Faceoff Factor

The Pens at the 70-Game Mark

Mike Adams | Inside The Numbers

Mar 11, 08:00 AM | Hype this story!

I break the Pittsburgh Penguins’ season into 5-game segments and compare them to where they stood last year. Here is how things look at the 70-game mark.

Record
2007-08: 39-24-7, 85 pts
2006-07: 39-21-10, 88 pts
Net: -3

The Pens have fallen behind last year’s pace thanks to their “struggles the past 5 games. This year, they went 3-2, compared to 4-0-1 last year. But the fact they are only 3 points behind last year’s pace is still rather amazing, considering all the injuries. last year, everything seemed to go perfectly. There were few injuries as the team came out of nowhere. Not so this year. Bot the players and the coaching staff deserve full credit for keeping the team within reach of last season’s point total, though it will be about impossible for them to get there.

Even strength goals for
2007-08: 137
2006-07: 147
Net: -10

Again, they have fallen behind last year’s pace. I guess that’s what happens when you take Sid out of the lineup for a quarter of the season. While Malkin filled in admirably, they lacked the scoring depth they had last year.

Even strength goals allowed
2007-08: 125
2006-07: 138
Net: -13

This is most notable area of improvement compared to last season. For the most part, they have tightened up the defense. If you look at the top six at the end of last season, you have essentially replaced (as of right now) Scuderi, Melichar, and Nasreddine with Letang, Sydor, and Gill. That is a huge improvement. Let’s also not forget the goaltending of Conklin, which is better than what Fleury did most of last year.

Power play
2007-08: 65/317, 20.5%
2006-07: 80/395, 20.3%
Net: -0.2%

The Sid-less power play of the last couple months actually enabled them to pass last year’s figure. However, the power play is headed in the wrong direction, going 1 for the last 26. The decline started before Sid returned, and his addition to the top unit has done nothing to stem the tide. The Pens have had 78 fewer power plays this season than last.

Penalty kill
2007-08: 246/307, 80.1%
2006-07: 295/362, 81.5%
Net: -1.4%

This is the area of biggest concern. It seems no matter what they do or who they put out there, the PK just stinks. The acquisitions of Gill and Dupuis have not improved things. They are at 78% in the games those two have played. At some point, I suppose you have to look at coaching. That means you, Andre Savard.

Shorthanded goals For/Against
2007-08: 4/6
2006-07: 13/12
Net: -3

The dropoff in shorties is huge. There is a similar, though smaller, reduction in shorties allowed.

Special Teams Action Rating
2007-08: 100.0
2006-07: 102.3
Net: -2.3

Their special teams this year work out to average, as 100 is the mid point on the STAR scale. They have certainly dropped compared to last season, too.

Division Record:
2007-08: 9-11-2, .455
2006-07: 19-7-3, .707

The Pens have played much better against the Atlantic Division since the New Year, going 5-1-1 since then. So as their overall performance has improved, so too has their play against the Atlantic. Good thing, too, as 10 of the final 12 (including the last 8) are within the division.