NHL on the quarter mark: One stat that sums up every staff’s 2024-25 season up to now

Shocking save percentages, star-level offensive performances and surging particular groups.

Because the 2024-25 NHL season handed its quarter mark this week, The Athletic requested its NHL employees for a stat to sum up every staff’s season up to now.

What’s the defining information level in your favourite staff? Listed below are all 32 solutions.

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.915 staff save proportion: On common as of Thursday, the Geese permit essentially the most photographs on purpose (34.1) within the league. Their particular groups will not be good, notably a penalty kill that ranks thirty first. They don’t rating sufficient to cowl for breakdowns or errors. One cause they nonetheless wrestle to drive possession is their 42.3 p.c win fee within the faceoff circle places them at league backside. However they’re 8-8-2 with simply 54 targets allowed due to terrific goaltending. Anaheim’s .915 save proportion ranked eighth within the NHL. Lukas Dostal is among the many league leaders with a .924. Dostal has additionally made 14 extra saves than anticipated for the photographs he faces. John Gibson has returned from lacking a number of weeks for restoration from appendicitis and has received his first three begins whereas posting a strong .906. If the Geese construct on their higher play as of late, they may make a transfer up the standings as a result of some sturdy netminding. — Eric Stephens

11.9 p.c energy play: The Bruins have the worst energy play within the league. This isn’t simply problematic when it comes to staff success. That David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, Elias Lindholm and Pavel Zacha haven’t scored sufficient on the ability play has bled into their five-on-five play. This was an enormous cause Jim Montgomery misplaced his job. — Fluto Shinzawa

Two mixed five-on-five targets from Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn: Cozens and Quinn had been supposed to supply Buffalo’s lineup with the secondary scoring essential to make this staff a contender. As an alternative by way of Thursday, they’ve mixed for 2 five-on-five targets, and Cozens has each of them. Collectively, they’ve mixed for 12 complete factors. And the Sabres have simply 44 p.c of the anticipated targets when these two are on the ice collectively at five-on-five. Getting them going once more is essential to Buffalo’s making a push within the standings. — Matthew Fairburn

.917 staff save proportion: The Flames’ goaltending is a large cause they’ve remained aggressive early within the season. Dustin Wolf, specifically, has earned the correct to start out extra video games and has vaulted himself into the Calder Trophy dialogue. In a 12 months that’s alleged to be one in every of transition and rebuilding for the Flames, Calgary can say its religion in Wolf is paying off. — Julian McKenzie

Martin Necas’ 31 factors: The story of the Hurricanes’ season by way of 19 video games is Necas’ 31 factors. The 25-year-old winger, who was the topic of commerce rumors this summer season earlier than signing a two-year contract extension as an RFA, ranks third within the league in scoring and is tied for first in power-play factors. His scorching begin has masked Sebastian Aho’s early-season scoring woes: Aho has 5 targets and just one at five-on-five. — Cory Lavalette

Outscored 26-16 within the third interval: The Blackhawks have only a minus-3 purpose differential within the first two durations of video games this season. The third, although, has been a problem for them. 9 of these 16 third-period targets have been empty-netters, however that additionally tells the story of their season up to now. They’ve been in almost each recreation, however they haven’t persistently been capable of finding methods to win them within the third interval. — Scott Powers

Nathan MacKinnon’s 27 assists: Issues haven’t precisely gone the Avalanche’s approach early on this season. Colorado has missed a number of key gamers, and the goaltending has struggled tremendously. Regardless of all of that, the Avalanche are nonetheless sitting in a playoff spot — largely because of the heroics of MacKinnon. He leads the NHL with 27 assists, tied with Kirill Kaprizov for the league lead with 34 factors. MacKinnon is following up his Hart Trophy season with an much more spectacular encore. — Jesse Granger

Six targets or extra in six video games: It will likely be a profitable season in Columbus if its plethora of younger forwards set up themselves as impression gamers within the NHL. Thus far, so good. Although wildly inconsistent, the Blue Jackets have had stretches when their offensive dynamism has proven by way of. Six occasions in 19 video games, the Blue Jackets have scored six or extra targets in a recreation. Remember most of that has been performed with out injured Kent Johnson and Boone Jenner within the lineup. — Aaron Portzline

2.33 goals-against per recreation: No staff within the NHL has been stingier than the Dallas Stars, who’re giving up the least targets per recreation within the league — a marked enchancment from final 12 months’s 2.83 GA per recreation. A lot of that may be traced to Jake Oettinger, who’s fifth within the league in GSAx at 9.76 (Casey DeSmith has been wonderful, too). The query is, can they stick with it? Dallas is center of the pack when it comes to anticipated targets towards, however it has some wiggle room, contemplating it’s the third-highest-scoring staff within the league, as effectively, trailing solely Colorado and Toronto. — Mark Lazerus

