There are 6 teams with none or one regulation loss: SJ, COL, PIT, ANA, CHI, STL. PIT is the only Eastern team.

3 teams have only 1 win, regulation or OT: NJ, BUF, PHL. All 3 from the East.

I'll leave COL out because it's early, and they don't have much of a recent track record. Who in the East is as good as SJ, ANA, CHI or STL (not even including the Kings). And I just watched CHI spank TOR, one of the better Eastern teams. Outshot the Leafs 40-20. Only strong goaltending kept the game close.
- scottak

no its best not to include the kings, Tampa just beat them 5-1 lol
its hard call to make this early

And the Eastern Conference really sucks. The majority of the really bad teams are in the East.
- scottak

It is a good thing the Blackhawks have played a bunch of games against the East so far.

It is a good thing the Blackhawks have played a bunch of games against the East so far.


- carcus

gotta get the points whenever you can

I feel like I'm in my stats lecture. I see a bunch of graphs and numbers and my head hurts.

you know stats way better than I do, but there is a definite rise in the differential and without knowing stats at all, just watching several games a night a growing difference in the talent levels from team to team.. Having been watching hockey in the heyday of dynasties in the 70s and 80s to the mind-numbing parity of the 90s through 2009 I can more feel this shift than prove it on a small sample size.
- Eklund

Why didn't you hit him with some Ek-factors?

I feel like I'm in my stats lecture. I see a bunch of graphs and numbers and my head hurts.
- jaumiller

- Talkshowhost

Why are Sens fans so into Advanced Stats?

Is it similar to the big truck syndrome that you find in rural areas?

Why are Sens fans so into Advanced Stats?

Is it similar to the big truck syndrome that you find in rural areas?
- HuileHab

This is so (frank)ing true, it literally blows my mind.

Why are Sens fans so into Advanced Stats?

Is it similar to the big truck syndrome that you find in rural areas?
- HuileHab

hey I own a big truck.



to answer the question: I think the Sens fans you find here are familar with it because Yost often blogs about it.

On average I don't think sens fans are anymore interested in advanced stats than any other fanbase. Personally, I go to university so I am just far more used to looking at evidence for claims, data, statistics and I think that's why I enjoy the adv. stats work.

This is so (frank)ing true, it literally blows my mind.
- laughs2907

you try putting a 200lb buck in a Prius!

you try putting a 200lb buck in a Prius!
- Talkshowhost

You should let your boyfriend ride in the cab.


Just joking
















I'm sure he likes being on the hood.

You should let your boyfriend ride in the cab.


Just joking
















I'm sure he likes being on the hood.
- Canada Cup

I don't even get what you're trying to say? I'm gay because....?

Why are Sens fans so into Advanced Stats?

Is it similar to the big truck syndrome that you find in rural areas?
- HuileHab

Hey if they can explain my statistics homework to me I don't care and girls dig the big trucks, no other reason to go through all the trouble.

I don't even get what you're trying to say? I'm gay because....?
- Talkshowhost

He's a leaf fan. Accuse first then explain never.

Off topic. While in MTL.. where did you watch the game from on the plateau ?
- WaterBoy

and more importantly was anyone injured

I don't even get what you're trying to say? I'm gay because....?
- Talkshowhost

I'd assume the Prius comment. Prius owner=homosexual according to the logic

To me this is classic confirmation bias. You think you see something and so you are trying to interpret data to fit that narrative. Truth is, much like what other people have said, there is going to be such variance in the sample size used, that none of this data is 'statistically significant' in any manner.

To further illustrate this, let us analyze what we are REALLY looking at with this data chosen. Every team, good or bad, go through hot streaks and cold streaks throughout a season. When we only look at the high end and the low end of the standings after the first eight games of a season, what we are really doing is isolating hot streaks and cold streaks. This season more than others has some major outliers, namely the Sharks and Avalanche at the high end. The Avalanche have had a historically insane start, being the first team in NHL history to go 5-0 and let in 1 goal or fewer in each game to start a season. The Sharks have had equally dominate success and scored even more. To elaborate on what you are saying, are the Avalanche a 'dominate' team? Does that really pass the 'smell test'? Or are they just in the midst of their hot streak for the season? If they did this in February would anyone notice?

