Broadcaster Blog: The Impact of Ryan Ellis

The Predators were already a very good team when the calendar turned to 2018. After a 5-5-2 start, Nashville won 16 of the next 20 to move up the ladder in the NHL standings. But since defenseman Ryan Ellis returned to the lineup on Jan. 2, there has been a marked improvement.
It would have been easy to predict that Ellis would eventually make his usual impact. What is notable, however, is that he might be on his way to his best prorated season. And now that Nashville has their full complement of "four aces" available on the blueline (with fellow star defensemen Roman Josi, P.K. Subban and Mattias Ekholm), the difference in the team stats is noticeable.

Team Record: Ellis played his first game in Vegas on Jan. 2 and was clearly rusty. The Predators lost that game to a red-hot Golden Knights team, then followed that up with an OT loss in Arizona two nights later (despite Ellis's first goal of the season). Since then, Nashville has gone a remarkable 22-3-4. That is tops in the NHL since Jan. 6.
Shot Differential: Before Ellis returned, the Predators were getting good results but were being outshot more often than not. Overall, the shot differential was a negative 2.13 per game. Nashville was outshot in 28 of their first 45 contests.
Since Ellis entered the lineup, the Predators have averaged 3.4 more shots than their opponents on a nightly basis. They have only been outshot five times in their last 24 games. Outshooting your opponent doesn't mean you will win every night, but it certainly increases your chances.

Goals Allowed: Overall, scoring is up this season in the NHL. Despite that fact, the Preds have improved their goals-against average as the season has progressed. Before Ellis recovered from his injury, Nashville allowed 2.63 goals per game; since his return it is only 2.19.
Individual Output: The Predators are currently 11-0-1 in their last dozen games and have surged ahead in their quest to win the Central Division. Ellis has tallied 14 points in those 12 games. In the 31 games he has played, Ellis has 23 points and a plus-21 rating, tied with Ekholm for the team lead. While he has always been an offensive threat, his .74 points per game is a personal high. Last season, the number was .54 PPG, .41 in 2015-16, and .47 in Peter Laviolette's first season in 2014-15.
There are many reasons the Predators have shined this season, but the return of Ryan Ellis has been huge. Having the top-four defensemen has helped suppress the volume of shots against and increased offensive output. Ellis is truly a difference maker.