Would this include empty net goals? Not that it matters much, just curious.
- NewToHockey

Don't exactly know.

If you look at the chart, going back to a time before shoot-outs, the average goals per game for is .02 to .04 higher than average goals against: the only difference I can think of would be empty net goals counting for but not against - which doesn't make sense, but there it is. But that would say the the effect of empty net goals would be about 0.05 per game.

I'm pretty sure that the extra (fake) goal for winning a shoot-out is not included in Goals Against Average.

Average Goals per Game: looking at Hockey-reference.com, using goals against per game average (which, I think, eliminates the extra goal for a shoot out win):

This year = 5.10
Last year = 5.08
Two years = 5.08
For several years before that = 5.2 to 5.5

So - goals per game at lowest levels going back to the thirties.

Goalie save % at highest level ever: .914
- StLBravesFan

No matter how hard the NHL tries to increase scoring, to appeal more to the American audience they have failed.

The beauty is the game is so great it survives the backwards thinking....Flow and pace of the game is more important for viewing pleasure than goals scored.

The game has advanced as defense has benefited the most with technology etc ....Also even with pad restrictions goal tenders are bigger and better athletically while the net stays the same size.

The NHL has tried and failed to tinker and basically has failed in many ways but the sports is still more popular than ever.

Crawford and top guns outshine Stars 5-2.

My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1gB4kQ4

On Twitter @AlCimaglia

Every time I see the ice girls I am lured into the blog...good work JJ.
Wild off until Wed, so I figured I'd hang with you negative (frank)s. Who we playing next?

No matter how hard the NHL tries to increase scoring, to appeal more to the American audience they have failed.

The beauty is the game is so great it survives the backwards thinking....Flow and pace of the game is more important for viewing pleasure than goals scored.

The game has advanced as defense has benefited the most with technology etc ....Also even with pad restrictions goal tenders are bigger and better athletically while the net stays the same size.

The NHL has tried and failed to tinker and basically has failed in many ways but the sports is still more popular than ever.

Crawford and top guns outshine Stars 5-2.

My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1gB4kQ4

On Twitter @AlCimaglia
- Al

This for sure.

Goals are not as important as action around the net: a 1-0 game with lots of shots, great saves, legal hard hits, etc. is a much more exciting game than an 8-7 "shoot-out" with bad defense and goal tending.

My favorite games are by far the ones you see played with raw emotion. Not just playing to play.

Every time I see the ice girls I am lured into the blog...good work JJ.
Wild off until Wed, so I figured I'd hang with you negative (frank)s. Who we playing next?
- SotaPopinski

Edmonton tonight. Khabibulin in net vs his old mates...should be an adventure.

This for sure.

Goals are not as important as action around the net: a 1-0 game with lots of shots, great saves, legal hard hits, etc. is a much more exciting game than an 8-7 "shoot-out" with bad defense and goal tending.
- StLBravesFan

Edmonton tonight. Khabibulin in net vs his old mates...should be an adventure.
- Ogilthorpe2

Ugh, the only thing that could make this an even bigger (frank) show is if Bryz was in net for the Oil.

Edmonton tonight. Khabibulin in net vs his old mates...should be an adventure.
- Ogilthorpe2

Is it confirmed that El Vodkalero will be starting a home loss tonight??? Please, say it ain't so!

Todays' article....

Crawford and top guns outshine Stars 5-2.

My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1gB4kQ4

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

Great article Al, thanks!

Whatever Kruger has changed on his faceoff strategy I hope he keeps it up. I'm still hoping to see a Bickell/Kruger/Shaw third line once Handzus returns. I know playing Krugs on the 4th line gives us incredible depth, but he's earning more ice time.

No matter how hard the NHL tries to increase scoring, to appeal more to the American audience they have failed.

The beauty is the game is so great it survives the backwards thinking....Flow and pace of the game is more important for viewing pleasure than goals scored.

The game has advanced as defense has benefited the most with technology etc ....Also even with pad restrictions goal tenders are bigger and better athletically while the net stays the same size.

The NHL has tried and failed to tinker and basically has failed in many ways but the sports is still more popular than ever.

