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Friday 8 december 2017
Slashing crackdown, infusion of youth boost NHL scoring

By STEPHEN WHYNO
AP Hockey Writer
The nets aren’t bigger, the
goaltenders aren’t smaller
and yet scoring is up signifi-
cantly around the NHL.
Through the first two months
of the season, goals are up
more than 12 percent from
the same time a year ago,
including a whopping 14
percent increase on the
power play and a 38 per-
cent spike in short-handed
goals.
“That’s what the league
wanted,” San Jose Sharks
defenseman Marc Ed-
ouard-Vlasic said. “The
league has done every-
thing in their power to make
there more goals out there,
and that’s exactly what’s
going on.”
The uptick can be cred-
ited to a concerted crack-
down on slashing by issu-
ing more penalties and a
league-wide move toward
younger and more skilled
players. The current pace
of 6.01 goals per game
would be the highest since
2005-06, when a series of
rule changes were put in In this Oct. 24, 2017, file photo, New York Islanders’ John Tavares (91) celebrates after scoring a goal against Arizona Coyotes goalie
to open up the game and Louis Domingue (35) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in New York.
get more scoring to attract Associated Press
new fans. ence (in 2005-06), slash- coach Barry Trotz, who has “Now they don’t just have fewer journeyman faceoff
“Teams try to go for it ing has become a way to the league’s leading goal- to worry about scoring specialists and grinders,
more,” said New York defend and an effective scorer in Alex Ovechkin. goals. They have to worry and more players kept for
Rangers goaltender Hen- way to defend, and I think Certainly the emphasis on about their turnovers, what speed and skill. “Just the
rik Lundqvist, whose goals- this year it’s a less effective slashing has helped play- plays they make, how risky mold of all teams is kind of
against average is 2.66, way to defend.” ers such as Ovechkin, Cal- they want to get because changing: They’re going
nearly 13 percent higher Players have noticed, even gary’s Johnny Gaudreau there is that chance if it for smaller, skilled guys rath-
than it was at this point a if some are frustrated at the and New York Islanders star goes the other way and it’s er than guys who are two-
year ago. “Most teams are varying degrees of what John Tavares, who can do a 2-on-1, it could end up in way forwards and stuff like
trying to go for it, have this rises to the level of a slash- wonders with even a few the back of your net.” that,” said Kings defense-
fast hockey, leave the zone ing penalty. Every referee is extra inches of space. Co- Los Angeles coach John man Drew Doughty, who is
quickly and it opens it up.” watching closely. lumbus Blue Jackets for- Stevens said teams are in all of 27. “These young kids
Deputy NHL Commissioner “The last five years, you ward Josh Anderson, who “attack mode” all the time have unbelievable skill, too.
Bill Daly said general man- could do so much more scored 10 goals in his first 15 now, and Trotz estimates It’s kind of crazy how much
agers are pleased with the with your stick and prob- games, said slashing is on that he spends three-quar- skill. They have things they
current pace, which has ably now lots of players are everyone’s mind and “guys ters of time trying to figure grew up getting taught
lasted beyond the typical afraid to use their sticks,” are not getting (their sticks) out how to score more. how to do those things,
high-scoring October as Los Angeles Kings forward up into the hands as much But risk is also inherent in the which we didn’t have ac-
defenses settle in for the Jussi Jokinen said. “I think as they used to.” NHL getting younger and cess to when we were kids.”
season. Stricter enforce- everybody wants to see Slashing and otherwise, featuring so many rookie For all the offense so far,
ment of slashing was de- more goals, so scoring be- there have been 173 more scorers such as Arizona’s there are those who don’t
signed to reduce hand ing up, I think it’s good.” power plays than last sea- Clayton Keller, Chicago’s expect it to keep happen-
and wrist injuries, though it Everyone except maybe son and teams are convert- Alex DeBrincat and Van- ing. Goals were up through
has had a positive effect the goaltenders may think ing on 19.7 percent of them. couver’s Brock Boeser. The October last season and
on offense with defenders so, but it’s not like they’ve Almost half the league is at average age of an NHL the NHL finished averaging
unable to whack at puck been terrible. Four goalies or above 20 percent. The player is 27 and Daly said 5.54 per game. DeBoer said
carriers’ sticks in an effort to who have played at least massive increase in short- the number has dropped teams often tighten their
stop them. 20 games have a save per- handed goals has a lot to over the past several years. systems and structure after
“I do think that has created centage of .930 or higher. do with aggressive penalty He said more scoring is a Christmas, making it more
certainly more room for our “The goaltenders, they kills stocked with offensive- byproduct as junior hockey difficult to score.
players to be offensive,” haven’t been any better minded players more likely and college programs get “I think it’s still early to say,”
Daly said. “I think over time, than they are right now to score. “That’s one more better at making players Blackhawks winger Richard
clearly since we increased and some of them are still thing that the power play NHL-ready sooner. Panik said. “The game is go-
the standard for hooking getting lit up pretty good,” has to worry about,” Capi- Team composition has ing to get tighter. It always
and holding and interfer- said Washington Capitals tals winger T.J. Oshie said. also changed. There are does before playoffs.”q