Faceoff Factor's Team DNA (December 1)

FF Staff | National Hockey League

Dec 3, 11:54 AM | Hype this story!

Statistics as of completed games on December 1st.

Next update would be Tuesday, December 16th.
 
1. San Jose Sharks – 24 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
20 3 1 41 3.75 2.38 1.37 .22 .84 .53 70.99

41 out of 48 points isn’t bad for rookie head coach Todd McLellan and even better with Brian Boucher at 7-1-1.
 
2. Boston Bruins – 24 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
16 4 4 36 3.33 2.12 1.21 .23 .82 .53 66.98

Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez have done a superb job on a team with mostly a no-name defense.
 
3. Detroit Red Wings – 23 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
16 4 4 36 3.42 2.96 .46 .31 .82 .55 51.31

One of the top offenses in the league and on the PP but at some point their sagging defense is going to hurt their suspect goaltending
 
4. Vancouver Canucks – 25 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
14 9 2 30 2.96 2.40 .56 .17 .81 .51 51.20

If you’re trading stocks on the playoff value of the Canucks, I would be selling now with those PP, PK and FO numbers.
 
5. Minnesota Wild – 23 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
14 8 1 29 2.78 2.30 .48 .26 .89 .49 48.60

How long can a team sustain winning hockey with 42% of their goals coming on the PP? Boring teams to death doesn’t last forever.
 
6. Pittsburgh Penguins – 23 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
14 6 3 31 3.13 2.65 .48 .17 .83 .52 45.93

Many teams would crave for a 9-2-1 record in November but that didn’t stop some fans from complaining about Mike Therrien.
 

7. Chicago Blackhawks – 22 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
10 6 6 26 3.32 2.77 .55 .22 .83 .48 45.69

A young team on the rise with favorable numbers even though many are concerned with the goaltending of Khabibulin and Huet.
 
8. New York Rangers – 27 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
17 8 2 36 2.44 2.37 .07 .15 .90 .50 43.58

The statistical analysis confirms what many experts believe to be true about NY, weak schedule, more games played, and a bad offense.
 
9. Philadelphia Flyers – 23 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
11 7 5 27 3.30 3.00 .30 .22 .87 .48 42.78

Are the Flyers a good offensive team or careless? Something has to give with 3 goals against per game and .903 sv%
 
10. Anaheim Ducks – 26 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
14 9 3 31 2.81 2.73 .08 .21 .82 .49 41.55

Brian Burke had an easy decision to let Edmonton overpay Dustin Penner but he did little to keep his own cap in order.
 
11. Montreal Canadiens – 23 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
13 6 4 30 2.74 2.48 .26 .14 .82 .51 39.88

Was Mark Streit that important to the power-play in Montreal as the Canadiens are struggling at 14% and Kostitsyn brothers are MIA.
 
12. Washington Capitals – 24 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
13 8 3 29 3.17 3.04 .13 .20 .79 .52 39.31

Bruce Boudreau can’t like the 79% PK or the fact Jose Theodore is being outplayed by Brent Johnson.
 
13. Calgary Flames – 24 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
14 9 1 29 3.00 3.08 -.08 .20 .84 .52 35.33

Houdini would like his book of secrets back from Mike Keenan because the smoke-n-mirrors act can’t last forever.
 
14. New Jersey Devils – 22 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
12 8 2 26 2.82 2.68 .14 .14 .77 .50 34.10

Nothing speaks more about Devils hockey than a NJ 3-on-1 breakaway stuffed because two players peeled off and went for a line change.
 
15. Los Angeles Kings – 23 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
10 10 3 23 2.56 2.65 -.09 .16 .83 .53 32.75

Kings are supposed to be a really bad team, yet they’re right in the middle of the pack… says more about those below than any improvement.
 