Crawford and top guns outshine Stars 5-2.

My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/1gB4kQ4

On Twitter @AlCimaglia
- Al

What's great to see is more and more kids playing the game across the U.S. and starting to make it to the NHL. As kids, we played organized hockey on open air city rinks, shinny hockey in the parks, road hockey and indoor ball hockey for about 10 months a year with 2 months alotted to baseball as a break. The game is beautiful and that won't ever go away. its a truly international game now.

Hi hockey fans! If you feel that your team is Stanley Cup bound and need some money for the event, please check out the following link http://instantpaydaynetwork.com/vpopovici. You will like what you see, I guarantee.

What's great to see is more and more kids playing the game across the U.S. and starting to make it to the NHL. As kids, we played organized hockey on open air city rinks, shinny hockey in the parks, road hockey and indoor ball hockey for about 10 months a year with 2 months alotted to baseball as a break. The game is beautiful and that won't ever go away. its a truly international game now.
- RickJ

Hockey can certainly grow here and solidify its position and popularity, but it will never be more than a very solid fourth sport in the US.

Fine.

It certainly seems to be growing internationally. Of course, the number one sport in Canada, but isn't it also true that it is, or is becoming, the number one sport in Scandenavia and Eastern Europe - Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Russia, Switzerland.

We can look forward to increasingly entertaining hockey apart from the NHL.

Edmonton tonight. Khabibulin in net vs his old mates...should be an adventure.
- Ogilthorpe2

Sumo Wrestler Goalie didn't get the call-up

Sumo Wrestler Goalie didn't get the call-up



- CBHawks88

They did call him up.

It's just going to take some time for the fork lift to get him here.

They did call him up.

It's just going to take some time for the fork lift to get him here.
- StLBravesFan

That picture was just wrong in so many ways.

That picture was just wrong in so many ways.
- rtang415

Still a better goalie than Khabby

That picture was just wrong in so many ways.
- rtang415

But I think he's now the JJ Blog mascot.

Still a better goalie than Khabby
- CBHawks88

I'd hate to be the ref trying to find the puck after he "absorbs" it without giving up a rebound.

But I think he's now the JJ Blog mascot.
- StLBravesFan

JJ won't have to re-use that hot ice girl a million times

I'd hate to be the ref trying to find the puck after he "absorbs" it without giving up a rebound.
- StLBravesFan

You're killing me!

Hockey can certainly grow here and solidify its position and popularity, but it will never be more than a very solid fourth sport in the US.

Fine.

It certainly seems to be growing internationally. Of course, the number one sport in Canada, but isn't it also true that it is, or is becoming, the number one sport in Scandenavia and Eastern Europe - Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Russia, Switzerland.

We can look forward to increasingly entertaining hockey apart from the NHL.
- StLBravesFan

Canada' population is about 35 million, Sweden about 10M and Finland 5M. Look what those countries produce.

If every U.S. state eventually has 200,000 kids playing the game, that's 10 Million. They will produce more players than Canada, Sweden and Finland combined. Might still be the #4 sport, but who cares provided the game grows.

JJ won't have to re-use that hot ice girl a million times
- CBHawks88

It's certainty a toss-up.

Canada' population is about 35 million, Sweden about 10M and Finland 5M. Look what those countries produce.

If every U.S. state eventually has 200,000 kids playing the game, that's 10 Million. They will produce more players than Canada, Sweden and Finland combined. Might still be the #4 sport, but who cares provided the game grows.
- RickJ

Yes certainly.

Yes certainly.
- StLBravesFan

One can not discount the growth of Hockey in the U.S.

When the stars moved to dallas, there were no high school hockey programs. Now there are 87.

When I moved to ORlando in 87, I was the youngest/only high school hockey player, playing mens leagues. Now there are high school leagues, we have home grown talent playing in CHL, and division 1 NCAA hockey. Only a matter of time before we get a draft pick.

While it seems stagnant, Hockey has a huge following nation wide. Its growth has been solid. The depth of people in the South into hockey is a lot more pronounced than what you might think..