WHY IS GOAL SCORING UP
(Jan 2019)
Teams are generating way more quality offense.
Teams are actually shooting a bit less this season, with the average game producing 62.4 shots compared to 63.6 last season
But, check this out – 12 teams are averaging at least 15 shots on net from the slot, per game, this season. Last season, only Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay averaged that many. The year before, only one team and the year before that, the 2015-16 season, nobody.
The front door to the house is wide open and players are creating better chances that we’ve seen in recent years.
Teams are realizing just how valuable quality is and how over-valued quantity has been in terms of shot selection
The increase in quality shots has more to do with players skating the puck to this area than passing it.
Couple this with, what I believe, is an understanding from most teams of how much more valuable a quality based approach is and we have the main reason scoring is up and save percentages are down – A higher volume and percentage of meaningful shots.
Because the increase in quality chances is driven mostly by skilled, offensive players, we’re seeing more players on pace for 100-point seasons.
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