16. Ottawa Senators – 22 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
8 10 4 20 2.32 2.41 -.09 .19 .87 .51 32.32

Since Bryan Murray arrived, Ottawa lost Chara, Redden, and Meszaros on defense and they’re getting nothing beyond the Three Amigos.
 
17. Columbus Blue Jackets – 24 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
11 10 3 25 2.92 3.04 -.12 .10 .79 .50 30.58

Wasn’t Ken Hitchcock supposed to be the man who turned it around in Columbus? 10% PP with Rick Nash on the team, huh!
 
18. Buffalo Sabres – 24 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
11 10 3 25 2.62 2.88 -.26 .19 .87 .47 30.34

Thomas Vanek’s 18 goals are 28% of his team’s total scored, can Lindy Ruff wakeup Maxim Afinogenov in time?
 
19. St. Louis Blues – 22 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
10 10 2 22 2.73 2.96 -.23 .24 .86 .50 30.05

21 of 31 skaters are a negative for plus/minus rating, Blues need to turn-it-around 5-on-5 or those special teams numbers do little good.
 
20. Toronto Maple Leafs – 24 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
9 9 6 24 3.04 3.29 -.25 .22 .76 .50 29.35

Fans in Toronto aren’t laughing when the penalty-box door opens for the Leafs and they can’t blame the 76% PK on Bryan McCabe.
 

21. Nashville Predators – 24 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
12 10 2 26 2.83 3.12 -.29 .14 .80 .53 28.37

13th rated team in terms of points but ugly PP, PK and Goal differential numbers should be a major concern in Nashville.
 
22. Carolina Hurricanes – 25 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
12 11 2 26 2.56 2.96 -.40 .13 .81 .51 26.20

Nothing fires up the fans and management in Carolina like a villain…. Brooks Orpik and Doug Weight are just acting the part for Ric Flair fans.
 
23. Florida Panthers – 23 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
9 11 3 21 2.39 2.74 -.35 .14 .83 .48 25.16

A team with a full load of veteran defensemen and goalie should be doing more even with the relatively young crop of forwards.
 
24. Phoenix Coyotes – 23 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
10 11 2 22 2.39 2.70 -.31 .14 .81 .43 24.54

Puck possession is key in today’s NHL and Coyotes let the league leader in faceoffs go to Pittsburgh for the equivalent of a bucket of pucks.
 
25. Colorado Avalanche – 24 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
12 12 0 24 2.50 2.96 -.46 .17 .79 .51 23.98

Not even a healthy Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg can help this team. When does the rebuilding sirene go off in Colorado?
 
26. Edmonton Oilers – 23 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
10 11 2 22 2.61 3.00 -.39 .20 .75 .47 23.67

Kevin Lowe thought enough of Dustin Penner to pay him one nice fat contract, does he ever realize MacTavish could be the problem?
 
27. New York Islanders – 24 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
10 12 2 22 2.62 3.29 -.67 .18 .83 .48 19.44

Joey MacDonald is playing way over his head and without him, fans in Long Island have little to be happy about.
 
28. Tampa Bay Lightning – 23 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
6 10 7 19 2.26 2.91 -.65 .16 .81 .51 19.07

Bad owners, bad management, bad coaches, and bad player leadership is a recipe for an epic disaster in Tampa Bay.
 
29. Atlanta Thrashers – 23 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
8 12 3 19 2.87 3.56 -.69 .19 .74 .49 16.81

Does Don Waddell stand a chance to be the GM by the All-Star break?
 
30. Dallas Stars – 23 GP
W L OT Pts G/G GA/G G Dif PP% PK% FO% Rate
8 11 4 20 2.83 3.65 -.82 .15 .75 .50 13.29

Brett Hull was warned by his friends and even rival GMs, stay away from Sean Avery…. he ignored the advise and look at the mess in Big D.

Comments

  1. KG

    Dec 3, 12:29 PM

    I am shocked at the start the Canucks have had. I thought they were going to a bad team this year with minimal offense…Vigneault has done a very good job with that club..

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