Not so special teams
Published 2:55 pm Thursday, November 11, 2010
I’m writing about Everett’s issues on special teams for tomorrow’s paper, and I figured I’d share the numbers I tabulated. First, Everett’s ranking and percentage on the power play and penalty kill:
Power play – 22nd at 11.8 percent
Penalty kill – 20th at 74.3 percent
Just so you know, that 22nd is dead last in the league.
Everett has won just twice in its past 13 games. Here’s the Tips’ special teams numbers over that stretch:
Power play – 5-for-57 for 8.8 percent
Penalty kill – 43-for-58 at 74.1 percent
Everett’s combined special teams percentage is 86.1, worst in the league. 100 percent is a general target for a combined total. The next worst combined percentage is Moose Jaw at 89.9 percent. Red Deer has the league’s best combined number at 111.9 percent. Everett is 6-7-1-3, Moose Jaw is 10-8-0-1, Red Deer is 13-6-1-1.
Everett has been outscored 50-41 so far this season. But take away the power-play, short-handed and shootout goals and the Tips are outscoring their opponents 29-27 at even strength.
The special teams numbers need to change if the Tips are to pull out of this slump. But the even-strength numbers indicate that if Everett can reverse those special teams numbers, results should follow.
One other note today. Overage center Parker Stanfield, who’s been out because of a concussion, will not play in Friday’s home game against Tri-City. He’s considered questionable for the remainder of the weekend.
