Early NHL season remains sloppy despite shorter training camps

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 18:55 · Archive

The NHL's earliest leaguewide start in history has produced high-scoring games with loose play and below-average goaltending.

The NHL's earliest leaguewide start in history has produced high-scoring, sloppy games. The first three days saw Edmonton defeat Vancouver 6-5, a 9-7 game between two teams, Pittsburgh route Philadelphia 7-0, and Colorado beat Los Angeles 8-4.

After the first 110 games, statistics show an average of 6.26 goals per contest, up from 6.1 over the first 112 games last season. Goaltenders are stopping the puck less effectively than in the previous season. Power plays are succeeding at a 20.9% rate compared to 19.8% last year. Edmonton defenceman Evan Bouchard leads with six goals.

Coaches attribute the pattern to the conditions of early-season play. New York Islanders coach Peter DeBoer said: 'There's a lot of goals being scored, which tells you that there's some loose hockey still being played.' Utah coach Andre Tourigny suggested that despite shorter training camps and less exhibition action, the play resembles previous season openings, stating: 'I think it's been like that for the last 100 years, so I was not expecting this year to be any different.'

How it is being reported

• Shorter NHL training camps don't change much about early-season hockey, it's still sloppyThe hockey is sloppy, scoring is up slightly and goaltenders are stopping the puck less than all of last NHL season.Clickorlando · 8 Oct, 18:13
• Shorter NHL training camps don't change much about early-season hockey, it's still sloppyThe hockey is sloppy, scoring is up slightly and goaltenders are stopping the puck less than all of last NHL season.News4Jax · 8 Oct, 18:13

In this story: Edmonton · Vancouver · Pittsburgh · Philadelphia · Colorado · Los Angeles · Peter DeBoer · Andre Tourigny

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