Crunching Numbers: Sabres and Flames Evenly Matched

by David Oleksy on Nov 14, 2009 8:00 AM EST in Crunching Numbers Comment 5 comments

Buffalo Sabres' Thomas Vanek (26) tries to deflect the puck past Calgary Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff as Flames' Dion Phaneuf (3) defends during the first period of the NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. (AP Photo/ David Duprey)

David Duprey - AP

3 months ago: Buffalo Sabres' Thomas Vanek (26) tries to deflect the puck past Calgary Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff as Flames' Dion Phaneuf (3) defends during the first period of the NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. (AP Photo/ David Duprey)

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This was one of the most entertaining hockey games I've watched all season. It was also one of the most evenly matched games the Sabres have played all season. After every game I have posted the Corsi numbers as well as some other stats. In most cases there is a trend that is followed but this game was different. Neither team really stood out 5-on-5. The Flames scored the only even strength goal but Buffalo played just as well.

I usually include some analysis but not tonight. This is a simple stats post with the analysis saved for the game recap.

		Game Stats
#	Player	Pos	TOI	+/-	FO%	Hits	GV	TK	BS
4	Steve Montador	D	20:09	0	-	1	0	0	1
9	Derek Roy	C	25:21	0	81%	1	5	2	0
10	Henrik Tallinder	D	23:27	0	-	1	3	0	2
13	Tim Kennedy	C	13:03	0	38%	2	2	0	0
19	Tim Connolly	C	20:00	-1	20%	0	0	0	1
21	Drew Stafford	RW	10:41	-1	100%	0	1	0	1
22	Adam Mair	C	7:03	0	50%	3	0	0	0
26	Thomas Vanek	LW	12:55	-1	-	0	5	2	0
28	Paul Gaustad	C	14:33	0	73%	2	0	0	1
29	Jason Pominville	RW	23:12	0	-	0	0	1	0
34	Chris Butler	D	19:37	-1	-	3	0	0	2
36	Patrick Kaleta	RW	14:32	0	-	6	0	0	0
37	Matt Ellis	LW	7:25	0	50%	2	1	0	0
41	Clarke MacArthur	LW	16:39	0	-	1	0	0	0
44	Andrej Sekera	D	15:56	0	-	0	0	0	0
52	Craig Rivet	D	20:16	-1	-	0	0	1	0
55	Jochen Hecht	LW	17:22	0	67%	2	1	0	1
57	Tyler Myers	D	25:55	0	-	1	2	0	2
TOI = Total Time on Ice				GV = Giveaways
FO% = Faceoff percentage				TK = Takeaways
Hits = Total Hits				BS=Blocked Shots

			Even Strength Individual Stats						Even Strength On-Ice Totals
#	Player	Pos	EV TOI	G	A	Shots	S A/B	S Miss	SOGF	SOGA	SOG Diff	Tot SF	Tot SA	Corsi
4	Steve Montador	D	16:14	0	0	6	1	0	15	6	9	18	13	5
9	Derek Roy	C	19:31	0	0	6	0	2	11	10	1	19	20	-1
10	Henrik Tallinder	D	19:05	0	0	0	0	0	13	9	4	21	21	0
13	Tim Kennedy	C	12:32	0	0	1	0	0	8	3	5	12	8	4
19	Tim Connolly	C	11:26	0	0	3	1	1	12	5	7	15	10	5
21	Drew Stafford	RW	7:58	0	0	2	0	1	6	4	2	8	6	2
22	Adam Mair	C	7:03	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	-1	3	5	-2
26	Thomas Vanek	LW	9:34	0	0	1	0	0	8	3	5	9	6	3
28	Paul Gaustad	C	8:28	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	5	3	2
29	Jason Pominville	RW	17:12	0	0	3	1	3	7	8	-1	14	13	1
34	Chris Butler	D	15:04	0	0	0	0	0	4	5	-1	10	8	2
36	Patrick Kaleta	RW	13:44	0	0	1	1	2	9	2	7	14	10	4
37	Matt Ellis	LW	7:25	0	0	2	0	0	2	3	-1	3	5	-2
41	Clarke MacArthur	LW	14:45	0	0	0	0	0	7	5	2	12	14	-2
44	Andrej Sekera	D	15:32	0	0	1	1	0	12	5	7	15	10	5
52	Craig Rivet	D	16:19	0	0	0	1	0	5	5	0	10	11	-1
55	Jochen Hecht	LW	15:02	0	0	3	1	0	9	5	4	17	12	5
57	Tyler Myers	D	19:42	0	0	1	1	0	11	9	2	20	20	0
EV TOI = Even Strength time on ice								SOGA = Team shots against while on ice
EV TOI = Even Strength time on ice								SOG Diff = Difference shots on ice
S A/B = shots attempted and blocked								Tot SF = Total shots including blocked/missed
S Miss = Shots missed the net								Tot SA = Total Shots Ag. Including blocked/missed
SOGF = Team Shots while on ice								Corsi = Difference in Total Shots

The Corsi number is a statistic that what created by Sabres goalie coach JIm Corsi. It is the difference in total shots for and the total shots against. It factors in all shots that were on net, attempts that were blocked and shots that missed the net. The idea is that it is a better reflection on a players two-way play because it shows puck possesion as opposed to only shots on goal.

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Post Game Analysis

First of all, let me say I love coming to this blog and appreciate all the work you do. Love to check the site after Sabres games, especially if I couldn’t watch.

One comment – It seems like generating these Corsi statistics take a lot of time. Maybe it is just me, but I find them to be very boring and somewhat meaningless. Instead of doing out the stats for every player, I would find these post game threads much more interesting if you spent a couple of minutes telling us who played well, who played poorly, and how the team looked. I trust the eyes of a long time Sabres fan more than a bunch of numbers. It might take less time, and might get more convo going in the comments.

Don’t mean to criticize, just a suggestion. Again, keep up the awesome work here.

by ra001m on Nov 14, 2009 8:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I appreciate the feedback

this is meant to be an addition to the post game recap. I try to give my take in that post. This is more for the stat junkies like me. I find the Corsi number to be an interesting take on the game. I especially find it interesting because the Sabres use this number.

Maybe I need to add a player analysis to the recap. Thanks for the suggestion, it is greatly appreciated.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Nov 14, 2009 8:41 AM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs