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Five notable names who have yet to score a goal

Matt Moulson, Roberto Luongo

Buffalo Sabres left winger Matt Moulson (26) deflects the puck as Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo (1) makes a glove-save during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Oct., 17, 2014, in Buffalo, N.Y. Florida won 1-0. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)

AP

Remember last season when Claude Giroux didn’t score his first goal until his 16th game?

Well, there isn’t a name quite as big as Giroux’s on the still-goalless list in 2014-15, but there are some notable ones nonetheless...

--- Matt Moulson: no goals in 14 games, with 24 shots.

“It becomes a mental battle,” Moulson said, per the Buffalo News. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t lose a couple of nights sleep over this past little while. You have to keep working. It’s amazing how a goal off your leg or your behind all of a sudden injects confidence into your game.”

At least Moulson’s misery has some company on the struggling Sabres. Teammate Brian Gionta has no goals on 21 shots.

--- Ales Hemsky: no goals in 12 games, with 20 shots.

“It’s a new city, new surroundings, new coaches. That takes time,” Stars coach Lindy Ruff said recently in Hemsky’s defense. “You go around the league and look at players that have switched teams. I can probably give you three or four right away, and you’ll say, ‘Man, that guy hasn’t scored yet.’ It’s not easy.”

--- Alex Semin: no goals in nine games, with 12 shots.

Another unproductive night Tuesday versus Columbus for the man with the $7 million cap hit. He didn’t even register a shot against the Blue Jackets, after sitting three games as a healthy scratch.

--- Nick Bjugstad: no goals in 10 games, with 28 shots.

Notable mostly because of all those shots. Among NHL forwards, he’s tied with Anaheim’s Jakob Silfverberg for the most shots without a goal.

“Nick has been a great player for us. He’s probably hit five or six goalposts, he’s played real well and it’s just some tough luck right now. You go through those things,” coach Gerard Gallant said, per the Sun Sentinel. “The good thing is we’re playing pretty good hockey and we know Nick is going to score, the other guys are going to score goals, it’s just a matter of time.”

--- Olli Jokinen: no goals in 12 games, with 21 shots.

But the 35-year-old is clearly doing something right in the eyes of coach Peter Laviolette, given he played a season-high 16:32 Tuesday in Winnipeg.

“Olli Jokinen has been on the power play his whole life and we’ve asked him to come in here and kill penalties and play the wing and help out [center Calle Jarnkrok],” Laviolette said, per the Predators’ website. “That’s all he does every day. When that happens, your team evolves and becomes stronger.”

Honorable mentions: Derek Roy (19 shots), Ryan Strome (23), Darren Helm (18), Mathieu Perreault (22), Dominic Moore (21), Rene Bourque (18), Tomas Jurco (22), Tomas Fleischmann (17), Jeremy Morin (21).

*Only forwards were considered for the above, but d-men Drew Doughty and Kevin Bieksa each have 31 shots with no goals.