Penguins vs. Red Wings: What difference can a year make?
by Malsby on May 29, 2009 10:29 AM EDT
12 comments
With the Cup Finals rematch coming soon, I thought it would be interesting to take a by-the-numbers look at how these teams compare to their 2008 counterparts. Keep in mind that this year's stats are 'to date' while last year's stats encompass all of the 2008 playoffs unless otherwise indicated.
Last Season's Record Entering Cup Finals: 12-2
This Season's Record Entering Cup Finals: 12-5
Entry Path last year: Ottawa(4), New York Rangers(5), Philadelphia(5).
Entry Path this year: Philadelphia(6), Washington(7), Carolina(4).
Scoring Leaders last year: Crosby, 27 points(6+21); Hossa, 26 points(12+14); Malkin 22 points(10+12).
Scoring Leaders this year: Crosby, 28 points(14+14); Malkin, 28 points(12+16); Guerin, 14 points(7+7).
Goaltending last year: Fleury, 14-6, 1.97 GAA, .933 Save Pct., 3 SOs.
Goaltending this year: Fleury, 12-5, 2.62 GAA, .906 Save Pct., 0 SOs.
Special Teams last year: PP @ 22.8%, PK @ 87.1%.
Special Teams this year: PP @ 19.3%, PK @ 83.6%.
Goals For/Goals Against last year: 61/43(+18).
Goals For/Goals Against this year: 65/47(+18).
Players in last year's Finals no longer with team(9): Marian Hossa, Gary Roberts, Jarkko Ruutu, Ryan Malone, Darryl Sydor, Ryan Whitney, Adam Hall, George Laraque, Ty Conklin.
New arrivals(9): Bill Guerin, Chris Kunitz, Ruslan Fedotenko, Matt Cooke, Miroslav Satan, Craig Adams, Mattheu Garon, Philippe Boucher, Mark Eaton(DNP in last year's finals).
Last Season's Record Entering Cup Finals:12-4
This Season's Record Entering Cup Finals: 12-4
Entry Path last year: Nashville(6), Colorado(4), Dallas(6).
Entry Path this year: Columbus(4), Anaheim(7), Chicago(5).
Scoring Leaders last year: Zetterberg(Playoff MVP), 27 points(13+14); Datsyuk, 23 points(10+13); Franzen, 18 points(13+5).
Scoring Leaders this year: Franzen, 19 points(10+9); Zetterberg, 18 points(9+9); Cleary, 14 points(8+6).
Goaltending last year: Osgood, 14-4, 1.55 GAA, .930 Save Pct., 3 SOs.
Goaltending this year: Osgood, 12-4, 2.06 GAA, .925 Save Pct., 1 SO.
Special Teams last year: PP @ 18.9%, PK @ 85.7%.
Special Teams this year: PP @ 25.7%, PK @ 73.7%.
Goals For/Goals Against last year: 72/41(+31).
Goals For/Goals Against this year: 59/34(+25).
Players in last year's Finals no longer with team(2): Dallas Drake, Dominik Hasek.
New arrivals(7): Marian Hossa, Chris Chelios(DNP in last year's finals), Derek Meech, Johnathon Ericsson, Justin Abdelkader, Ville Leino, Ty Conklin.
Things that jumped out at me:
1. Crosby has a lot more goals this time around. Nice to see him calling his own number more.
2. Malkin is just as good as #87 this year and has clearly cemented his 'superstar' status.
3. Fleury's numbers are down from last year, but 7 games against Washington will do that to a netminder. Not sure that MAF '09 is worse than MAF '08.
4. Quite a few personnel changes for the Pens this time around. Take into account that Sykora and Dupuis will most likely stay no-shows and more than half of the Pens that take the ice on Saturday night will be newcomers to this rivlary.
5. Both of these teams have good depth scoring. Hossa's 12 points in this year's playoffs aren't overwhelming, but the emergence of players like Cleary and Filppulla(14 points each) for the Wings makes them a balanced, dangerous team. On the flip side, the Pens may have lost Hossa's huge production last season, but look at the production of 3 of their additions: Geurin(14 pts), Kunitz(12 pts), and Fedotenko(11 pts). These teams certainly have top-end talent, but the effectiveness of their secondary players could decide the series.
6. Franzen is becoming a force. 'The Mule' continues to pile up points and has become a notable physical presence with timely hits and screens.
7. Osgood is really damn consistent.
8. Penalty Killing is noticably worse across the board. Is the new defensive zone faceoff rule having that much of an effect?
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awesome post
Its interesting to see the statistical comparison between last year’s teams and this year’s. Nice work!
Gonna be a great series I think.
I agree. Another stellar post by Malsby.
I think points #2, #5, #7 and $8 are the biggest factors, imho. If not factor then maybe the word “consideration.” Fleury doesn’t really scare me per se, but in terms of being as consistent as Osgood it’s hard to say where he ranks. However if Game 5 of last year’s Finals proves anything it’s that MAF can step it up when the team needs him most.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
Thanks for the promotion. :)
Yeah, MAF is a mystery. He can make big saves, give up soft goals, and every trip behind the net is a hold-your-breath adventure. Still, as much as the guy concerns me at times, I can’t help but look past his faults when he flashes that big grin in an interview.
hahaha the funny thing about MAF’s grin is that he actually looks – I don’t wanna say “brainless” because that’s definitely not it, but maybe insane? I dunno. I can’t place it. It’s pretty much how I’d imagine I would smile if my entire career was focused on getting in the way of 100 mph rubber disks.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
STATS *drool*
Awesome post.
I certainly think the ‘Goals For/Goals Against’ is an eye opener, and one to think about when these two meet, beyond the idea that the one who wins that effectively wins the Cup that is. ;)
Also, I don’t really remember the Pens of last year being anywhere near as strong as the one this year, but the numbers say otherwise. I’d say this much though, Scuderi and Gill are playing far beyond how they played last year. If points weren’t such a notation of who is valuable, I’d give Rob Scuderi our MVP to this point for how well he’s done on defense.
Tomorrow can’t come soon enough, nice write up.
PensBurgh penalty - Lavender - 2 minutes for hijynxing.
This years team is stronger
The opposition this year was just that much stronger (None of the EC teams last year even came close to how the caps played this year against the Pens) So that to me is the main reason the scoring seems better last year. also the scoring of players last year is through the SCF so Sid and Geno have already improved on their total production of last year before the final even began.
Also word to praising Scuderi and Gill, only Ovechkin scored more then a couple of times against them this year and thats ok, none other that they will face have the same individual talent level, i do think that as a whole the Detroit attack trumps the caps attack so it’s going to be one hell of a tough job to beat them.
There is a knack to flying: it's learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.
by Sid the captain on May 29, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions
the biggest difference i think between the pens of last year and the team this year, is the experence we picked up with the veterans (that have won the cup) and the experience of the guys who lost it last year.
and the fact that everyone is producing, not just a couple people
" I AM CAPATIN CHAOS, and this is my trusty Sidekick cato. Say hello Cato"
Dom Deluise 1933-2009, Cannonball run
by oldtimehockey09 on May 29, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions
HUGE point
The fact that we are more balanced this time around as compared to the “Three Headed Monster” last year is going to play a large part into our success in the Finals.
That, and we don’t have a bunch of wide-eyed 19 and 20 year olds playing in the first two games at “The Joe” as well.
by Hockey Beard in SLC on May 29, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m sure MAF is being told to watch his footing very carefully this year when he walks onto the Joe’s ice.
That, or the guy behind him is going to keep a firm grip on his jersey as he steps out.
by Hockey Beard in SLC on May 29, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions
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