressive. But the way Sullivan has helped the Penguins remain consistent despite so many injuries to key players sets him apart. It's remarkable that the Penguins are 10th in SAT despite going long stretches without Crosby and multiple experienced defensemen.