Scoring on the rise in the West
by James Mirtle on Dec 12, 2008 2:35 PM CST
6 comments
As of today, we're 34 per cent of the way through the season, with teams having averaged just more than 28 games played apiece.
Scoring is up in general, and it's really up in the Western Conference, which has been the lower scoring conference the past few seasons. A look at some stats comparing the average Eastern team to the average Western one:
| East | West | ||
| W | 13.5 | 14.6 | -1.1 |
| L | 10.6 | 10.5 | 0.1 |
| OT | 4.1 | 2.9 | 1.1 |
| P | 31.0 | 32.1 | -1.1 |
| P% | 0.551 | 0.574 | -0.023 |
| /82 | 90.3 | 94.2 | -3.8 |
| G/G | 2.79 | 2.90 | -0.11 |
| GA/G | 2.84 | 2.84 | 0.00 |
| PP% | 17.8 | 19.0 | -1.2 |
| PK% | 81.9 | 81.5 | 0.3 |
| S/G | 30.1 | 29.6 | 0.5 |
| SA/G | 30.6 | 29.0 | 1.6 |
| SV% | 0.907 | 0.902 | 0.005 |
| Sc1 | 61.7% | 69.2% | -7.5% |
| Ld1 | 63.9% | 77.7% | -13.8% |
| Ld2 | 77.0% | 86.3% | -9.3% |
Of note in there? The average game involving a Western Conference team has 5.73 goals scored, compared to only 5.62 in the East.
Some of that difference appears to be due to goaltending, as despite having more shots on goal in the East, the conference has not had more goals allowed. Eastern teams have an average save percentage of .907 while the Western clubs are at just .902.
Eight Western teams have a save percentage below .900, led by Dallas, Detroit, Columbus, St. Louis, Nashville, Colorado and Calgary. Only Minnesota, Vancouver, Anaheim and Chicago have save percentages over .911 among the 15 teams there.
Part of the reason for that is that power plays in the Western Conference have been much more potent, with the average team at 19 per cent compared to the East's 17.8 per cent average.
The average East team is on pace for 90.3 points so far; the average West one is on pace for 94.2.
Lead changes, meanwhile, have been more prevalent in the East, where 63.9 per cent of teams leading after the first period win and 77 per cent of teams leading after the second period win. Those figures are far higher, 77.7 per cent and 86.3 per cent, in the West.
In conclusion? The West is still the stronger conference, but the gap has narrowed. The East is dragged down by its three bottom feeders.
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interconference games?
James, have you considered looking at the results of East-vs-West games? I know in baseball that the American League has dominated the NL in interleague play for a while, but I don’t know how it goes in the NHL.
Then again I guess the 94/90 point difference and goal differentials shown here are enough to say that the West is better in hockey.
by RobP on Dec 12, 2008 5:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Up to Dec 10.
West vs. East (brackets are OT/SO results)
GP:101
West W: 46 (14)
West L: 31 (10)
West GF: 302
West GA: 276
by hockeynumbers on Dec 12, 2008 7:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Almost 3 goals a game and 20% on the pp for the West. It would be interesting to see if this trend continues and they can hit those benchmarks.
by pj48 on Dec 13, 2008 11:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Truth hurts
The East is dragged down by its three bottom feeders.
Ahhh, I like my truth served cold — and as the kicker to a good post. :)
Lighthouse Hockey: an SB Nation New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 12, 2008 6:58 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
The difference is bigger than James’ post suggests – the only reason that the East is as close to the West in points as they are is because of their sizeable edge in OT/SOL.
by mc79hockey on Dec 13, 2008 3:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
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