Simple task here. Take the power-play goals each team has scored with the man advantage and subtract the power-play goals it’s surrendered while shorthanded.
A team is going to have a positive ranking if:
--- It scores on a high percentage of its power plays and/or kills a high percentage of its shorthanded situations.
--- It draws a lot of penalties and/or doesn’t take many penalties.
Note: this doesn’t take into account shorthanded goals.
The results:
1 | CAROLINA | 16 |
1 | CHICAGO | 16 |
3 | DETROIT | 15 |
4 | CALGARY | 11 |
4 | ST LOUIS | 11 |
6 | WASHINGTON | 10 |
7 | PITTSBURGH | 9 |
8 | MINNESOTA | 8 |
9 | SAN JOSE | 7 |
9 | TAMPA BAY | 7 |
11 | VANCOUVER | 4 |
12 | DALLAS | 2 |
12 | NY ISLANDERS | 2 |
14 | LOS ANGELES | 1 |
14 | NY RANGERS | 1 |
16 | NASHVILLE | -1 |
16 | OTTAWA | -1 |
18 | COLORADO | -2 |
18 | MONTREAL | -2 |
18 | PHILADELPHIA | -2 |
21 | TORONTO | -4 |
22 | BOSTON | -6 |
23 | EDMONTON | -7 |
23 | NEW JERSEY | -7 |
25 | COLUMBUS | -8 |
25 | WINNIPEG | -8 |
27 | FLORIDA | -9 |
28 | ANAHEIM | -13 |
29 | ARIZONA | -15 |
30 | BUFFALO | -35 |
Notes:
--- Carolina at the top may surprise some people. But the Hurricanes have an excellent penalty kill, plus they don’t take many penalties. That’s a good combination. It’s even strength that’s hurt the ‘Canes this season. Only three teams -- Edmonton, Buffalo, and Arizona -- have a worse 5-on-5 ratio.
--- If the ultra-disciplined Flames (fewest times shorthanded in the NHL) make the playoffs and the undisciplined Jets (most times shorthanded in the NHL) don’t, what you see above is a big reason why.
--- Not a good ranking for the Panthers either. For a bubble team like Florida, special teams can be the difference between making and missing the playoffs.
--- Case in point, Vancouver. Not great 5-on-5, the Canucks have had an effective penalty kill (4th) all season, and their much-maligned power play has climbed up to 11th with a recent run of goals.
Related: The Jets should probably knock it off with all the penalties