The NHL tracks Game Winning Goals, – basically the goal scorer for the goal that was one higher than what the losing team scored – but when it comes to shootouts it gets a little bit weird. Because of the format, players who score in the shootout are not credited with a goal on the season, yet the team who wins the shootout arbitrarily gets an extra goal added to their total to demonstrate a win.
It’s an important distinction to take into account when evaluating how many goals are scored in the league, because simply looking at the standings and totalling the goals up could be a little misleading.
So far there have been 13 games decided in a shootout this year, which means there have been an extra 13 goals credited to the offense of winning teams, and 13 goals to losing teams. It’s interesting to note that most commentators – and many statisticians – overlook this during broadcasts.
On an individual level there’s also a difference. Instead of a Game Winning Goal being credited to the player who “decided” the shootout, the player instead is given a Game Deciding Goal.
Not that it makes all that much difference, after all the Rangers still have only three players who have been credited with either Game Winning or Game Deciding Goals. Marian Gaborik has three Game Winners, Carl Hagelin one, and captain Ryan Callahan now has two Game Winners and a Game Decider.
It was Callahan’s fourth shootout goal in fourteen attempts – an average of around 28.57 percent – with all four shootout goals being game deciders. Only Brendan Shanahan has more game deciding goals as a Ranger, with six.
Anton Stralman scored his first regular season goal since January 31st, 2012 – a 4-3 shootout loss to the Devils – a span of 1 year and 12 days. He did however score three goals in the playoffs last year. It was the fifth goal of the year for the Rangers’ blueline.
Last time the Rangers gave up a three goal lead was agains the Ottawa Senators on October 29th, 2011. In a 5-4 shootout loss, the Rangers gave up a 4-1 lead in the third and fell in the shootout.
After not registering a point in his first seven games, Carl Hagelin now has totaled four goals and two assists in his last five games.
Last night saw the clash of the NHL’s 28th ranked power play – Bruins – versus the 29th ranked power play – Rangers. Neither team scored. The Rangers did nudge up their PK to 82.7 percent from 81.3, but remain in 14th spot. Boston continues to lead the league with a 93.5 percent effective PK.
The 40 shots that Lundqvist faced were the highest of the season that the Rangers have given up, albeit this was the first shootout of the year, so therefore the longest game to date. It was Lundqvist’s 479th regular season appearance, moving him into a tie for 39th all time, with Don Marshall.
With his minor penalty last night, Marc Staal has moved into 100th all time on the Rangers penalty minutes list with 226 for his career.
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