Its dangerous to draw conclusions from non-substantial data.

On a side note, I disagree with your assessment of there being no dominate teams in the 90s. There was a 10 year stretch there where the Devils, Wings and Avs won basically everything. Since 2004 however, I completely agree. Even to today. Is there any team that you would be surprised if they didn't make the conference finals? Not for me. Is there any team today that would surprise you if they DID make the conference finals? (maybe just philly )

To me this is classic confirmation bias. You think you see something and so you are trying to interpret data to fit that narrative. Truth is, much like what other people have said, there is going to be such variance in the sample size used, that none of this data is 'statistically significant' in any manner.

To further illustrate this, let us analyze what we are REALLY looking at with this data chosen. Every team, good or bad, go through hot streaks and cold streaks throughout a season. When we only look at the high end and the low end of the standings after the first eight games of a season, what we are really doing is isolating hot streaks and cold streaks. This season more than others has some major outliers, namely the Sharks and Avalanche at the high end. The Avalanche have had a historically insane start, being the first team in NHL history to go 5-0 and let in 1 goal or fewer in each game to start a season. The Sharks have had equally dominate success and scored even more. To elaborate on what you are saying, are the Avalanche a 'dominate' team? Does that really pass the 'smell test'? Or are they just in the midst of their hot streak for the season? If they did this in February would anyone notice?

Its dangerous to draw conclusions from non-substantial data.

On a side note, I disagree with your assessment of there being no dominate teams in the 90s. There was a 10 year stretch there where the Devils, Wings and Avs won basically everything. Since 2004 however, I completely agree. Even to today. Is there any team that you would be surprised if they didn't make the conference finals? Not for me. Is there any team today that would surprise you if they DID make the conference finals? (maybe just philly )
- w1nman

... so to sum it up - the more things change, the more they stay the same

It's hard to say the best teams are getting better - when the list of top 8 teams includes Colorado(one of the worst teams last year), Toronto and Montreal(both mid-range teams despite MTL winning the division last year).

This is just the year when you are going to see which teams can handle the cap era and which teams can't. The teams that overpaid payers on those fourteen year contacts to get around the cap hit are going to start suffering soon. And the teams that are used to overpaying for free agents on the ufa market are going to have to relearn how to handle things.

This is a bunch of crap statistics.

You want to do something worthwhile? Figure this one out:

Is Strombone1 tweeting as much with Tortorella as coach of the Canucks?

Eklund: Are the Better Teams Getting Better AND The Lesser Teams Getting Worse?
- Eklund

The sample size is way too small. This has absolutely no statistical value. It means nothing.

... so to sum it up - the more things change, the more they stay the same
- shmenge

Didn't read the whole thing, but I have to agree with you with the first part. This is someone with no statistical background. He should have done at least do a bit of research and you will found out there is a statistical formula that exists to determine the smallest possible sample size, based on the full size of the league, that can actually give meaning to your stats. And that's just the start of the research he should have done. This is class A crap stats!

Eklund: Are the Better Teams Getting Better AND The Lesser Teams Getting Worse?
- Eklund

You have way too much time on your hands!

Cross reference the data you've accumulated so far with stats on the level of penalty differentials for each team in the league and I believe you'll find your answer.

Refs are clearly favouring some teams over others to start the year (SJS, CHI, ANA, PIT, CAR, etc.) with more PP time, and you'll notice that the teams ranked in the top 10 of the "PP minus PK time" statistic on nhl.com (look at the team stats section in the PK time category) are currently all sitting in playoff positions with the exceptions of Minnesota, Calgary (both of whom have played 2-3 games less than playoff seeded teams and would likely be in playoff positions if they had played the same number of games) and Philadelphia (who are just a bad outlier this year).

This stat may also help explain why it seems like LA and STL are struggling a bit to start the year even though they've been outplaying most teams.

It's not necessarily a conspiracy (it's a chicken and egg argument, are teams playing poorly taking more penalties or are teams that get poor penalty differentials getting screwed by bad calls, or for ratings purposes for the conspiracy theorists?), but it has a big influence particularly in such a small sample size assessment.

Most times, when teams have played an equal number of games, this measure is a good way to predict NHL standings, with a few exceptional outliers such as Ottawa in the last few seasons.