Bob Ridley has stated in the past, he feels the game tends to change every 5 years or so.
This season and last, I feel that offence has been rising and I'm curious to see if the numbers back it up.
Key Rules Changes
2014-2015 - The last WHL Import Goaltender played in the 2014-2015 season(Marek Langhamer)
2015-2016 - 3v3 overtime introduced before the shootout (previously 4x4)
2016-2017 - Kicking the Puck in the Net is allowed(as long as the player is not in the crease)
Before the 3v3 OT rule was in place, the whl was seeing close to a 50-50 split in terms of games being won in OT or a shootout. Last season 92 were solved in OT, and only 38 went to a shootout.
Total Goals Scored (Shootout goals not counted)
Year
|
Goals Scored
|
Powerplay Goals
|
17-18
|
5529 (Projection)
|
1539
|
16-17
|
5340
|
1389
|
15-16
|
5101
|
1311
|
14-15
|
5177
|
1286
|
13-14
|
5218
|
1397
|
12-13
|
5019
|
1305
|
Note: There was a goal boom in 2016-2017, and it looks to be increasing for this season at a very similar rate to powerplay goals.
Goaltender Save Percentage.
Years
|
Total Shots
|
Total Saves
|
Total Save Percentage
|
17-18
|
510975(projection)
|
45754
|
.895
|
16-17
|
51285
|
46109
|
.889
|
15-16
|
50149
|
45216
|
.902
|
14-15
|
50035
|
45045
|
.900
|
13-14
|
51862
|
46805
|
.902
|
12-13
|
50123
|
45247
|
.903
|
Note1: A statistically significant substantial decrease of .13 points in 2016-2017
Notes2: Although Shots are at a high point they aren't above the high of the last 6 seasons.
Notes2: Although Shots are at a high point they aren't above the high of the last 6 seasons.
Powerplay Goals
Year
|
Total PP’s
|
Total Goals
|
Total SHG
|
Percentage
|
17-18 (Projection)
|
6787
|
1539
|
197
|
22.7%
|
16-17
|
6560
|
1389
|
199
|
21.2%
|
15-16
|
6209
|
1311
|
197
|
21.1%
|
14-15
|
6268
|
1286
|
190
|
20.5%
|
13-14
|
6540
|
1397
|
202
|
21.4%
|
12-13
|
6601
|
1305
|
200
|
19.8%
|
Note: Total Powerplay chances and conversions seem to be an all time high, but the goal boom of 2016-2017 doesn't seem to show a big increase.
Note2: This season total PP's and conversion are at a high, but we will see if that continues to the end of the season.
Note2: This season total PP's and conversion are at a high, but we will see if that continues to the end of the season.
Summary
We don't have enough data to make a 100% conclusion; However, goal scoring appears to be on the rise in the WHL and goaltending has taken a hit.
Previously .900 was a basic figure a team would classify as "competitively average". With the recent offensive outburst, .900 save percentage is now above average.
We don't have enough data to make a 100% conclusion; However, goal scoring appears to be on the rise in the WHL and goaltending has taken a hit.
Previously .900 was a basic figure a team would classify as "competitively average". With the recent offensive outburst, .900 save percentage is now above average.
What is the main cause? Probably a combination of more goals being scored in OT, a few extra goals being allowed via kicking them in outside the crease, as well as a slight decrease in goaltending talent with the removal of Import Goaltenders.
I would also argue that more teams are adapting to an offensive style of hockey as wanted by their fans. An Example of a defensive casualty would be Kevin Constantine with the Everett Silvertips. The Tips made the 2nd round with impressive records in each of the last 3 seasons, but was let go (likely because of his defensive style of hockey)
We will have to keep an eye on things, but it appears that the hockey world (at least in the WHL) might be starting to enter a golden age in goal scoring.
I would also argue that more teams are adapting to an offensive style of hockey as wanted by their fans. An Example of a defensive casualty would be Kevin Constantine with the Everett Silvertips. The Tips made the 2nd round with impressive records in each of the last 3 seasons, but was let go (likely because of his defensive style of hockey)
We will have to keep an eye on things, but it appears that the hockey world (at least in the WHL) might be starting to enter a golden age in goal scoring.
62 comments:
Off topic but Valk was called up today and will make his debut against Florida tomorrow.
