Puck Daddy - NHL

Puck Daddy

Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:23 am EDT

Stunning Numbers: Scoring droughts and attendance woes

By Greg Wyshynski

 

Stunning Numbers is an occasional look at stats and figures from around the NHL.

Anze Kopitar(notes) and Marian Gaborik(notes) are leading the NHL in goals right now with 10 apiece. Just as important: Who isn't in the mix for the League lead after being in the Top 10 last season ...

3

The number of goal scorers from last season's Top 10 who are currently in the Top 10 for this season: Alex Ovechkin(notes), Ilya Kovalchuk(notes) and Dany Heatley(notes). Among the M.I.A. snipers: Jeff Carter(notes) (4 goals in nine games), Rick Nash(notes) (6 goals in 10 games), the injured Marian Hossa(notes) and Thomas Vanek(notes), and Eric Staal(notes), who continues his early season struggle with 3 goals and 1 assist in 10 games.

Zero

The number of assists for Ryan Malone(notes) of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Stunning in the sense that the guy has seven points on the season -- all of them goals. Bugsy's never exactly been Adam Oates in the helper department, but the ratio between goals and assists has been a tad closer than it is this season.

7

The number of goals for Lightning sophomore Steven Stamkos(notes), to tie Malone for the team lead. The linemates have propelled the Bolts' offense while Vincent Lecavalier(notes) has started slowly and Alex Tanguay(notes) (0-2-2, minus-3) has become one of the most prominent busts early this season. For all the grief we've given Stamkos here, three cheers for him becoming the pro many felt he could become.

10,699

The average attendance for the Phoenix Coyotes (via ESPN's imperfect count) in five home games, despite the 17,532 padded gate for the bargain basement home opener. Does that change with the ownership situation settling and the team playing well?

12,065

The average attendance for the New York Islanders in five home games, after finishing last in the NHL in reported average draws (13,773) last season. They averaged 13,349 in their first five home games last season. Lighthouse Effect > John Tavares(notes) Effect?

55

The number of times the Anaheim Ducks have been shorthanded in 10 games this season, third in the League behind the New York Rangers (59 in 12 games) and the Carolina Hurricanes (58 in 10 games). The difference between the three teams? The Rangers have drawn 51 power plays; the Hurricanes have drawn 45; but the Ducks have a paltry 34 man advantages, which is third fewest in the NHL. So the answer is no: The undisciplined and embarrassing display against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night wasn't an aberration.

10

The number of penalties Mason Raymond(notes) of the Vancouver Canucks has drawn in 11 games, via Behind the Net. That leads the NHL, and is especially impressive when you consider he's only taken one penalty in that span.

3.69

The goals-against average (with an .816 save percentage) for Ilya Bryzgalov(notes) of the Phoenix Coyotes in his three losses this season, compared with a 1.30 GAA and a .949 save percentage in his six victories. Talk about feast or famine.

15

The number of shootout attempts faced by Colorado Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson(notes) this season, allowing six shootout goals (.600 save percentage). He's 1-2 in shootouts; all 15 attempts came in road games.

69.2

The winning percentage for Paul Gaustad(notes) of the Buffalo Sabres in 120 faceoffs, leading the NHL for players with 100 attempts or more. That includes 14 wins and 4 losses in shorthanded faceoff attempts.

2.9

The shooting percentage for Brent Burns(notes) of the Minnesota Wild, which is last in the NHL for players with at least one goal. He has one tally this season against 34 shots on goal. Leading the NHL? Michal Handzus(notes) of the Los Angeles Kings, with 5 goals on 14 shots for a 35.7 shooting percentage. Zeus!

1

The number of games this season in which the Chicago Blackhawks have been outshot. They lead the League in shots on goal (376), right ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins (373) and Alexander Ovechkin (3...just kidding).

Related: John Tavares, Steven Stamkos, Mason Raymond, Anze Kopitar, Alex Ovechkin, Brent Burns, Jeff Carter, Thomas Vanek, Eric Staal, Rick Nash, Paul Gaustad, Ryan Malone, Ilya Kovalchuk, Craig Anderson, Ilya Bryzgalov, Marian Gaborik, Dany Heatley, Vincent Lecavalier, Alex Tanguay, Michal Handzus, Marian Hossa, Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks

