Let’s continue our best-and-worst series (see: special teams, shot differential, 5-on-5 scoring) with a look at discipline. Or in the case of teams like the Senators, Bruins and Jets, a lack thereof:
PPs | PKs | Diff | ||
1 | SJS | 262 | 195 | 67 |
2 | CAR | 257 | 222 | 35 |
3 | DAL | 255 | 232 | 23 |
4 | NYR | 237 | 214 | 23 |
5 | PIT | 246 | 226 | 20 |
6 | NYI | 247 | 229 | 18 |
7 | FLA | 243 | 228 | 15 |
8 | MIN | 228 | 219 | 9 |
9 | CGY | 224 | 217 | 7 |
10 | PHX | 259 | 253 | 6 |
11 | NSH | 220 | 215 | 5 |
12 | ANA | 244 | 240 | 4 |
13 | CHI | 234 | 230 | 4 |
14 | EDM | 248 | 245 | 3 |
15 | WSH | 262 | 259 | 3 |
16 | MTL | 256 | 257 | -1 |
17 | STL | 249 | 250 | -1 |
18 | COL | 218 | 220 | -2 |
19 | CBJ | 248 | 251 | -3 |
20 | TBL | 235 | 240 | -5 |
21 | DET | 251 | 264 | -13 |
22 | LAK | 258 | 271 | -13 |
23 | BUF | 226 | 242 | -16 |
24 | NJD | 214 | 231 | -17 |
25 | VAN | 232 | 249 | -17 |
26 | TOR | 229 | 247 | -18 |
27 | PHI | 262 | 284 | -22 |
28 | WPG | 235 | 264 | -29 |
29 | BOS | 202 | 239 | -37 |
30 | OTT | 239 | 287 | -48 |
Unlike the three other things we’ve looked at in this series, there doesn’t seem to be a strict relationship between winning/losing and taking fewer/more penalties. Yes, the Sharks are one of the NHL’s elite, but the Hurricanes, Islanders, and Panthers sure aren’t. Conversely, while the Senators have had a tough season, the Bruins sure haven’t.
San Jose’s differential certainly stands out though, just because it’s such a big number. The Sharks have been shorthanded the fewest times per game (2.64) while averaging the sixth-most power plays (3.54).
“I think it’s a big reason why we have the success we’ve had so far winning games,” forward Tommy Wingels said in January. "[On] a lot of teams, the power play guys get paid a lot to produce on the power play. You have to keep them without the man advantage. When you stay disciplined, you often times limit the other team’s scoring opportunities. That’s what we try to do defensively.”
Related: Hitch says killing penalties is more important than scoring on the power play