In the last Numbers Game, I looked at a new statistic, even-strength minutes per point. Continuing on that analysis, today I will look at power-play minutes per point (PP/P) to find out who is the most the efficient player in the NHL on the power play. (based on statistics as of Feb. 20/08)
Alexander Ovechkin leads the league in power play goals with 17. He also averages the second most power play minutes per game at 5:32, right behind fellow Russian, Ilya Kovalchuk. However, he ranks 8th in PP min/G. Alex Kovalev sits in 1st place in PP min/G scoring, on average, 1 PPG every 15:30 of PP time. Right behind him in second place is the Penguin’s Ryan Malone. Malone averages just over 2 minutes of PP time every game, just over half of Kovalev’s PP TOI/G. Malone has 8 PP G compared to Kovalev’s 16. Scott Hartnell, Thomas Vanek and Ruslan Fedetenko round out the top 5.
Where are the big scorers, you ask? Malkin ranks 19th followed by Iginla at 20. The Sens’ Alfredsson and Heatley rank 33rd and 55th, respectively. Vincent Lecavelier ranks 54th.
The Top 20 for PP Min/A is somewhat less surprising than PP Min/G. As expected, major assists guys like Savard, Henrik Sedin, Crosby, Lidstrom and Spezza, were in the top 10. However, sitting at 1st place is none other than Jamie Langenbrunner. Though his 10 PPA puts him 60th in that category, he only averages 1:30 of PP TOI/g and has played 20 games fewer than most of the leaders in this category.
Langenbrunner also leads the league in PP Min/P average one point every 5:40 of PP TOI. In second, almost 2 minutes behind Langenbrunner, is Alex Kovalev who is tied with Ovechkin for PP points. Ovechkin, meanwhile, ranks 76th overall in PP min/P with only 25 power play points. As expected, Malkin and Crosby rank in the top 20. However, Spezza, Alfredsson, Heatley, Lecavalier, St. Louis and Iginla all do not qualify in the top 20.
In Thursday’s Numbers Game, I will examine the combined power play and even strength minutes per point statistic.
For Illegal Curve, I am Adam Gutkin.
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