Quote:
Originally Posted by transplant99
After 40 games last year the team had scored 128 goals
After 40 games this season the have scored 123 goals
After 40 games last season the team had given up 99 goals
This season after 40 games the team has given up 119 goals
This clubs flaws are not in the offensive zone nearly as much as they are in their own end.
With Markstrom back on track, a better team defense effort the last month or so, and new guys settling into their roles, it should start to translate into wins more than it has.
That doesnt mean they are a top 6 guy short of where it should be, because they are. Also you can never have enough scorers. But in a Sutter system, if you dont defend properly, it gets tough to win consistently.
I think all the signs are starting to point in the right direction of a decent run coming for the group.
Up to them at this point and as always a bit of luck in avoiding major injuries to key guys.
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I would agree with this because numbers aren’t always right, but based on the eye test, it just feels like this team is having trouble scoring enough goals and at the right times. I don’t remember feeling this way at all last season where the team won games comfortably on a regular basis while finishing 5th or 6th in GF in the league.
Now, goals against can create the same dilemma. So perhaps it could be as simple as the team almost trying too hard to score goals and in the process, give up big chances the other way in pursuit of goals.
Like, just as an example, look at Elias Lindholm’s +/- this season compared to last season? He finished with a staggering +61 last season, this season, on pace for +2. That’s almost a difference of 60 goals. The top line last season played Darryl Sutter hockey to perfection; they gave up nothing and scored playing the right way. This team doesn’t have a line that can do that anymore.
EDIT: Also, I just checked. The team was ranked 12th in the league in goals last season 40 games in, this season, we sit 22nd. So even if the raw values are close, we’re 10 teams behind from where we sat last season. I’m guessing that goal scoring is up this season which could account for the difference.