Dissecting the Special Teams Scoring

by Zachary Zielonka on Feb 2, 2009 4:07 PM EST

D.O. took a look a couple of days ago at how the Sabres scoring is lopsided with Roy and Vanek scoring about 33% of the teams goals this season. Another question to look at is how does the team break down in scoring on the power play and shorthanded. Starting by looking at players, Vanek is crushing the team on special teams scoring. The Sabres as a team have scored 50 special teams goals (45 on the powerplay and 5 shorthanded). Vanek has scored 15 of those goals this season or 30% of the total. Looking at the chart below shows the breakdown by player:

As you can see from the chart, three players are contributing to half of the teams special teams goals. When the goals are broken down by position, mainly offense and defense, something is apparent. The defense does not score enough.

For a team is going to make the playoffs, the defense needs to contribute to the score sheet on the special teams. With the cannons that we have on defense, mustering only 4 goals is not acceptable. This team needs to find a good defensive powerplay quarterback either at the deadline or during the offseason. It will make the team that much better.

Last minute edit: As J2 suggested in the comments, a breakdown of the special teams time on ice would probably be nice. In terms of total leaders on this team Roy and Vanek are the only two with 200 total minutes on the power play, 201:30 and 200:58 respectively. That also means that Vanek has scored a powerplay goal every 15 minutes and 28 seconds he has been on the powerplay. Roy on the other hand, scores a powerplay goal every 40 minutes and 18 seconds. On the defense, Spacek leads the blueliners with 176:37 total minutes on the powerplay, which is good for 4th on the team. He scores a powerplay goal every 88 minutes and 18 seconds.

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Comments

I was thinking of picking up someone before the deadline that is a sniper back there. obviously couldn’t hurt. Like we went after Zubrus for a “rent a player” the playoffs two years ago. Some one to plug in to get us over the hump.

One thing that isn’t mentioned here is the ice time logged for each player. Obviously the stats get skewed when Vanek and Roy are on the ice for a majority of the power play minutes.

throw up a quick stat on the minutes and we can go from there dude.

Maybe now you'll never slime a guy with a positron collider

by J2 on Feb 2, 2009 4:32 PM EST reply actions

FYI – Rec’d

good article – put in the minutes and definately good info.

Maybe now you'll never slime a guy with a positron collider

by J2 on Feb 2, 2009 4:45 PM EST reply actions

Good idea and done.

by Zachary Zielonka on Feb 2, 2009 9:18 PM EST reply actions

excellent – thanks.

this does go to show that Vanek is definately on top of his game – which we already knew. one goal a period(basically) is definately good in my book.

Roy doesn’t have as many goals but i think his value lies in his all around game.

This does confirm, however, that we definately need more contributions from other players. When is the population of pominville going up? Lets hope that Stafford can keep his production up and stay consistent throughout our run towards the playoffs.

Maybe now you'll never slime a guy with a positron collider

by J2 on Feb 3, 2009 8:57 AM EST up reply actions

Honest question here

If you re-do that pie chart on points instead of goals – big difference? I want my defense to (a) play positionally good defense, (b) block shots, © get the puck to the net, and only (d) score goals.

I agree – in terms of goals they are bottom of the league. But how about the other ones?

by dfderie on Feb 2, 2009 10:07 PM EST reply actions

The difference isn’t much. The defense scores 4% of the goals on special teams and 22% of the total points. I still want someone who can quarterback a powerplay and still be defensively sound. e only way to quantify positionally good defense is through plus/minus.

a.) The defenseman with the highest plus/minus is Butler at a +4. Collectively, the Sabres blueline is a -21.
b.) Blocking shots is one area that they are particularly proficient in. Lydman is 6th in the league with 119 blocked shots.
c.) Shooting is another thing they don’t do much of. Spacek leads the blueline with 68 shots, good for 9th on the team.

by Zachary Zielonka on Feb 3, 2009 11:56 AM EST up reply actions