Failing Large

by 1967ers on Jan 9, 2010 11:00 AM EST in Question of the Day

Shortly after Buffalo scored its third power play goal on Friday night - on its third power play opportunity, no less - I said to myself, "This is the worst penalty-killing team I've ever seen."

Now, that might just be hyperbole. While the Leafs appear to be the worst penalty-killing team I've ever seen, perception is often blurry. Fortunately, given the power of the internet, I can now look it up.

To be the worst penalty-killing team I've ever seen, I need the PK stats of all the teams I've ever watched. I've moved around a bit, so there are a few. To be the worst, this team needs to outdo:

the 1980-83 Calgary Flames
any Leaf team from 1983 onwards
the 1992-96 Ottawa Senators
the 1999-00 Buffalo Sabres

And just for yuks, even though I didn't really watch them, we'll add

the 1975-77 Calgary Cowboys (WHA)

Lets consult the good people at hockey-reference.com and see what they have to say, shall we?

Given the 0-for-3 last night, the Leafs of '09-10 sit at a lofty 68.35 percent. How does this fare?

Toronto Maple Leafs

2009-10    68.35
2008-09    74.68
2007-08    78.13
2006-07    78.47
2005-06    80.04
2003-04    83.42
2002-03    86.85
2001-02    84.45
2000-01    84.97
1999-00    82.92
1998-99    80.31
1997-98    86.56
1996-97    82.01
1995-96    82.63
1994-95    84.86
1993-94    81.91
1992-93    82.44
1991-92    80.94
1990-91    77.45
1989-90    78.19
1988-89    72.70
1987-88    77.86
1986-87    78.02
1985-86    77.20
1984-85    74.38
1983-84    73.56

OK - this is the worst Leaf performance since 1983. Not an auspicious beginning.

Buffalo Sabres - they had Hasek. I don't expect much.

1999-00 85.04
1998-99 86.22

Ottawa Senators - the Sens were horrific. One of them must be worse, right?

1995-96    77.87
1994-95    80.40
1993-94    73.30
1992-93    75.00

Calgary Flames?

1982-83    77.13
1981-82    78.05
1980-81    80.77

Calgary Cowboys? McFly?

1976-77 79.39
1975-76 76.43

OK - so it turns out I was right. This is the worst penalty-killing team I have ever seen. What about overall, though? Could these Leafs actually be the worst penalty-killing team in history? Seriously, there have been some pretty bad teams out there.

Let's look at some potential candidates:

1974-75 Washington Capitals - 71.34 - uh oh

1972-73 NY Islanders - 75.86 - this isn't good

1967-68 Oakland Seals - 82.63 - oh, man

Now, hockey-reference only has PK stats back to 1963-64. I don't know whether they were tracked prior to that, or whether h-r simply doesn't have them. In any event, is it really possible that no team in almost 50 years has been as bad at killing penalties as this year's Leafs?

No, it's not.

Thankfully (I think), there are two.

The 1982-83 LA Kings killed penalties at a 68.24 percent clip. That's pretty weak. Not the worst ever, though. That "honour" goes to - wait for it -

The 1979-80 Kings.

They are the current standard-bearers for badness, givng up 94 goals in 291 chances for a PK percentage of 67.70. That's a whole 0.65 percent worse than the Leafs are right now.

For what it's worth, the 1979-80 Kings made the playoffs.

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Comments

Hahahaha

This is the best news ever.

Why do we do this to ourselves?

by Kenjamin on Jan 9, 2010 11:04 AM EST reply actions

Great Work

Space Weed Says (Insert Generic quote about blog here)
"DO NOT get stuck behind Kyle Wellwood in the buffet line. This isn't really etiquette, but it will prevent you from starving to death"- Down Goes Brown on Etiquette for Jason Spezza's wedding

by Kevin Sellathamby on Jan 9, 2010 11:06 AM EST reply actions

For what it’s worth, the 1979-80 Kings made the playoffs.

I think I feel sick….

Life as a Toronto Sports Fan?... *sigh*... It is what it is...

by JohnnyG on Jan 9, 2010 11:07 AM EST reply actions

that’s not depressing…not at all

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Jan 9, 2010 11:10 AM EST reply actions

Looking for uppers?

You could print this out and bring it a doctor’s office. They’ll understand.

You show me a fox that's learned to deal with the Leafs' recent play, and I'll show you a dead fox.

by JP Nikota on Jan 10, 2010 2:12 AM EST up reply actions

I’m guessing if you adjusted the PK% based on differences in scoring from era to era this would look a lot worse.

