This is a feature that will run about every two weeks with improbable stats and situations in the National Hockey League.
Teams:
- there would be three eastern conference teams in playoff position who did not make the playoffs last year: Ottawa, Toronto, New Jersey
- only two teams would be in position to make the playoffs in the west who did not make it last year: St Louis and Minnesota
- on today’s date the New York Islanders 5.4% would statistically have a better chance at the playoffs than the Buffalo Sabres 3.2%
- the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres would be the two northeast teams most likely to be in the NHL entry draft lottery
- the Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, San Jose Sharks would all have records no better than .500 over their last ten and still hold their division lead
- three of the top ten powerplays by percent in the NHL would belong to non playoff teams: #2 Edmonton Oilers, #7 New York Islanders, #9 Colorado Avalanche
- the team that had allowed the most shorthanded goals 13, and 5 more than the next nearest team the New Jersey Devils would be in playoff position
- Of the top five teams in blocked shots, only one would also be among the five that allowed the least goals, the New York Rangers
Players:
- Sam Gagner would enter play today with more goals than Patrick Kane
- Brooks Laich of the Washington Capitals would be trailing Blake Wheeler of the Winnipeg Jets in goals, assists, points, hits and PIMS
- 39 year old Ray Whitney would be the highest scoring player in the entire Pacific division and twentieth in the NHL
- of the top five goal scorers in the NHL the oldest would be the creaky and distinguished 25 year old Evgeni Malkin
- three of the four top shorthanded goal scorers would all play for the same team: Adam Henrique, Zach Parise, Ilya Kovalchuk
- the three defensemen facing the toughest competition by Corsi would be: Jay Bouwmeester, Chris Butler, Sheldon Souray
- four members; Jamie Benn, Loui Eriksson, Michael Ryder, Mike Ribeiro, of the Dallas Stars would have as many or more points as departed “star” Brad Richards
- of the five goalies with the most wins, two would be Americans and only one Canadian
… which if any would you have believed?
