NHL 'Clutch' Players Who Exceed Expectations

[doniceage]

With the ice heating up amid the NHL playoffs, consider this: About 10% percent fewer goals are scored in the playoffs than in the regular season. It's logical, since the worst goalies either are not in the playoffs or are riding the bench the whole time.

What's not logical is Mark Messier -- and players like him. In an environment where the playoff performer loses 10% of his point production, Mr. Messier increased his by 16%. In the regular season, he averaged 1.07 points per game, bumping that up

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124000966755730671.html

[SK74]

Good concept, terrible article. I would have liked to see a little more of an in-depth analysis.

[spuds1961]

Wow not much to that article,Personally I don't consider it a very telling stat as alot of players never get past the first round of the playoffs while messier got to how many finals.

[doniceage]

Good concept, terrible article. I would have liked to see a little more of an in-depth analysis.

I agree they could have done that. But perhaps Billy Beane has a article called Money Puck.

Wow not much to that article,Personally I don't consider it a very telling stat as alot of players never get past the first round of the playoffs while messier got to how many finals.

Does it really matter if they get past the first round or not. As to me I would ask you this the farther you go along wouldn't the team your playing be better. Thus, in the end the goals allowed would be harder to come by.

It a simple theory we all know the D steps up in the Playoff's. Of course there are a few select individuals that take it to another notch when it comes playoff times. Just like the Plus/Minus stat. Of course no stat is infalliable over a short duration but 10 or 20 years I have to give some credence. So in essence I would think your logic would should be reversed. As if you only played in on series but went gangbuster then you stats would be off the chart. Of course if you play in post season year in year out that means you have to keep performing at a high level compared to the regular seasons every year.

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[SK74]

Wow not much to that article,Personally I don't consider it a very telling stat as alot of players never get past the first round of the playoffs while messier got to how many finals.

I definitely wouldn't consider it a game breaking stat, but I do think it's pretty interesting nonetheless. It could be very useful for people who play the fantasy leagues and pools.

Note: Alex Kovalev 2 goals in 2 games so far in the playoffs.

[RGM81]

Here's hoping he can keep up that pace for more than 4-7 games...