2.53 targets per recreation: The Purple Wings have struggled mightily to attain this season, dropping from a top-10 scoring staff final season to the underside 10. This 2.53 determine is sort of a full purpose decrease than their 2023-24 tempo, at 3.35. Much more jarring is that’s all regardless of an influence play clicking to the tune of 30.2 p.c, a top-five unit within the league. There’s nuance in why the drop-off has been so important, together with roster modifications, an elevated emphasis on defensive accountability, and simply plain outdated struggles to generate and preserve zone time, however the outcome has been a staff that merely hasn’t scored sufficient — an enormous cause Detroit has discovered itself underperforming up to now within the standings. — Max Bultman

2.76 targets per recreation: The Oilers led the NHL in offense at 3.96 targets per recreation two seasons in the past. They had been fourth final season at 3.56. Their scoring fee has plummeted by way of their first 21 video games. It’s essentially the most surprising factor about this staff and arguably the most important cause they’re a mediocre 10-9-2. Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid are the one two forwards producing. They’ve accounted for twenty-four of the 58 targets the Oilers have scored. No different ahead, together with now-injured 54-goal scorer Zach Hyman, has greater than 4. — Daniel Nugent-Bowman

Sam Reinhart’s 28.85 taking pictures proportion: Reinhart’s unimaginable 2024-25 wasn’t a fluke — he’d been an excellent participant for a very long time. Nonetheless, anticipating him to enhance on 57 targets would’ve been unreasonable, and but right here he’s, tied for the league lead with 15 and on tempo for 62. His taking pictures proportion has someway elevated from 24.26 to twenty-eight.85, and his standing as one of many league’s pre-eminent snipers has been secured. — Sean Gentille

A 2-5-0 document towards over .500 groups: The Kings have collected factors over the primary quarter of a schedule that’s been road-heavy with 12 of their first 18 video games away from Crypto.com Area, however it’s additionally been somewhat mild on going through top-tier competitors. And so they haven’t fared too effectively when operating up towards higher groups. Wins over Vegas and Minnesota — their finest two victories — are the one ones they’ve in seven video games towards squads which have a factors proportion higher than .500. Although a 10-7-3 mark of their first 20 is actually satisfactory, their lack of notching many triumphs towards high quality golf equipment speaks to a staff that’s nonetheless a few sizable steps away from being among the many elite. Upcoming residence video games versus Winnipeg, Dallas and Minnesota will serve to assist measure whether or not they’re an enough bunch or one thing extra. — Eric Stephens

26 five-on-five targets in 19 video games: The Wild are among the finest defensive groups within the NHL, and it’s an enormous a part of the explanation they’ve the second-most factors (29) within the NHL. They’re permitting a league-low 1.37 five-on-five targets per recreation. In keeping with MoneyPuck, the Wild have given up the second-fewest anticipated five-on-five targets (31.25), a league-low anticipated five-on-five targets towards per 60 minutes (1.64) and a league-low 26 five-on-five high-danger photographs towards. Filip Gustavsson informed The Athletic this week the belief between goaltenders and the skaters is off the charts proper now. — Michael Russo

2.07 anticipated targets towards per 60 at five-on-five: That’s the Canadiens’ anticipated targets towards per 60 minutes of five-on-five ice time in eight video games in November. In 11 video games in October, that quantity was at 3.79, simply the worst within the league. Had the Canadiens continued taking part in such porous protection, they might be up to now out of the image by now that any hope of being related in December — not to mention February or March — would already be lengthy gone. However shoring up their defensive recreation this month has led to their goaltenders’ taking part in higher and the staff’s being extra aggressive usually, to the purpose the place the Canadiens stay on the cusp of relevancy. It’s a major step ahead from how unhealthy the primary three weeks of the season went for them. — Arpon Basu

League-worst minus-17.94 targets for above anticipated: This staff has a top-10 energy play, the most effective penalty kill within the league and an elite goaltender in Juuse Saros with a .917 save proportion. And it’s a nasty staff, essentially the most disappointing staff within the league. Nashville is a five-on-five catastrophe. Nonetheless, it’s thirteenth in five-on-five anticipated targets for, which isn’t nice but additionally isn’t disastrous. The lack to transform, for a staff with this a lot confirmed expertise, is actually confounding. — Joe Rexrode

Seven forwards with double-digit factors: The Devils bolstered their depth throughout their busy offseason, including Paul Cotter and Stefan Noesen through commerce and signing. Each are among the many staff’s forwards with double-digit factors, and Noesen is as much as 10 targets. The actual fact New Jersey is getting that stage of manufacturing from throughout the lineup is an encouraging signal, particularly with high-skill gamers like Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt contributing huge factors. — Peter Baugh

