Goals Breakdown By Period

The Toronto Maple Leafs scored 70 goals in the first period of games in 2011-12 followed by 71 in the second. They scored 81 in the third period. The Leafs number 81 accounted for 14 of those goals, five in the final five minutes with one accounted for in an empty net.

 The balance was off with 11 3rd period goals at home and three on the road. 

October 18, Kessel scored at 17:41 of the 3rd period, giving the Leafs a 6-4 lead and squelching a late-game comeback after a 5-1 lead against division rivals, Ottawa Senators in the first of six meetings in a young season. Toronto went on to win 6-5.

A week later, October 15, he followed up with two goals, one in the 3rd period to complete the 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Calgary Flames.

On the eve of Halloween, October 29, at 10:08 of the 3rd, Phil Kessel pulled the Leafs ahead 4-3 over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

November 15, his 3rd period goal tied the Coyotes at two, but eventually succumbing to a 3-2 shootout loss.

Two 3rd period goals – the first before five minutes in and the second at the 19:00 minute mark – on November 20 sandwiched Jeff Skinner’s eventual game winning goal in a 3-2 Leafs loss.

At 17:17 of the 3rd period on December 17, Kessel brought the Leafs to within one goal before Jannik Hansen solidified a 5-3 Vancouver Canucks win.

Kessel scored his only empty net marker at 18:55 of the 3rd period on February 6, in a 6-3 win over the Oilers. On February 21 at 19:16, the Wisconsin native scored to tie the game at three versus the New Jersey Devils, losing 4-3 in overtime.

Working on the yearbook over the summer, finding ways to make analysis easier, more efficient is paramount. To do that, I like visuals. At a quick glance, the influx of information creates jumping off points to different discoveries. An effective visual is just supposed to supply a quick glance of information that tells a small chapter of a story.

That’s part of the reason I was attracted to OzQoc charts before going mainstream with a sharp name like Player Usage Charts.

To atone for the monotonous description of Phil Kessel’s third period goals above – and sticking through this – I’ll just offer these breakdowns of goals by period for some Leafs.

Between Kessel and pivot, Mikhail Grabovski’s 10 goals, together they scored 30% of 3rd period tallies.

Looks awfully like he’s giving the finger … meanwhile the palindrome Lupul reminds me of heavy metal horns.

One of the most disparaging charts is that of Kulemin. Breaking down the seven goals in 2011-12, six were scored in the 3rd period. One came in a win, somewhat symbolic of the season long offensive struggles.

Jake Gardiner’s first career NHL goal came in the 3rd period in late January. He went on to score five goals in the closing frame.

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Twitter: @Katshockey