Absolutely
Again 24 points through 17 games (tonight game still going) Quenneville's a PLUS 1! Keep telling yourself he's a great player and that +/- isn't worth anything. He's one dimensional at best and that's it. He's definitely not a 5 on 5 player, in other words not a guy for the playoffs because we all know the amount of power plays awarded in playoffs is minute at best. You can give me Rubins, MacPherson, MacPhee, or even Craven any day. Nassen is improving but the jury is still out on him could also be he has to play with Quenneville...
so anyways....
Valk only had 6 shifts and 3:25 of icetime for his first NHL game with Florida.
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Interesting note
Dylan Ferguson who plays for Kamloops Blazers was called up to Las Vegas in late October on an emergency basis after 3 of their goaltenders were placed on the IR. Tonight their starter Maxime Legacy was playing hurt and the Oilers piled 7 goals on him, which prompted vegas to send Ferguson into the game.
He played just over 9 minutes of icetime and stopped 1 of 2 shots.
Hilarious. Ferguson is now starting for Vegas tommorow.
Legace is *too sick*. Never seen anything like this.
Tigers ranked 10th in the CHL top ten. Not that it means anything.
"Tigers ranked 10th in the CHL top ten. Not that it means anything."
Clouston's and Whites fault!
Really getting old. Like, really old Anon 2:12
6 goals in a period. Holy crap!
Shauns brother Cory was fired from his coaching job in Germany. I'll just leave it at that. lol
How is that relevant to the Tigers? He never coached here? I am not a fan of Shaun but his brothers employment has nothing.....at all..... to do with the Tigers or Shaun for that matter.
A lot of dumb comments on here. However, it’s been positive lately. Until this last comment. Not only dumb, but absolutely irrelevant.
Oops. I was a little late to the party
Nice to see some road wins! Too many goals against for my liking but a win is a win and road wins are tougher. The Tigers seemed a little slow in both games.....but got the job done! Here is hoping for more success in Kamloops and Kelowna!
Yep, irrelevant statement. Tigers have been rolling, at least post on the tigers rather then some guy who has never been with the team, has not influence on the team and frankly no relevant connection to the team.
Really getting old. Like, really old Anon 2:12 ~ Anonymous November 19, 2017 at 3:47 PM
I disagree! You guys are all over them before...THEY were the problem! Fire Clouston! White needs to quit! But with their current success, not one of YOU bashers can hand out praise. You only feel good about yourselves when you are bitching about Clouston or players.
The Tigers are taking full advantage of their lighter schedule. I am quite impressed with Preziusio, and Haden and how they have flourished with the extra ice-time they have been receiving. Pre-season I was getting a little worried that they would fall behind, but I'm not worried about them anymore.
Prezusio scored a goal against Prince George where he came down with speed and popped a nice shot over the goaltender's shoulder. That is a great sign that the game is slowing down for him. I'm watching him closely for further breakout signs.
Haden is very strong positionally speaking and developing poise with the puck. It is a little similar to the path that Curtis Valk took at 18. I'm watching both those players to see if they can continue that consistency. We all knew they had talent but where they were last season, compared to where they are now is night and day.
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In terms of their schedule, I'm excited about their next stretch of games as they play some really tough opponents coming up. (KAM, Kel, POR,Vic,Brn,MJ) 5 straight tough games after Kamloops. That stretch of games will test them to judge their strength a lot better as so far their schedule has been very light.
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Strong Opponents (+.650 record) = 0-3 (SC,MJ)
.500 to .650 = 4-0 (spokane,seattle,Regina,PG)
.550 and below = 11-4 (Everyone else
PG was .500 before their 2 losses to the Tigers so I split them up.
I adore this team but that won't stop me to criticize when I see fit. Quenneville's play in his own end is SOOO suspect. He got big time exposed against Wong last year in the playoffs need I remind you on the series winning goal in overtime AND on our power play. He will get exposed again when we really need him. Not to mention his "prowess" on moving other teams players in front of our goalie's so they can see the damn puck is frankly a bloody joke. First and foremost a Dman is suppose to worry about DEFENSE 1st. No one will ever convince me Quenneville's play will ever win us the big prize when things really count. Sorry offense 1st attitude on running up the points in the regular season is meaningless to me...it gets us to the dance and ceiling banners but nothing more. I absolutely love Rubins, MacPherson, and Gally. They actually give Bully and Hollett a fricking chance to at least make the bloody save. Yes Craven IS going to be a GOOD one!
Quite the tiger fan, David wasn't even on the ice.....it was Kirechenko who pinched lol....
Anon 7:57 if you're going to rip someone at least get your facts straight. Clayton Kirichenko and Matt Bradley were the two players that Wong broke in on for the game winning goal.