Seven tying or go-ahead targets allowed within the remaining 5 minutes: The Islanders have performed sufficient to carry a number of late leads this season. And someway, seven occasions in six video games out of the 20 they’ve performed this season, they’ve blown it late. Thursday evening was the uncommon double, permitting a tying purpose after which a go-ahead purpose within the final 5 minutes of regulation. Name it unhealthy luck, name it a insecurity, name it no matter you need — they’ve performed it so typically this season and final season that it’s mind-boggling. — Arthur Staple

11-0 with Will Cuylle, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko collectively: The Cuylle-Chytil-Kakko line has been wonderful, and the group has remained efficient with Jonny Brodzinski filling in for Chytil, who’s everyday with an upper-body damage. With Cuylle-Chytil-Kakko on the ice at five-on-five, the Rangers will not be solely outscoring opponents but additionally out-chancing them (69-56), outshooting them (80-61) and controlling the anticipated purpose share (65.29 p.c), per Pure Stat Trick. That line’s success has been very important in New York’s scorching begin. It lengthens the lineup dramatically. — Peter Baugh

Linus Ullmark’s .887 save proportion: It’s laborious to boil down the Senators’ season in a single stat. Regardless of hovering across the .500 mark, they nonetheless must shed the inconsistencies and deficiencies which have plagued them from years previous. Goaltending is on the high of that record. And although Anton Forsberg hasn’t been good himself, extra blame can be thrown at beginning goaltender Ullmark. The Sens want him to be higher persistently. — Julian McKenzie

An .887 staff save proportion: No. 1 Sam Ersson has been first rate, with a 2.70 goals-against common and a .902 save proportion in 11 video games. However he’s missed a while these days as a result of damage, so the Flyers have needed to depend on Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov. Although each of them have been a tad higher these days, the numbers are nonetheless brutal. They’ve mixed for a 3-8-0 document (Fedotov has all three wins), with a 3.69 goals-against common and .875 save proportion. It’s not a stretch to counsel that if the Flyers had merely signed a veteran, NHL-worthy backup within the offseason, they’d have at the least 4 or 5 extra factors within the standings. — Kevin Kurz

5 video games misplaced through which they’ve held a 2-0 lead: Blame the leaky goaltending. Blame the horrendous defensive work. Blame the teaching. Blame the forwards for not often increasing these 2-0 leads. The Penguins’ lack of ability to win video games through which they’ve a multiple-goal lead has been brutal to look at this season. — Josh Yohe

Six targets scored at six-on-five: No staff has scored extra with a sixth attacker than the Sharks, who even have tallied twice when working on a six-on-four energy play with the goalie pulled. The newest occurred Thursday when Alex Wennberg scored with 8.8 seconds left to pressure extra time in an eventual shootout loss to St. Louis. It’s reflective of a staff that also has to come back again from deficits, however the proficiency additionally speaks to a Sharks membership that’s rather more aggressive than final season and has picked up factors when it ordinarily shouldn’t. This may not final, and defending late leads is a preferable choice to goalie pull conditions, however there’s a resiliency with these Sharks that’s an excellent factor to have when rebuilding. — Eric Stephens

Philipp Grubauer’s 1-6-0 document: The Kraken’s playoff possibilities amid a crowd of Pacific Division hopefuls are being materially harmed by the efficiency of their costly backup netminder Grubauer. In Grubauer’s seven begins, the Kraken have received only one recreation. In Joey Daccord’s 13 begins, the Kraken have received 9 video games. Generally a goaltender’s win-loss document doesn’t inform the complete story, however on this case, it’s simple. Daccord has managed a .923 save proportion whereas stopping 8.2 targets saved above common, in response to Pure Stat Trick. Grubauer, in distinction, is sporting a .881 save proportion and has permitted over 3.3 targets saved under common. Seattle wants extra saves when Daccord will get a recreation off, or it may sink the Kraken’s season. — Thomas Drance

Trailing by two targets 11 occasions: The Blues have performed 21 video games this season and have trailed by two targets or extra in 11 of them. They’ve rallied to win a few these, however merely put, they’ve been chasing video games fully an excessive amount of. The offense is ranked twenty ninth within the NHL (2.43 targets per recreation) by way of Thursday and has scored two targets or fewer in 12 of the 21 video games. They don’t have any gamers with greater than six targets. In order that they’re getting behind due to the shortage of offense, they usually don’t have the firepower to catch up. — Jeremy Rutherford