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Jan 9, 2010 11:43 AM EST reply actions

Possible

But there really isn’t a huge variance by era. There’s some, to be sure, but not as wild as you’d think. I only saw two teams below 70% and both were LA.

If the Leafs were even average at this – say 78% instead of 68%, that would amount to 16 goals against. That’s a playoff spot.

Leaf, the universe and everything.

by 1967ers on Jan 9, 2010 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

The season is just past the half-way mark. The Leafs’ PK numbers will regress back to the norm and they’ll finish the season in the low 70s. It’s certainly not good, but it’s also not going to be 64% all-time bad.

Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...

by mf37 on Jan 9, 2010 11:53 AM EST reply actions

I certainly hope so. That’s the optimist in me.

Leaf, the universe and everything.

by 1967ers on Jan 9, 2010 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

I ran similar numbers last year when it looked like the Leafs would set a modern era mark for penalty kill inefficiency and they, um, bounced back (more of a dead cat bounce when the high point is mid-70s).

Personally, I don’t understand the Leafs PK. The defenders seem to be too high to protect the slot/crease and the forwards seem to be too low to effectively take away the points. There’s only a few spots on the ice that produce high-percentage chances and the Leafs aren’t clogging /taking away those zones.

Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...

by mf37 on Jan 9, 2010 11:58 AM EST up reply actions

Agree. Passivity is a problem too. I have always believed that guys playing on the PK have to be faster than average skaters because they have to be able to make up for the manpower shortage by being on top of an attacker in the very early moments when he is attempting to initially control the puck (on receipt of a pass, scooping it off the boards, etc.) Leaf PK doesn’t press the point of attack, doesn’t reduce the passing/shooting angles available to the attacker and doesn’t rush skilled players into making a decision. It’s a recipe for disaster.

We also lose a LOT of faceoffs on the PK cleanly, and with our goaltending, there have been an inordinate number of 8 second long opposition power plays that have immediately resulted in an opposition goal. It’s demoralizing. I don’t know if the numbers are available, but I bet if you ran the GA/60 min shorthanded numbers (ie instead of just GA/times shorthanded), the Leafs PK would be worse than either of those Kings teams.

jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog

"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)

by jrwendelman on Jan 9, 2010 12:49 PM EST up reply actions

Prpblem solved

Apparently, we’re better when we’re down two men than just one. So……. From now on, as soon as we see the Ref ready to call one, someone just take a free hack and set up a 5-3 instead? Results? Fewer goals against, and players get enjoyable free hacks.

by not norm ullman on Jan 9, 2010 12:14 PM EST reply actions

Leafs can't play with 4 skaters

It’s not just the penalty kill that is brutal, look at their record in overtime. I guess this is their way of addressing a horrific shootout record, be so awful 4 on 4 that they’ll never get that far…

by DeanoTPS on Jan 9, 2010 12:42 PM EST reply actions

Sounds like Darren Dreger beat me to the punch, as well, though he only went back to 1982.. See the Houston link.

Leaf, the universe and everything.

by 1967ers on Jan 9, 2010 12:42 PM EST reply actions

You know, you think you’ve got an original thought….

It’s like when you name your child and you think you’ve come up with something a little different, then he/she gets to kindergarten and there are five of them in the class.

Leaf, the universe and everything.

by 1967ers on Jan 9, 2010 1:13 PM EST up reply actions

Obviously he didn’t go back far enough, you win!

"If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut."

Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jan 9, 2010 2:08 PM EST up reply actions

I think they have this passive box because they are worried about exposing their goalie to a cross ice pass/tap in (yah, that’s really working.)

I also believe the leafs need to throw out their current PK system and send a guy to aggressively hassle the puck holder. Force them to react to you. Most players under puck pressure try to get it away as quick as possible before it is stripped from them/gets batted out of the zone.

Sure you are going to have a gassed PK unit, but you are upping your chances of them making a mistake, which makes up for it because you can change once the puck is cleared.

This may lead to a guy being left open, but then that’s the only guy that the goalie has to worry about if you are covering the other 4 guys on the PP. Force them to the outside and make passes across the blue line or down the boards, push them out of the dangerous areas and force turnovers. Work hard, skate fast and hope your goalie can bail you out on a few.

A hell of a better plan than what they are using now.

"If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut."

Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Jan 9, 2010 2:13 PM EST reply actions