Faceoff Factor

The Pens at the 50-Game Mark

Mike Adams | Pittsburgh Penguins

Feb 2, 04:23 PM | Hype this story!

This is a bit late, as the Pens played their 50th Friday night. But they continue to lose ground compared to last year.

Record
2008-09: 24-21-5, 53 pts
2007-08: 28-18-4, 60 pts
Net: -7

They slipped three more points behind last year’s pace despite having 6 of 10 at home.

Even strength goals for
2008-09: 116
2007-08: 98
Net: +18

The Pens have actually far outpaced last year’s edition in even-strength offense. Folks, offense is not the problem. They are scoring plenty enough goals to win hockey games.

Even strength goals allowed
2008-09: 105
2007-08: 88
Net: +17

Unfortunately, their even-strength defense has slipped by an equal amount. Herein lies the real problem. They simply cannot keep the puck out of the net. Fleury has been average at best, Sabourin was horrible, and Garon looks to be his equal.

Power play
2008-09: 37/226, 16.4%
2007-08: 45/228, 19.7%
Net: -3.3%

The power play was even worse in this segment than it had been up until then. If you want a really ugly number, they are converting at an abysmal 9.2 percent rate since December 23. For some reason, that date seems to ring a bell. Oh, yeah, wasn’t that when Ryan Whitney came back and joined the top unit?

Penalty kill
2008-09: 174/218, 79.8%
2007-08: 176/219, 80.4%
Net: -0.6%

Overall, the PK is right about where last year’s was. But this last segment was not so good, at 77.1 percent. And if you go back to December 13, it is only 74.5 percent.

Shorthanded goals For/Against
2008-09: 3/8
2007-08: 4/4
Net: -5

Considering the talent they sometimes put on the ice shorthanded, it is amazing that they just can’t seem to score in those situations.

Special Teams Action Rating
2008-09: 46.5
2007-08: 49.4
Net: -2.9

The special teams woes continue, as they muddle along well below the league average.

Division Record:
2008-09: 9-3-4, .688
2007-08: 6-10-1, .382

Ah, at last we have a bright spot. They continue to do much better within the division. Too bad they only have 8 division games left out of 32.

Record needed to reach 92 points:

2008-09: 19-12-1
2007-08: 16-16 (they actually went 19-9-4)

Last year, they got 42 points in the final 30 games. They will need 39 to hit 92 this season. Too bad there is absolutely no evidence that they are capable of playing at anywhere close to that level.