NHL scoring has seen an increase this year. Scoring is at its highest average by teams in some time. Yes, it is early, but if this continues, we could be in for a record year.
Early in the 2022-2023 season, the NHL average is 3.23 goals per game per team. This is the highest per-game average since the 1993-1994 season was 3.24. During the 1993-1994 season, center Wayne Gretzky led the NHL with 130 points.
The goaltending GAA is also up to an average of 3.08. It is also the highest since 1993-1994, in which it was 3.14. Goaltender Dominik Hasek led the NHL in the same season with a GAA of 1.94.
The power play opportunities are up also. This season, the average of power plays per game per team is 3.61. The previous high was 3.71, which occurred in the 2009-2010 season.
Shooting percentage is also up, with Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan McLeod shooting an impressive 66.7%. After McLeod, there are several players tied at 50%.
The stats imply that the players are more accurate with their shots. Players are also getting more creative in getting scoring chances. Players are not only shooting more but placing their shots and looking for that perfect place to put the puck.
Teams are also not shooting to shoot. They are now cycling the puck and passing more, allowing everyone to get open and get that perfect shot away. This gives the players a better chance of getting a high percentage opportunity and little chance for the goaltender to make a stop.
Goaltenders are also more athletic as the players get more selective in their shooting areas. The shot selection has been better league-wide as more talent enters the league. There may be two more reasons why scoring is up in the NHL.
One thought is that teams have not locked in their systems yet. Every year the NHL gets a slew of players switching teams, and those teams may not have synced into their systems yet. Others may think that the league as a whole is getting that much better.
The offense may or may not continue at this hot pace this entire season. Offensive totals may be up from last season as the season rolls along. Patience and shot selection will be important as players try to remain offensively productive and keep the high amount of offense up.
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It’s not the run and gun of the 1990s, but there is a good chance we see the offensive totals rise above last season.
