Article from the Mining Journal about Penalties and the Penalty Kill hurting the team.
http://www.miningjournal.net/page/c...e-Northern-Michigan-hockey-team.html?nav=5010
I agree with Matt Wellens on a lot of things, but the problem is just the Penalty Kill. Would less penalties help? Sure, but let's fix the real problem: the PK.
From College Hockey Stats.net:
Penalty Minute Leaders (Nationally)
11. Ohio State - 153 PIM - 15.3 PIM/Game
12. Miami - 180 PIM - 15.0 PIM/Game
14. Ferris State - 178 PIM - 14.8 PIM/Game
14. Michigan State - 178 PIM - 14.8 PIM/Game
18. Northern Michigan - 176 PIM - 14.7 PIM/Game
27. Alaska - 161 PIM - 13.4 PIM/Game
29. Michigan - 157 PIM - 13.1 PIM/Game
35. Notre Dame - 135 PIM - 12.3 PIM/Game
44. Bowling Green - 160 PIM - 11.4 PIM/Game
50. Lake Superior - 133 PIM - 11.1 PIM/Game
53. Western Michigan - 108 PIM - 10.8 PIM/Game
We're mid-pack in penalties per game. Funny thing, Miami is 12th nationally for PIM, yet they lead the CCHA. Ohio State, leads CCHA teams in penalty minutes, and they're 5th in the CCHA.
Now, let's look at the PK:
Penalty Kill (Nationally)
05. Notre Dame - 40/ 44 - 90.9%
14. Alaska - 47/ 54 - 87.0%
15. Michigan State - 46/ 53 - 86.8%
17. Miami - 50/ 58 - 86.2%
23. Ferris State - 51/ 60 - 85.0%
29. Michigan - 38/ 46 - 82.6%
29. Ohio State - 38/ 46 - 82.6%
33. Western Michigan - 37/ 45 - 82.2%
44. Lake Superior - 40/ 50 - 80.0%
55. Bowling Green - 46/ 61 - 75.4%
57. Northern Michigan - 38/ 51 - 74.5%
Embarassing. Every 4th Penalty Kill results in a goal. Dividing 14.7 by 2 Minutes (average penalty length) means that every game we're giving up almost two "free" goals to the opponent per game.
For comparison, Miami: 15/2=7.5*(1/8)= One PK goal per game.
Alaska: 13.4/2=6.7*(1/8) = One PK goal per game.
Michigan State: 14.8/2=7.4*(1/8)= One PK goal per game.
Ohio State: 15.3/2=7.65*(2/11)= One PK goal every game and a half.
Western Michigan: 10.8/2=5.4*(1/5) = One PK goal every game.
Taking penalties isn't the problem. Our miserable PK is the problem.