The PK should get some love too. The days of ringing the puck around and hoping it goes out are gone. Almost everyone on the PK has some passing skill and can find the hole (or better yet, an effective breakout). Engelland is the exception, but he's the physical presence. Of course, good goaltending has helped a lot.
They haven't had a shorty in a while, but they've had chances.
The PK should get some love too. The days of ringing the puck around and hoping it goes out are gone. Almost everyone on the PK has some passing skill and can find the hole (or better yet, an effective breakout). Engelland is the exception, but he's the physical presence. Of course, good goaltending has helped a lot.
They haven't had a shorty in a while, but they've had chances.
Engelland has been underrated this season IMO. He's had to reinvent himself almost every season, and has stepped up when needed. He's not your top pair guy, but he does a solid, CONSISTENT and responsible job. That couldn't be said for about 5 other defencemen, including guys like Gio, Brodie and Hamilton.
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The turnaround in special is teams is a miracle. Don't think I've ever seen a team turn around their special teams like this. And I certainly wasn't expecting the Flames to do it.
Special teams was losing us games to start the season. Now it's winning us games. It was brought up in another thread, but is it likely that teams are taking less liberties with the hacks and slashes because the opponents know there is a good chance the Flames score on the PP?
This is what it feels good to strike fear into the opposition's heart when were on the PP. I've never felt this way before....
Gulutzan is a real student of the game and has a work ethic that rivals Treliving. I now understand why he was chosen as HC. This turnaround on PP and PK is a unrelenting effort by our coaching staff to improve both in daily practices.
Power Play
20.7%, 10th in the league
Total: 28/135
The powerplay average is well above the typical average over the last couple years of 18%. Since the last update (3 games ago), we have gone:
0/4 vs. ANA, 2/4 vs. ARI, 3/7 vs. COL
Penalty Kill
81.6%, 16th in the league
The powerplay average is a touch below the typical average over the last couple years of 82%. Since the last update (3 games ago), we have gone:
4/6 vs. ANA, 4/4 vs. ARI, 3/3 vs. COL
Also, to offer another perspective on the climb that our special teams has been making, I've added the "combined snake" (addition of PP% and PK%) compared versus 100%. This should give an indicator of how much our special teams have ended up improving.
Combined
102.3%, 13th in the league
We are clear over 100% after flip flopping a tiny bit. Just a couple noteworthy combined percentages for other teams:
Columbus is 1st with a combined 109.8% (28.3%/81.5%).
Edmonton is 11th with a combined 102.6% (21.1%/81.5%).
Arizona is 30th with a combined 89.0% (11.4%/82.9%).
There are 18 teams with 100% or over.
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Summed stats from Nov 22 until today: Flames #1 PP at 32.1%
Flames #1 PK at 88.7%
That's a combined 120.8% over the last 26 games, or 1/3 of the season.
Impressive numbers no doubt. If we can start scoring consistently at EV strength we are no doubt a playoff team. Crazy how we went from the very bottom of both categories to the top. I apologize Cameron.
Summed stats from Nov 22 until today: Flames #1 PP at 32.1%
Flames #1 PK at 88.7%
That's a combined 120.8% over the last 26 games, or 1/3 of the season.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monahan For Mayor
Impressive numbers no doubt. If we can start scoring consistently at EV strength we are no doubt a playoff team. Crazy how we went from the very bottom of both categories to the top. I apologize Cameron.
The Flames record over that period is 16-8-2 for a .654 pace, which is not only a playoff team, but a challenger for the division lead.
I think sometimes people have very unrealistic expectations.
Updated snakes! Pretty much maintaining our numbers and positions in PP, PK, and combined.
Power Play
21.0%, 11th in the league
Total: 37/176
Penalty Kill
81.2%, 17th in the league
Total: 160/197
Combined
102.2%, 13th in the league
Toronto is 1st (whaat) with a combined 108.5% (28.3%/81.5%).
Edmonton is 9th with a combined 103.5% (21.1%/81.5%).
Dallas is 30th (also whaat) with a combined 91.4% (11.4%/82.9%).
There are 17 teams with 100% or over.
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For the season the Flames are now 13th in PP (19.8%) and 20th in PK (80.6%) for the season.
Since November 15th they are 3rd in PP (23.5%) and 8th in PK (83.6%).
From December 1st to today (February 25th) they are 1st in PP (26.0%) and 9th in PK (83.2%).
Quite the improvement. Definite kudos to the special teams coaches for steady and remarkable improvement over the past three months.
Sorry, no snek for this.
I'm not sure steady is the best descriptor, as the numbers you cited are being driven by a huge December - Dec 01 to 31 Flames were 33.3% on the PP, and are 21.8% since; Dec 01 to 31 Flames were 87.5% on the PK and are 79.5% since.
I'm not dismissing their improvement, just looking a bit deeper into the numbers.
The first PP unit really needs a big shot from the point or a more heavier presence down low. The Washington PP for years were sitting around the 25%-30% mark because they had a great down low threat as well that forced the opposition to respect the potential for a down low play.
The player down the hash marks should actually be used as playmaker and passer instead of a screen because Versteeg, Gaudreau and Brodie have muffins for shots and don't score enough from where they're currently situated. What we really need is a back door play option where Versteeg or Gaudreau can sneak in from the flanks and score from in close.