1.67 targets towards per 60: The Lightning significantly missed Ryan McDonagh. Tampa Bay has had essentially the most difficult schedule to open the season, and McDonagh has shouldered one of many hardest workloads within the league consequently. Regardless of that burden, the Lightning have solely given up 2.45 anticipated targets per 60 in his minutes, with even higher outcomes to match (1.67 targets towards per 60). McDonagh’s return has revitalized Erik Cernak’s defensive recreation, giving the staff a dependable shutdown second pair once more. And that’s made life loads simpler for Victor Hedman, who’s averaging the sixth-best Sport Rating within the league by way of 18 video games at 1.86. — Shayna Goldman

2.5 targets towards per recreation: Final season, the Leafs ranked twenty first within the NHL in targets towards, yielding greater than three targets per recreation. This season, they’ve leaped into the highest 10, simply exterior the highest 5, in actual fact. Via 20 video games, they’ve allowed a mere 2.5 targets an evening. That’s due to a couple issues. One, the goaltending has been a lot improved. Anthony Stolarz, specifically, has impressed. Two, offseason additions like Chris Tanev have made a big impact, not simply at even power but additionally on a penalty kill that’s made nice strides from final season. And three, first-year head coach Craig Berube has this group taking part in a less complicated, safer general recreation. That’s harm the offense, however it’s helped the protection. — Jonas Siegel

33 targets of their final 16 video games: After the staff was shut out for a fifth time (!) Thursday towards the Bruins, Utah’s offensive drop-off is reaching new lows. After scoring 16 targets of their first three video games — all wins — to open the season, the Hockey Clubbers are lifeless final within the NHL offensively since that time. Their energy play has simply seven targets on the season, tied for final within the NHL, and is right down to 12.7 p.c on the 12 months. In addition they have the worst document within the league since beginning 3-0, with simply 4 wins of their final 16 video games. Fourth-liner Jack McBain leads all Utah forwards in scoring over this ghastly stretch with simply 4 targets. It’s ugly. — James Mirtle

Minus-2 purpose differential: The Canucks have had a rocky begin to the season, however not an unsuccessful one. Regardless of extended absences from a Vezina finalist goaltender (Thatcher Demko), an X-factor middle-six ahead (Dakota Joshua) and a 40-goal scoring winger (Brock Boeser), the membership is in third place within the Pacific Division by level proportion by way of 18 video games. That stated, this isn’t a membership that’s run almost as pure because it did final season. That’s finest captured by the Canucks’ purpose differential, which is narrowly within the pink — minus-1 by way of 18 video games — and stands in sharp distinction with what this membership completed 12 months in the past (when it held a league-best plus-30 purpose differential by way of 18 video games). What this tells us is that Vancouver’s margin in video games has disappeared. We haven’t seen the 8-1 or 10-1 blowouts the Canucks managed in varied video games early final season. Thus far, for quite a lot of causes with participant well being and fewer lucky percentages chief amongst them, the Canucks haven’t had that kind of juice within the early going this season. — Thomas Drance

30.8 p.c energy play: As profitable because the Golden Knights have been from their inception, they’ve by no means had a powerful energy play. They’ve at all times received regardless of their struggles with a person benefit. This season, the ability play is an asset for Vegas, ranked second within the NHL. The whole lot runs by way of Jack Eichel, who’s off to the most effective offensive begin of his profession. Tomas Hertl is a superb finisher in entrance of the online, and Pavel Dorofeyev has elevated his recreation on that unit. It’s the most effective the ability play has ever regarded. — Jesse Granger

Plus-24 purpose differential at five-on-five: Lots was made, right here and elsewhere, concerning the Caps’ abysmal general purpose differential final season — and there was no approach round it. Minus-37 is a quantity you see from bottom-feeders, not playoff groups. Credit score the place it’s due, however one thing wanted to vary, and it has, in an enormous, huge approach. At five-on-five particularly, the Caps are main the league with a plus-24 differential. Earlier than Alex Ovechkin’s damage, he and linemates Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas had been successful their minutes 16-5. — Sean Gentille

14-12 when the highest line has been on the ice at five-on-five: That’s the scoreline (as of Thursday) when Winnipeg’s high line of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi has been on the ice collectively at five-on-five this season. The actual fact Winnipeg is successful these minutes after a tough begin on that entrance — and after that very same line was outscored final season whereas getting outshot 120-88 — vindicates Scott Arniel’s perception in them and their very own dedication to puck administration and protection. Connor, Scheifele and Vilardi’s offensive presents had been at all times meant to impress they usually’ve given themselves and their staff loads to be enthusiastic about up to now. — Murat Ates

(High picture of Martin Necas: Derek Leung / Getty Pictures)