3 Blackhawks Numbers That Point To More Wins
By Keith Schultz
May 18, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing
Patrick Kanewarms up across the center ice logo before game one of the Western Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
The one thing you can say about numbers is that you can always find something in the numbers to find something positive, but today we are looking at 3 Blackhawks numbers that should make you excited and give you the reasons why there are a lot more wins in the Blackhawks future than the early season rough waters.
91.7%
The Blackhawks penalty kill percentage currently sits on top of the NHL rankings. Last season the Blackhawks gave up what seemed liked 5 power play goals to the Washington Capitals on opening night and they struggled for most of the season rotating players in out of the unit until Ben Smith cemented himself with Marcus Kruger as the Michael Frolik replacement. This season the Blackhawks penalty kill unit has been solid from opening night with it being one of the things that Joel Quenneville hasn’t messed with unlike every other line. The Blackhawks may not be scoring goals like they have in the past but when they are a man down they are killing off penalties better than anyone else in the NHL.
.176
Corey Crawford is off to the best start of his career when it comes to the big two goaltending statistics. He has .933 save percentage and a .176 goals against average. Crawford is the reason the Hawks have collected the points that they have picked up in the early part of the season. He single handily won the game for the Hawks on opening night against the Dallas Stars and Tuesday night Crawford came up big and picked up two more points for the Blackhawks against the Lighting. The Hawks have been out shooting their opponents by a large margin but the saves that Crawford has had to make some big ones and in a season that the Hawks are putting 5 goals in the back of the net a night, Crawford has been great.
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1.88
The Blackhawks have frustrating some early this season because they aren’t scoring goals like we have become accustomed to and Joel Quenneville has really driven Hawks fans crazy with his daily line changes, but there is one thing that the Blackhawks and Quenneville have to be excited about early on in the season is their goals against average per game as a team. It really hasn’t mattered who has been in net for the season the Blackhawks defense has been stellar even with rookie Trevor van Riemsdyk being teamed with David Rundblad or Michal Rozsival on their last paring. The defense is why the Blackhawks fans should know that even though the massive amount of pucks aren’t going into the net the defense has been fantastic and pucks are staying out of the Hawks net.
Three numbers to be excited about as the Hawks approach their annual circus trip, which numbers do you like the most?
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