digg delicious
more

48 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. MTL_WINGS
    1. Posted by MTL_WINGS Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:03 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    You should start keeping a count of the number of star players going down this early in the season. Kovalchuk now gone for a month? Yikes, I'd be afraid to play hockey these days. All flukey injuries too. Look at Markov and Franzen. One cut by his own skate and another one who destroyed his ACL and didn't even know it while he finished up the game.
    What's next? Ovechkin getting decapitated by a garage door or something improbable like that?
  2. MTL_WINGS
    2. Posted by MTL_WINGS Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:04 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    sorry, that should read own teammate.
  3. lowerNC
    3. Posted by lowerNC Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:09 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    what the heck is up with the canes.............should have signed theo
  4. dorfineer
    4. Posted by dorfineer Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:16 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Let's go hawks!
  5. Sean P
    5. Posted by Sean P Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:19 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    This seems similar to a recent Mirtle article...
  6. rgallihugh
    6. Posted by rgallihugh Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:33 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Hey ease up on Ovechkin, he has more assists than Crosby so far this year (10%+ of the season gone)
    This year he is doing more than just shooting.
  7. twoeightnine
    7. Posted by twoeightnine Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:34 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Vanek may be missing but he's still got 4 goals in only 6 games and 15 shots. And what are the qualifications for penalties drawn because according to BTN's analysis Patrick Kaleta has drawn zero this year. I'm pretty sure he's drawn two in the time it took me to type this.
  8. Del Preston
    8. Posted by Del Preston Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:38 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Welp, at least the Devils have all of their numbers well up from last year.
  9. Brad
    9. Posted by Brad Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:42 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    If the hawks are out shooting everyone and their brother, it only stands to reason one thing....
    our goalie SUCKS!!!
  10. Phil Wood
    10. Posted by Phil Wood Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:43 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    @ #6 - the "just kidding" get by you? Wysh, I don't think even being obvious about it works... just go with the flat out deadpan satire.
  11. Dutch
    11. Posted by Dutch Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:49 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Wow for 2 teams that are on the chopping block for relocation the Isles and Yotes attendance figures are terrible. Worse the Yotes have a team playing well and a new arena to play in, yeah I know traffic is a b!tch whatever. I'd like to see them stay in Phoenix and the Isles stay in LI but neither fan base is stepping up to the plate to ensure that it happens.
  12. Bill
    12. Posted by Bill Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:51 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    where is Patrick Kaleta on the penalty drawn list?
  13. habs1rule
    13. Posted by habs1rule Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:52 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I can see the Islanders fighting for a playoff spot, with 30 overtime loses..
  14. habs1rule
    14. Posted by habs1rule Tue Oct 27, 2009 1:00 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    @PS...Disney Ducks fans..I have some leftover anniversary bags from last year, you might make some good use of, after last night, and all!! Wont last.
  15. Tacks
    15. Posted by Tacks Tue Oct 27, 2009 1:02 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Sadly the average attendance when you exclude the coyotes home opener is less than 9000
  16. ohyoumeanhim
    16. Posted by ohyoumeanhim Tue Oct 27, 2009 1:06 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    WTG GOOOSE!!!!!
    Not only has he been great in the facoff circle this year....but taking out Jackman in "Down goes Fraiser" fashion in defending Miller was a great thing to see.
    Goose is not in the elite category of player, but there's not 1 Sabres fan that can question his effort, and that effort goes a long way to helping the elite players on the Sabres roster ...Miller and Vanek get to that higher level.
  17. Arthur Fonzarelli
    17. Posted by Arthur Fonzarelli Tue Oct 27, 2009 1:11 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    The crazy part about Stamkos is that his learning curve has been about right for such a young player and a 1st rounder without the Crosby fanfare. We'll see how the rest of the season plays out.
  18. Guy F
    18. Posted by Guy F Tue Oct 27, 2009 1:46 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Re : Ryan Malone. In hockey he is known as a "Cy Young" candidate. Other "Cy Young" players of old include Petr Bondra and Cam Neely. In Neely's last 153 games, he went 114-65 (not sure what his ERA was). In 1995, during the strike-shortened season, Bondra won the Rocket Richard Trophy (well, technically, he didn't win the trophy as it only became an official award in 1999). His record that year was an impressive 34-9 in 47 games.
    Last season, Kyle Wellwood actually put together an impressive Cy Young season (despite his rep as a set-up man). He went 18-9...
    @ MTL_WINGS : I'd add Daniel Sedin to that list.
  19. Guy F
    19. Posted by Guy F Tue Oct 27, 2009 1:51 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Grabner-Kesler-Raymond = fastest line in the NHL.
    In the past three Canuck victories they have combined for 37 shots and 5 goals. Ryan Kesler, who leads the Canucks second PK unit, has yet to be scored on while killing a penalty. 24 consecutive kills at last count. (although I probably just jinxed it). Easily the Selke frontrunner.
  20. MTL_WINGS
    20. Posted by MTL_WINGS Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:05 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Guy F: You're right, I forgot Sedin. I also forgot Marc Savard and Milan Lucic.
  21. Wyshynski
    21. Posted by Wyshynski Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:22 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    @ Sean P --
    Yes, you caught us. Mirtle invented taking unusual numbers and placing explanatory paragraphs underneath them. The Stunning Numbers pieces we've published since 2008, the front of the book in most major magazines since the dawn of publishing ... we're all just playing catch-up.
  22. Darren L
    22. Posted by Darren L Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:25 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    @lowerNC: Threeormore? are you kidding? Maybe if No-Ball Staal wasn't so busy getting tossed from games for throwing toys out of the pram, he would have 3 or 4 more goals lol
  23. Mike L
    23. Posted by Mike L Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:30 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    How about the number of cheap hits this week?
  24. Jon A
    24. Posted by Jon A Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    You would think the Ducks shorthanded time would decrease significantly with the departure of Chris Pronger.
  25. Guy F
    25. Posted by Guy F Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    @ MTL_WINGS : Good call, also Toews for the time being, Booth too. Salo in Vancouver is actually a bigger loss than people outside of Vancouver realize (as is Hejda in Columbus). Obviously, Leaf fans will want Gustavsson to stay healthy too.

Puck Daddy

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Greg Wyshynski

Puck Daddy is an NHL blog edited by Greg Wyshynski. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
Sean Leahy, Ross McKeon, Matt Romig, Dmitry Chesnokov, Ryan Lambert, Dobber, Scott Pianowski,

Teams

Customize to follow news and rumors on your favorite teams. [ Sign in ]

Related Photo Gallery

More NHL Photos »

Y! Sports Blogs

Puck Daddy Recent Readers

(provided by MyBlogLog)