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Measuring stoppages in play

I couldn't tell you why I had this on the brain, but after reading this Toronto Star piece on how moving faceoffs after a penalty call has resulted in more power-play goals, I wanted to take a look at just how many faceoffs there were per game.

Measuring the number of faceoffs in a game is really a look at the number of stoppages, something the league has sought to limit by getting rid of the two-line pass rule and reinstating the tag-up offside rule.

Post-lockout, it's been working:

 

Faceoffs per game

Nhl_stoppages_medium

Now, obviously every hockey game on earth will have at least three faceoffs (one to start each period) and then there's also another after every goal is scored (and the NHL has averaged about 5.5 goals a game in recent seasons).

The other faceoffs come from all sorts of other calls, namely penalties, goaltenders holding the puck, offsides, icing and for pucks out of play.

Here's a look at the number of stoppages per game for all 30 teams so far this season, from most to least, and the average time, in seconds, between faceoffs:

Team          GP        Faceoffs/G FO Rate
PHI  42 61.1 58.9 s
ATL  43 60.1 59.9
MTL  41 59.7 60.3
NYI  42 59.6 60.4
FLA  42 59.4 60.6
DET  41 59.0 61.1
CGY  41 58.9 61.1
TOR  42 58.7 61.3
NSH  42 58.5 61.5
WSH  43 58.3 61.7
PIT  43 58.2 61.8
CBJ  42 58.2 61.9
BOS  42 58.1 62.0
CAR  43 58.0 62.0
STL  41 58.0 62.1
EDM  41 57.6 62.5
VAN  44 57.3 62.9
ANA  44 57.2 62.9
TBL  41 57.1 63.0
CHI  40 56.9 63.3
SJS  41 56.8 63.4
BUF  42 56.6 63.6
NJD  42 56.6 63.6
OTT  40 56.3 63.9
PHX  43 56.1 64.2
MIN  41 55.9 64.4
LAK  41 55.9 64.5
COL  42 55.8 64.6
DAL  40 55.0 65.5
NYR  44 54.9 65.5
Total 1256 57.7 62.4

 

In general, games with fewer stoppages are considered to be more "free flowing," but it's tough looking at the teams here and coming to that conclusion. The numbers are obviously influenced by teams' opponents and the type of game they play as well.

The Rangers lead the way in fewest stoppages mainly because they don't take many penalties, don't score all that much and are solid defensively.

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So hard to think about these differences, James.

Maybe next time, if it’s available, you could show the breakdown of whistles because of goals / offsides / icings / penalties / whatever. It might make this notion of “free flowing” a little more measurable, because I’m not sure it goes against my notion of “free-flowing” that they have face offs after goals are scored (but I suppose of all the whistle-causes, that is probably the least prevalent). I think?

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Jan 12, 2009 6:36 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

The difference between the highest scoring teams and lowest would be pretty minimal, really. Two faceoffs, at most, likely.

Not that I’m trying to prove games are more “free flowing” with the teams at the bottom.

by James Mirtle on Jan 12, 2009 6:53 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Real easy to see why the Flyers are tops in stoppages, due to all their goals for against, penalties, etc. Plus the Flyers players tend to get pretty into their arena music.

Swing by The Flyer Frequent if you have nothing better to do.

by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 12, 2009 7:40 PM CST reply actions   0 recs


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