Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
Chad Melbourne
Since the 2005 lockout, the NHL has been trying to increase the amount of goals for per game on average around the league. Well, thus far into the 2018-19 season, the NHL has gotten exactly what they wanted. There are two general streams as to why we are seeing an increase in scoring this NHL season so far. First, the mere fact that it’s October. The general argument is that there is usually an influx of scoring right out of the gate for the first month or two, then, teams begin to settle into their systems and start playing defensively down the stretch heading into the playoffs. However, the second stream takes a different approach and focuses on the shrinking of the goaltender equipment. While there are surely many other reasons for the sudden increase in NHL goals, (Casey mentions the “superstar” theory in episode 9 of the podcast) these two streams seem to be the most popular among hockey analysists at this moment in time.
Being a former goaltender, I want to focus on the second stream, which is polarizing even among netminders. The NHL has attacked the size of goaltender equipment for a while now, beginning with the leg pads in 2005-06, moving on to the pants in 2017-18, and finally, the chest protectors for the 2018-19 campaign, among other minimal changes over the years.
In 2005-06, when the NHL first introduced major restrictions to goalie gear, many goaltenders saw their statistics take a massive hit (See Wharnsby table).
Wharnsby
Goals were up from 2.57/game in 2003-04, to 3.08/game in 2005-06. From the 2006-07 season until the 2016-17 season however, goals per game steadily declined, with a few exceptions.
In 2017-18, the NHL reduced the size of goaltender pants, which resulted in another goal-spike, from 2.77/game in 2016-17 to 2.97/game in 2017-18.
This year (through just 77 games played I will add) goals have again spiked. Players are scoring 3.15/game thus far in the 2018-19 campaign, the highest rate of scoring the NHL has seen since the 1995-96 season...before I was even born (See Hockey Reference table). That year, Mario Lemieux led the league with 69 goals, while 8 players, including Mario, potted 50 goals or more. Wow. Last season, Alex Ovechkin led the league with just 49 goals. However, some feel as though this year will be different for the NHL.
Hockey Reference, NHL League Scoring Averages
Some goalies are on-board with the gear changes, which have been designed to reward athletic goaltenders rather than ‘blocking’ goaltenders. Guys like Cory Schneider and Fredrik Andersen have openly accepted the challenge of the new gear, and Andersen was quoted in saying, "If I'm relying on that extra inch, I'm in trouble already” (Joshua Clipperton).
Other goaltenders, on the other hand, have been openly opposed to the new equipment changes. Guys like Connor Hellebuyck and Brian Elliot have raised safety concerns, and Elliot was quoted in saying, “I’m getting bruised like crazy” (Rory Boylen).
Whatever the reason may be, goals are going in like crazy this season. Through just 7 games played, NHL goal-leader Auston Matthews has netted 10 bing-pots (Brooklyn Nine Nine fans will get that one) and is on pace for 117 goals and 188 points… Now, I am willing to bet that he won’t even scratch the surface of those totals, but the bottom line is, more goals are going in, and hockey is as exciting as ever. This might even be the season we see multiple 50 goal-scorers, and potentially, a 60 goal-scorer or two, who knows.
