How bad is the PK? Through seven games we have given up 16 goals while on the penalty kill in 42 attempts. This is 2.3 goals a game and is a failure rate of about 40%. The next two highest number of goals allowed on the PK is 9 by both Ontario and Reading in seven games also--a goal a game difference against these two teams and even worse with the others. The 16 goals we have given up is 50% of the 32 goals we have given up in total. Within our division Toledo has given up six PK goals in 5 games ( 1.2 per game) and they represent 33% of goals allowed; Kalamazoo has given up six PK goals in six games (1.0) which represent 30% of goals allowed, and Wheeling has allowed six PK goals in eight games (.75 per game) which represent 31% of the goals allowed. Same horrible comparison throughout the league. LV for example has not allowed a PK goal in 23 chances in 5 games. To me this is the number one issue. Coaches seldom change their overall strategy during a season but they do change PK strategy often when necessary. Hope to see a change tonight.
This type of PK performance also has impact on the rest of the effort. We have talked about the team not being aggressive and physical etc. With a horrible PK, players can easily become timid and not aggressive when even strength. They are deathly afraid of drawing a penalty when there is a 40% chance it will result in a goal. The three players trying to poke check the puck away from Donati last night on the last goal might be an example of their reluctance to take the body. You can bet an opposition coach sees a 40% failure rate and tells his players to pay special attention to drawing a penalty. Hopefully curing the PK problem will let our guys feel more comfortable being aggressive.
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Posted - 11/03/2010 : 6:22:25 PM
