The Pens At the 35-Game Point
Mike Adams | Inside The Numbers
Dec 26, 12:09 PM | 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 35-game mark, which occurred before the Boston game.
Record
2007-08: 17-16-2, 36 pts
2006-07: 15-14-6, 36 pts
Net: Even
As I have said for about a month now, the Pens continue to gather points at about the same pace they did last year. In fact, right now, their record is identical. But this is not a good thing, since it is highly unlikely they will duplicate the success they had in the second half last year. The first half should have been for building up a better record than last season. That hasn’t happened.
Even strength goals for
2007-08: 64
2006-07: 68
Net: -4
I am changing this from total goals for the even strength. I already look at power play goals, so why not separate that out and just look at even strength here? They are slightly behind last year’s pace, but not by a huge amount.
Even strength goals allowed
2007-08: 68
2006-07: 69
Net: -1
In yet another indicator, they are very close to last year.
Power play
2007-08: 32/167, 19.2%
2006-07: 34/214, 15.9%
Net: +3.3%
Amazingly, as bad as the power play has been lately, it is still outpacing last year’s. The PP went through a brutal slump at about this same time last season. Maybe it’s the holidays, and the spirit of giving? Anyway, the power play has not been good lately, and really needs to pick it up. better design and different personnel would be a start.
Penalty kill
2007-08: 130/165, 78.8%
2006-07: 162/204, 79.4%
Net: -0.6%
The penalty kill continues to sink slowly into the mire. It has been absolutely awful since the first month. It has been so bad it is now lagging behind last year’s miserable results. Gee, you think a solid defenseman or two might be a good idea?
Shorthanded goals For/Against
2007-08: 3/3
2006-07: 8/7
Net: -1
Again, not much different bottom line than last year, though the numbers are way lower. Jordan Staal and the others have been getting some good shorthanded chances—they just aren’t converting them they way they did last year.
Special teams Action Rating*
2007-08: 98.0
2006-07: 100.4
Net: -2.4
This reflects the putrid special trams play we have seen of late. Anything below 100 is on the bad side. They were consistently above that last year and earlier this year. But no more. Special teams play must improve if this team is going to make a run.
Division Record:
2007-08: 4-10-1, .300
2006-07: 11-5-2, .667
Still no improvement here. They went 1-2 in the last five games. They are actually lucky to even be within sniffing distance in the division with a record this bad. You have to wonder if they are so bad within the division because the other teams know exactly how to outcoach Michel Therrien, having seen him for two years now.
Comments
KG
Dec 26, 12:11 PM
Everyone is waiting for this same run of wins to come like they did last year around this time.
I think that they will play more consistently, but I do not see another big time run in this team this year. 105 points will not be reached, which is fine. But they have to make the playoffs to continue taking the right steps.
DaBich
Dec 26, 12:33 PM
I still don’t look for them to make the playoffs. Next year is another year.
Hannibal Lecter
Dec 26, 12:35 PM
It’s not going to happen with Conklin. He was very very shaky vs. the Bruins but the B’s were flat.
Michael
Dec 26, 05:45 PM
Yes .. the Division teams__have__studied what Therrien does and doesn’t do .. you’re correct.
The powerplay needs a complete overhaul in terms of design, style, and strategy .. which means Yeo must go! And the PK needs to change in the sense that they need to pressure the puck-carrier. Will the current coach in charge of the PK (who, by the way?) be able to realize this and impliment it? Not likely.
The forwards need to come back low into the defensive zone to support the defensemen to begin the breakouts, and in order to create speed coming through the neutral zone. Will Therrien realize this is necessary? Probably not. MT needs to go.
They are actually in danger of not making the playoffs, as difficult as it is for me to admit this .. and this is mostly due to the poor coaching. If they could hire Dave King soon, they could make sure they__do__make the playoffs. But who knows if he is really available now .. ?
I just don’t see Shero (nor the Ownership) as having the guts to make the needed big coaching change .. probably not even in the coming offseason, which is disturbing.
Matt Bodenschatz
Dec 26, 10:30 PM
Michael, I’ve said it several times before, a coaching change at this point in the season is a near-lock to put an end to the season quickly.
A move of that stature involves a new system, new personalities, etc — all of which require time to become accustomed to. And, if the team doesn’t catch on quickly enough — which is extremely possible — the season would be done.
It’s easy to look at things and say, “a coaching change is needed.” But the statistics show that the Penguins are right in the hunt. Is a long winning streak forthcoming? Probably not, but you never know.
Replacing the coaching staff is something that should be done if/when this team falls completely out of playoff contention or during the offseason — not now, when playoffs remain a possibility, even though things aren’t looking great.
Commenting is closed for this article.