Defence has been ruling the roost so far in the NHL this season.
Where have all the goals gone?
When the NHL decided to open the game up by cracking down on obstruction following the lockout, scoring went up significantly, from an average of 5.14 goals-per-game in 2003-04 to 6.05 in 2005-06.
Suddenly, skilled players who had to fight through hooking and holding, among other fouls, to produce, were freer to strut their stuff. Young superstars Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin would have surely gotten their points no matter what style of hockey was being played when they joined the NHL, but don't kid yourself, they would not have put up the numbers they have in the 'new NHL.'
Suddenly though, it seems like defence is once again ruling the NHL. Goals per game through games played Nov. 10 were at 5.50, down slightly from the 5.53 teams scored in games played last season. It's not the best comparison, looking at the results of 216 games this season against the 1,230 games played last season because trends can modify over the course of the season, but it is interesting to note scoring appears to be on the decline.
It's not a dramatic dip, but it is an indication that defence is once again ruling the day in the NHL. Not only that, it is alarming how many players expected to be big producers for their teams, are having trouble finding the net.
Rick Nash, who led the NHL in goals in 2003-04 as a 19-year-old, has just six in 14 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Think that's bad? Well, Michael Cammalleri, Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez have a combined eight goals for the Montreal Canadiens. Ouch!
There are plenty of others. The St. Louis Blues will miss T.J. Oshie now that he has a broken ankle, but will they really miss his offence? He had one goal in 13 games. Teammate Brad Boyes had seasons of 33 and 43 goals in 2008-09 and 2007-08 respectively, but dipped to 14 last year and has just one goal in 14 games this season. Andy McDonald hasn't been much better with two goals in 14 games.
Wonder why the New Jersey Devils are sitting 30th in the overall standings? Might have something to do with the fact Patrik Elias has two goals in 16 games. He's not the only one struggling for the Devils. Cap crusher Ilya Kovalchuk has three goals in 15 games while Travis Zajac has two in 16 while Zach Parise (now injured) has three in 12.
The Minnesota Wild are off to a pretty good start this year, no thanks to Martin Havlat. He has one goal in 14 games. Same with the Flyers, although Mike Richards has only four goals in 16 games. Anze Kopitar is supposed to be the face of the Los Angeles Kings, but he had just four goals through 14 games. You'd have to think the New York Rangers were hoping for more than two goals in 16 games from Alex Frolov.
Former NHL coach Ken Hitchcock said last year the regular season is now, "like playing 82 playoff games just to try to make it to the playoffs."
It sure seems like it this year. Games in October have a huge significance on weather or not a team makes it to the dance.
"When you talk to teams now, the story is always the same," said Calgary Flames assistant GM Jay Feaster. "Everybody is talking about how games early in the season have the type of intensity that you don't normally see until the second half of the season. The desperation to win now is like it usually is starting in January.
"Also, you look at the goaltending now in the league - it seems like if they can see it, they can stop it."
Not everyone is having trouble scoring. Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning had 14 goals in 15 games. He's on pace to score 77 goals which would be the most since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny scored 76 each in 1992-93.
Some unlikely suspects have also been strong out of the gate. Clarke MacArthur is tied for the team lead in Toronto with Phil Kessel with seven goals each while Raffi Torres has seven goals in 14 games for the Vancouver Canucks. That's seven more goals than he scored in 14 games with the Buffalo Sabres after being acquired at the trade deadline last season.
The game opened up after the lockout, but now it has returned to tight checking with an accent on keeping the puck out of the net rather than trying to put it in.
"Coaches, players and teams have adapted to the new rules," said Florida Panthers defenceman Dennis Wideman. "Coming out of the lockout there were lots of power plays. It seemed like you were always on the power play or killing a penalty. It's not that way now."
