Special teams

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j4241
Posts: 533
Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2015 2:38 pm

Special teams

Post by j4241 » Tue Feb 04, 2020 2:06 pm

Andover has scored 22 power play goals, and has given up 0 while on the power play (short handed goals against). They are +22 on the PP. They have had 8 power plays scored against them, and have scored 6 short handed. They are -2 short-handed (measured this way).

Similar stats for other top teams:
PP SH
Andover +22 -2
Edina +24 -1
Maple Grove +13 -8
Eden Prairie +20 -7
Minnetonka +18 -13 (this puts a touch of tarnish on their much vaunted D...)

As a group of stats, this looks like just another way that Edina and Andover separate themselves as the two best.

And then look at these numbers:

Blake +3 +5

The first stat is really, really bad for a team of this quality. Blake comes by this number with a 14% power play. A PP with 80+% of the minutes (from what I've seen) coming from three of the best forwards in the state. 8 power plays goals scored over 24 games.

The second stat is really, really amazing. They come by this with 14 short handed goals. 14! (all scored by those same seniors, and while giving up a total of 9 to the opposing power play)

The numbers together means Blake has scored more net goals short handed than on the power play... How can kids capable of scoring 14 short handed goals not be coached to score more than 8 when the other team has fewer players than them? I have to imagine that more net goals scored short-handed than on the power play has almost never happened in the history of hockey over a season. Anyone aware of something similar? Any thoughts on this absolutely perplexing combination of stats?

Thoen88
Posts: 74
Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2019 11:53 am

Re: Special teams

Post by Thoen88 » Tue Feb 04, 2020 2:47 pm

BSM is +21 -4

Slap Shot
Posts: 948
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 4:44 pm

Re: Special teams

Post by Slap Shot » Wed Feb 05, 2020 8:24 am

j4241 wrote:
Tue Feb 04, 2020 2:06 pm
Minnetonka +18 -13 (this puts a touch of tarnish on their much vaunted D...)
With a team GAA of 1.77 and SV% of .921 this would seem to be more of a coaching issue than necessarily their "vaunted D".

j4241
Posts: 533
Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2015 2:38 pm

Re: Special teams

Post by j4241 » Wed Feb 05, 2020 9:33 am

Fair point. Their top two D are unquestionably very, very good, and that should lead to a very good PK - also weird (like the Blake stats).

Indy96
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Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2019 4:15 pm

Re: Special teams

Post by Indy96 » Wed Feb 05, 2020 10:09 am

RE: Minnetonka- their top two D missed a handful of games in late Dec and early Jan for the U18 National team, plus played one game the day after they got back with jet lag. Guessing this may have impacted their numbers.

jg2112
Posts: 915
Joined: Fri Mar 29, 2013 8:36 am

Re: Special teams

Post by jg2112 » Wed Feb 05, 2020 10:47 am

Indy96 wrote:
Wed Feb 05, 2020 10:09 am
RE: Minnetonka- their top two D missed a handful of games in late Dec and early Jan for the U18 National team, plus played one game the day after they got back with jet lag. Guessing this may have impacted their numbers.
Minnetonka gave up 3 goals on the power play in 27 opportunities while Guilday and Nicholson were with the U18s. That's around a 88% PK percentage, whereas they were 83.9% on the season.

Now, they played Buffalo, BSM, EP, MG, CDH and Stillwater while those two were gone. Obviously Warroad, Andover, and Edina (x2) does damage to a team's statistical situation. But it doesn't seem there was much statistical change for Tonka on the PK, based on who played D this year.

Lace'emUp
Posts: 359
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 10:37 am

Re: Special teams

Post by Lace'emUp » Fri Feb 07, 2020 10:22 am

Maybe look at the number of D1 or college committed players each of these teams have, and you might also might find a direct correlation to PP/PK/+/-. These stats might be useful in predicting one team over another in the semi's or finals of some of the sections match-ups. However, if the refs forget their whistles in their locker room, it doesn't mean much. In the end though, unless the flu bug ravages one team or another, the State Championship game will be Edina vs Andover.

Eagles93
Posts: 483
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 5:04 pm

Re: Special teams

Post by Eagles93 » Fri Feb 07, 2020 10:49 am

Lace'emUp wrote:
Fri Feb 07, 2020 10:22 am
In the end though, unless the flu bug ravages one team or another, the State Championship game will be Edina vs Andover.
Agreed that those two are the heavy favorites, but I think we thought the same thing last year. No one saw Brainerd, with a hot goalie, knocking off Andover.

Lace'emUp
Posts: 359
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 10:37 am

Re: Special teams

Post by Lace'emUp » Fri Feb 07, 2020 10:55 am

Yes, agreed. A hot goalie changes everything.

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