Not sure if you are the same person who is continually railing on Quennville but I don't recall anyone that visits this site ever defending his defensive abilities and as a matter of fact the player himself at the start of the season said he had to improve his defensive play. He is however one of the better offensive defenceman in the league.
"He got big time exposed against Wong last year in the playoffs need I remind you on the series winning goal in overtime AND on our power play."
Don't you love it when someone criticizes a player about something and are dead wrong when making their point. Really hard to take someone serious when they can't get the details right.
Interesting Craig Button has Quenville slotted in as his 7th blueliner for the World Juniors.
Personally I think that spot would be better suited for a defensive/shutdown guy as most of the guys who should be penicled in are moblie puck moving offensive types.
Anon 9:53 I would agree. Just can't see him doing well defensively against the worlds best. Two mistakes by 19 led directly to Kamloops goals last night.
Interestingly enough Sportsnets Sam Cosantino does not have him listed.
Funny, I was just looking at the schedule because it seemed the team Tigers were getting fat off the chafe of the league and I see TigerTurf's post recently covered that thought.
A 4-0 record against the second tier of good teams in the Dub is a good sign. OTOH, the 0-3 record against best teams is obviously a concern. What really makes this team difficult to gauge is how terrible the East is this year. Oil Kings and Hitmen are truly awful (see Hitmen threw away the year by trading two of their best players today). Red Deer, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, PA and Kootenay are only a little better. I see even the Pats were pounded by Seattle and last night by Tri-City on their trip out West. Beating those teams listed above, except the Pats, is really not much of an indicator of what this team is capable of. It's just beating bad teams.
Definitely going to be a huge tell how the team does in the next five games, starting tonight, agains the cream of the crop.
4 goals on 16 shots in Kelowna. Embarrassing. Surprised the team was not running behind the bus on the highway. Would be warranted.
Now 4-4 against the top teams with four games coming up against Portland, Victoria, Brandon and Moose Jaw. See what the boys do. Hopefully, better than last night.
But 4 goals on 16 shots. We could have had a house league bantam goalie in there and he could have done the same. Only 16 shots all game and they win with 4 goals?!?!?!?! WTF???
Something is in the works , before the trade deadline stay tuned
What do you mean "something is in the works"? Who do you think is involved in a possible trade? Goalies, forward or dman?
Not sure what sort of trade I would want. Tigers are fine but not good. I would not be upset to trade guys of value for prospects. They have a ton of talent coming up, build for a Mem Cup win.
I hope we are sellers not buyers. Tigers are good but not going to the memorial cup. Be sellers!
Maybe they are going to try to get the 16 yo goalie who crushed the tigers. I am doubting the Blazers would be interested in our goalies who mustered up 4 goals on 16 shots.
So anon 5:02, your saying that a 16 year old goalie isn't capable of playing well. I watched the highlights and he made some terrific saves which 16 year olds are capable of making. Couple of questionable goals on Bullion but regardless we didn't score. And by the way it's the quality of the shots not the amount that count.
"The 16 yo who crushed the tigers" - Anano 5:12, to break it down for you, it means he killed this tigers, he can play, he was awesome.
You might want to re read that. It says the 10 year old goalie was awesome.
I read it that the 16 year old was good too. Not sure what you are on about Anon 5:12
I wish the tigers did an ugly sweater jersey for the teddy bear toss. I feel like the tigers dont do so many things that other teams do. Too bad.
When is this trade suppose to happen? Now I want to know
Hmm, are we getting defence or offence? I would have to think it will be an upgrade to the defence. Shaw will eventually come back giving up more offence. Would be ok to see one of our 19yo forwards traded.
Heard this morning a d man has been released ? Who ? Don’t know
McPhee not listed
That's a surprise to me. McPhee had worked himself onto the third pairing and has dressed in all the games for quite sometime. He also added some grit to a lineup that lacks that attribute. Perhaps another player-coach issue?
Jake Bean was rumoured to be invloved in trade talks with Medicine Hat; Moosr Jaw, and Regina....
Be nice to hopefully have 4 set lines and not short staffed up front with a rotation anybody have any thoughts on lines at this point ? Be nice to see a line put together now that is the 3rd line that stays a line that possibly moves up to #2 line for next year the 4 line should stay and move up as well next season
Anon 11:08 Jake Bean is rumoured to be going to almost every team.
It would be idiotic for the Tigers to trade for Bean, there's going to be no long playoff run here this year with or without him. The cost would be very high, probably a high end prospect and at least one first round pick. Not worth the price this year.
Bean to Swift Current was all but a done deal according to a rumour I heard.
