A quick look at shot differential

by James Mirtle on Nov 15, 2009 1:52 AM CST Comment 16 comments

More photos » Charles Cherney - AP

Shot differential's one of those stats that, for whatever reason, only seems to get any attention on the interwebs, but as smarter minds than mine have pointed out, it's often a good indicator of a team's talent level. Some bad teams do out shoot their opponents, but there are generally reasons for that (with awful goaltending at the top of the list).

Note the Blackhawks on this year's list:

	Team	GP	Pt%	S/G	SA/G	Diff
1	CHI	18	0.667	33.3	23.1	10.2
2	DET	18	0.639	33.9	28.5	5.4
3	PHI	16	0.656	33.7	28.8	4.9
4	PIT	20	0.650	32.0	27.4	4.6
5	BUF	17	0.735	33.7	29.8	3.9
6	DAL	19	0.579	32.2	29.4	2.8
7	TOR	18	0.306	33.3	30.6	2.7
8	LAK	21	0.619	28.4	26.0	2.4
9	NSH	18	0.528	30.8	28.5	2.3
10	OTT	17	0.559	30.0	27.8	2.2
11	BOS	19	0.526	31.1	29.0	2.1
12	NJD	18	0.778	29.4	27.7	1.7
13	VAN	21	0.524	30.6	29.0	1.6
14	WSH	20	0.700	32.2	30.7	1.5
15	PHX	19	0.579	28.7	27.4	1.3
16	SJS	21	0.738	30.9	30.0	0.9
17	CAR	18	0.222	30.1	29.4	0.7
18	MIN	19	0.395	28.7	28.6	0.1
19	NYR	20	0.575	29.2	29.6	-0.4
20	MTL	20	0.450	29.4	30.6	-1.2
21	STL	18	0.444	28.8	30.3	-1.5
22	NYI	20	0.525	31.0	33.6	-2.6
23	CBJ	18	0.611	28.8	31.6	-2.8
24	TBL	17	0.588	27.8	32.1	-4.3
25	ANA	18	0.417	28.8	34.1	-5.3
26	CGY	18	0.722	25.4	31.4	-6.0
27	ATL	16	0.594	28.1	34.8	-6.7
28	COL	20	0.675	26.2	33.0	-6.8
29	FLA	17	0.441	28.6	35.6	-7.0
30	EDM	19	0.474	26.3	33.5	-7.2

If you're sitting down to watch a game tonight (Sunday), tune into the Sharks-Hawks game and note what's there. Who's really the better team this season? San Jose's been getting the goaltending, definitely, so maybe that's the difference there, but there's something about this Chicago team that stands out every time I've seen them play (and I don't just mean Duncan Keith).

And after they've pummelled a couple teams this week, everyone's wondering if perhaps Detroit's demise isn't quite here yet.

Just a couple thoughts.

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Comments

The whole ‘demise of Detroit’ thing was silly, anyway. Injuries happen, and while the Wings injuries this year may knock their regular season totals down somewhat, the people who mused the Wings were toast were doing more wishing than thinking.

by HockeyinHD on Nov 15, 2009 9:49 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Just like every year

by detroitnick on Nov 15, 2009 10:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Woohoo! The Leafs are seventh-best at something yaaaaaaaaay.

by Vent on Nov 15, 2009 10:52 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Of course, we do ask the question of how teams can out-shoot their opponents but still be bad…

http://www.behindthenethockey.com/2009/11/15/1157244/how-bad-teams-outshoot-their

Watching a videotape of the incident, Bart narrates the scene
frame-by-frame. ``Watch this, Lis. You can actually pinpoint the
second when his heart rips in half.’’

by Hawerchuk on Nov 15, 2009 11:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You are a mean man, sir. A very mean man.

by Vent on Nov 15, 2009 12:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Chicago is putting together a good year, but Huet is not one to be counted on too much.

Blue and Gold (of Buffalo)

by Ebscer on Nov 15, 2009 7:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Huet has a 9-4-1 record with a 2.25 GAA and a .902 SV% which is what the doctor ordered when it comes to netminding with this team. Is a elite netminder? No, but he’s far from the worst and is more than capable of carrying this team in the playoffs. He’s not going to be asked to steal game after game for them like Kiprusoff, Miller, Anderson, and Brodeur do for their respective clubs. Just be solid and consistant like Osgood in Detroit.

It's never about the eventual destination, but rather the long journey and its challenging obstacles that are presented and what it takes to overcome them, that makes the taste of success all the more worthwhile!!!

by hawks61 on Nov 16, 2009 11:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The media storm that WAS Huet???

It’s gone away. The shaky start appears to be nothing more than just that, but if you don’t follow the Blackhawks and given the unreal amount of media attention to the matter (hey… it was October in the NHL for crying out loud!) you might not be following his progress. You mention the SV%? Puts him slightly below Fleury and just above Osgood in the league’s goaltending stats. That GAA puts him in the league’s top ten. And he’s had a shutout, which less than half the goalies can lay claim to right now.

You are absolutely correct 61 – Huet suits this team just fine.

Good call James.

"Call Detroit, tell dem... BULLSHIT!"

by Hungryhawk on Nov 16, 2009 12:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It’d be interesting to see this with shot quality taken as a factor, considering some players will shoot from anywhere. Or teams that have low shots against compared with shots blocked.

by stormshadow on Nov 15, 2009 8:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

jeez

you called that chicago/san jose game james, you’re the man

by detroitnick on Nov 15, 2009 11:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

In everything but goaltending, Chicago’s the best team in the league so far. And Hossa’s not back yet.

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on Nov 16, 2009 12:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks James. Even as a Hawks fan I have to admit that I was pleasantly suprised that the Hawks were able to come back against the Sharks last night. I mean no Hossa, Bolland, Versteeg (there goes your 2nd line), Burish, and Ebbett but still find a way to win. Impressive.

by hawks61 on Nov 16, 2009 11:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Sharks also played an aggressive Blues team the night before

and are on the road working 3-in-4 nights. Regardless of injuries/fatigue, it was an entertaining game – could have gone either way, like last season’s wild 6-5 showdown. These two teams would make for an exciting WCF.

"Sorry guys, I’m not going to try and hit (Douglas) Murray anymore, it doesn’t work" - Steve Ott, Dallas Stars.

by SwisherThresher on Nov 16, 2009 1:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well you know what...

If the Sharks scored more goals they would’ve won!! San Jose by far >>> Chicago

/biased opinion

-The dude responsible for this mess

by idunno723 on Nov 17, 2009 12:13 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

In everything but goaltending, Chicago’s the best team in the league so far.

Are they the best in defense? And by defense I don’t mean defensemen who can move forward and score, I mean actually playing team defense in their zone. Not saying they’re the worst but, certainly not the best defense, right?

"I'm gonna hire you as my latex salesman? I don't think so. Why would I do that?"
"Vandelay! Say Vandelay Industries!"
"And you wanna be my latex salesman?"

by Urban Sombrero on Nov 16, 2009 2:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Keith and Seabrook are. That’s one of the best defence pairings in the league, in both zones.

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on Nov 16, 2009 4:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

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