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Over the past couple of weeks, we took a look at each playoff team’s goaltending status.  This week, we’ll look at the other side of the story: scoring.  There may be 17 teams that still have a shot to make the playoffs, but goal scoring has been a concern for some, while a few seem to be able to score at will.  Also, we’ll analyze special teams, which are vital to a team’s success in the playoffs, to say the least.  We’ll start, as always, with the Eastern Conference.


 


  Boston Bruins


Goals Scored Per Game:  2.55


Goals Allowed Per Game:  2.28


Differential:  + 0.27


Powerplay:  16.2 %


Penalty Kill:  83.8 %


Combined:  100.0%


 


  Montreal Canadiens


Goals Scored Per Game:  2.49


Goals Allowed Per Game:  2.33


Differential:  +0.16


Powerplay:  17.0%


Penalty Kill:  82.3 %


Combined:  99.3%


 


  New Jersey Devils


Goals Scored Per Game:  2.59


Goals Allowed Per Game:  1.99


Differential:  +0.60


Powerplay:  16.0%


Penalty Kill:  85.1 %


Combined:  101.1%


 


  New York Islanders


Goals Scored Per Game:  2.89


Goals Allowed Per Game:  2.56


Differential:  +0.33


Powerplay:  15.9%


Penalty Kill:  85.3 %


Combined:  101.2%


 


  Ottawa Senators


Goals Scored Per Game:  3.24


Goals Allowed Per Game:  2.26


Differential:  +0.98


Powerplay:  21.6%


Penalty Kill:  83.8 %


Combined:  105.4%


 


  Philadelphia Flyers


Goals Scored Per Game:  2.79


Goals Allowed Per Game:  2.26


Differential:  +0.53


Powerplay:  20.9%


Penalty Kill:  84.0 %


Combined:  104.9%


 


  Tampa Bay Lightning


Goals Scored Per Game:  3.01


Goals Allowed Per Game:  2.35


Differential:  +0.66


Powerplay:  16.3%


Penalty Kill:  84.6 %


Combined:  100.9%


 


  Toronto Maple Leafs


Goals Scored Per Game:  2.91


Goals Allowed Per Game:  2.52


Differential:  +0.39


Powerplay:  19.8%


Penalty Kill:  83.3 %


Combined:  103.1%


 


For Hab fans, this is not the stuff you want to be reading, as the Habs are last out of the top-8 in goal differential, as well as overall special teams.  But of course, this is just the regular season, and when the playoffs start, all the numbers are identical (until the puck drops at least.)  Now, we move on to the West, where the 8th playoff spot has yet to be determined.


 


  Calgary Flames


Goals Scored Per Game:  2.48


Goals Allowed Per Game:  2.15


Differential:  +0.33


Powerplay:  15.3%


Penalty Kill:  84.8 %


Combined:  100.1%


 


  Colorado Avalanche


Goals Scored Per Game:  2.90


Goals Allowed Per Game:  2.42


Differential:  +0.48


Powerplay:  20.5%


Penalty Kill:  83.7 %


Combined:  104.2%


 


  Dallas Stars


Goals Scored Per Game:  2.33


Goals Allowed Per Game:  2.14


Differential:  +0.19


Powerplay:  15.3%


Penalty Kill:  86.0 %


Combined:  101.3%


 


  Detroit Red Wings


Goals Scored Per Game:  3.14


Goals Allowed Per Game:  2.28


Differential:  +0.86


Powerplay:  20.3%


Penalty Kill:  86.9 %


Combined:  107.2%


 


  Edmonton Oilers


Goals Scored Per Game:  2.70


Goals Allowed Per Game:  2.51


Differential:  +0.19


Powerplay:  12.8%


Penalty Kill:  81.2 %


Combined:  94.0%


 


  Nashville Predators


Goals Scored Per Game:  2.66


Goals Allowed Per Game:  2.65


Differential:  +0.01


Powerplay:  17.1%


Penalty Kill:  81.5 %


Combined:  98.6%


 


  San Jose Sharks


Goals Scored Per Game:  2.65


Goals Allowed Per Game:  2.22


Differential:  +0.43


Powerplay:  16.1%


Penalty Kill:  85.1 %


Combined:  101.2%


 


  St. Louis Blues


Goals Scored Per Game:  2.34


Goals Allowed Per Game:  2.43


Differential:  -0.09


Powerplay:  18.1%


Penalty Kill:  84.4 %


Combined:  102.5%


 


  Vancouver Canucks


Goals Scored Per Game:  2.84


Goals Allowed Per Game:  2.37


Differential:  +0.47


Powerplay:  14.7%


Penalty Kill:  86.1 %


Combined:  100.8%


 


As you can see, Edmonton and Nashville are struggling mightily in the special teams department, and they’re the ones fighting for the 8th and final playoff spot.  As for St. Louis, they’re the only playoff team to have a negative goal differential, and they just squeaked into the postseason with a win on the second last day of the season. 


 


In case you prefer looking at a single chart than reading every team’s stats, this one’s for you:


















































































































Team

GPG

GAG

PP %

PK %


Boston

2.55

2.28

16.2

83.8


Calgary

2.48

2.15

15.3

84.8


Colorado

2.90

2.42

20.5

83.7


Dallas

2.33

2.14

15.3

86.0


Detroit

3.14

2.28

20.3

86.9


Edmonton

2.70

2.51

12.8

81.2


Montreal

2.49

2.33

17.0

82.3


Nashville

2.66

2.65

17.1

81.5


New Jersey

2.59

1.99

16.0

85.1


New York I.

2.89

2.56

15.9

85.3


Ottawa

3.24

2.26

21.6

83.8


Philadelphia

2.79

2.26

20.9

84.0


San Jose

2.65

2.22

16.1

85.1


St. Louis

2.34

2.43

18.1

84.4


Tampa Bay

3.01

2.35

16.3

84.6


Toronto

2.91

2.52

19.8

83.3


Vancouver

2.84

2.37

14.7

86.1


Statistics as of games played through April 2nd, 2004.


 


As it stands, the Eastern Conference appears to be the stronger one overall in terms of goal scoring, as well as with the goalies, but that means very little come playoff time.  What these teams have done goal-wise this season has gotten them this far, but in order to reach the promised land, they will have to pick it up that extra notch, or in some cases, those extra notches.  Next week, the final “Playoff Primer”, as we’ll break down the Habs and compare their regular season and playoff performances, to see who, if anyone, does indeed give that little bit more.


Questions/comments?  E-mail me at [email protected].