Owernship/board of directors said no once they got wind what was going onand found out the players/prospects/bantman picks involved. They felt it was going to cripple the team for yrs to come.
Even with Bean, chance of getting to the finals or even conference finals -- yet Mem Cup -- are not good this year. Be a bad move to give up youth for Bean. They need a helluva lot more than him to make a run.
What happened to McPhee???
Are we getting a Dman in a trade?
Too bad, I liked McPhee
Chat TV announced the Tigers released him and he went home for personal reasons...Not sure what happened to him. Always sucks to see a player leave :(
At least this will give Clayton and Craven proper icetime now as they are down to 7 Dmen
Its always personal reasons. Literally means nothing. Would love to know if it is a coaching issue. Would be strange given it is really his first year in the league, hard to be picky when you are not of high value yet.
So was that the rumoured trade or is there still one coming?
Who releases a player when he goes home for personal reasons? Doesn't make sense. ��
Sad to hear this morning that old-school Tiger alum Derek Dorsett has been forced to retire as per NHL web site and several tweets from reporters on Twitter including Steve Kouleas. He was forced to retire due to a re-occurance of a herniated disc. He had one in his back last year. It was surgically repaired by a specialist in LA. However, he had a second herniated disc in his neck recently and the same specialist told him he has no choice but to retire. Derek was a great warrior when he played for the Tigers, a player who gave everything he had every night. Was also a key contributor on the 2006-2007 team that lost in that thrilling WHL final in seven games against the Giants. All the best to Derek in his future.
Anon 9:57, one correction. The Tigers won the 7 game series against the Giants.
Maybe they tried to make a trade and found no takers, Maybe he just had enough of hockey and decided to go home. We will see if he ends up on another roster.
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I really liked the Tigers game against Portland. Like they said on the radio they will need to fine tune, but I liked their balance of physicality with speed and skill. IMO the Tigers deserved a better fate against Portland.
I'm seeing them be a little more physical than in the past and I'm wondering if they have modified their game-plans a little or if these are just the natural tendencies of these players coming out.
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If they play like they did against portland, I feel this team has a lot of under the table potential. If we look at the end goal and shaw's return at the end of the season, it creates a solid 1-2 punch with Rassal/Hamblin gerlach/shaw. Filled up with Williams/Jevne/haden/CHyzowski who are gaining a ton of experience by the game.
Any team that faces them in the playoffs will be hard pressed to look at this season and develop a game-plan off that, because Shaw changes the dynamic, should he be healthy enough to return at the end.
We are now pretty comfortable with Hollett's play, last night he played phenomenal, minus those duplicate giveaway glitches.
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I see big potential for a coming out of nowhere at the end of the season and into playoffs on one condition.
Their are a lot of great offensive teams in the east, and I'm not a fan of the Tigers defenceman as much as I thought I would be. I feel they have played rather inconsistent at times and they should be better seeing as they have 5 players who are 19+ and that worries me a little.
Also tough to hear about Dorsett. (doresett, lupul, macarthur) Some of these past tigers have had unlucky injuries which have cut short their careers
Yep, brain fart. Thanks Anon 12:04. Tigers won the seven game Dub final against Giants and then the Giants beat the Tigers in the Memorial Cup final as host team.
Sad to hear about Derek Dorsett, great player and ex Tiger. Did hear rumours a few years ago of him and Willie Desjardin plus another ex Tiger having plans of buying out the Masers. If only!
Omg that would be the best, Willie and Derek in charge. I would love to watch that team. Certainly would fill the barn
Seems like the Jake Bean trade has fallen through. And seems like whatever the Tigers had cooking has likely fallen flat.
I doubt there was any merit to it in the first place.
Was there not another group of ex Tigers (Linden involved?) that wanted to buy the Tigers about a decade back? I believe the deal fell through at last hour (Maser wanted more $?). Yes, it would be a great thing for this franchise if such a change were to take place.
What a bloody joke 2982 attendance for a weekday day game? There's no excuse for these crappy attendance numbers. Get out there Medicine Hat!!! Maser thanks you. LOL
Only 3000 on a weeknight, but I think its more of an indication medicine hat is still hurting a little.
Great game against Victoria. Tigers adjusted their game halfway through the first and Victoria didn't have an answer to it. Victoria was lucky to come away with a point.
I see the Tigers shifted up their defensive partners. Gally was getting more of an opportunity. It's good to see Hamblin playing like he can. I felt he was struggling a little early in the season, but he's got that vigour back into his game.
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