Go figure: stats to chew on as the NHL season nears the 10-game mark
A look at some noteworthy numbers as NHL teams approach or hit the 10-game mark:
0: The number of goals scored by Rick Nash through 10 games this season. (The Rangers sniper was credited with an empty netter on Oct. 22, but never actually put the puck in the net. The goal was awarded after he was hooked from behind on the play.) Nash’s longest slump during his 42-goal 2014-15 season was eight games.
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4.3: The average number of shots per game launched by Jakub Voracek. Despite being tied with Tyler Seguin for fourth in the league in this category, Voracek is still looking for his first goal of the season. The volume of attempts is well ahead of his typical pace. Voracek averaged 2.7 shots in 2014-15 when he scored 22 goals, and 2.9 shots in 2013-14 when he netted a career-best 23. What’s missing might be his timing. There’s an obvious hesitation in his release that comes from overthinking, a natural reaction for any sniper who is immersed in a slump. Once he breaks the seal, expect a more natural release ... and likely fewer shot attempts.
15: The number of points banked by the Predators through their first nine games, making this their second-best start in franchise history. The Preds will have a chance to equal the 8-1-1 start of the 2005-06 team when they take on the red-hot Kings on Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles. The key to their success? Defense, of course. Nashville is allowing just 1.89 goals per game, tied for third-fewest in the league.
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24.3: Average shots per game allowed by the Capitals. That pace would see the Caps allow the fewest since the Devils averaged 23.1 back in the shortened 2012-13 season. The last time a team managed to average fewer than 25 shots allowed in a full season was 2007-08 (Red Wings, Sharks). The Capitals have allowed as many as 30 just once this season, in their Oct. 13 loss to the Sharks, a testament to their team-wide buy-in of the philosophy of coach Barry Trotz.
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27.3: Percentage of face-offs won by Mike Ribeiro. The Nashville center is the NHL’s least dangerous opponent in the circle, winning just 30 of the 110 draws he’s taken. Ribeiro’s never been particularly strong at the dots, typically averaging in the low-to-mid 40s (he won 43.2% of his face-offs last season), but this drop is significant. One scout pointed to his struggles as a reason why the Predators need to invest in a top-six center before the trade deadline.
The numbers game
• With their victory on Wednesday night, the Penguins are now 11-4-0 in their last 15 games against the Capitals dating back to Dec. 1, 2011.
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• Panthers goalie/funnyman Roberto Luongonow ranks ninth on the NHL’s all-time wins list, with 404 victories. He& leads all active netminders in wins, shutouts (68) and games played (871).
• Tuukka Rask’s 27 career shutouts with the Bruins put him in a fourth-place tie with Eddie Johnston on Boston’s all time list behind Tiny Thompson (74), Frankie “Mr. Zero” Brimsek (230) and Terrible Tim Thomas (31).
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