Leafs Vs. Canes Scoring Chances

When Toronto played in Carolina last week and only lost 3-2, they had only Ben Scrivens and Phil Kessel to thank. Sure, it was a regulation loss, and at the end of the season, a 6-0 loss is worth the same number of points as 3-2 loss, but it’s a whole lot easier on us fans.

The second period was the worst I have yet to track, with the Hurricanes out-chacing the Leafs 11-0, despite the fact that the Canes already held a 1-0 lead. In fact, including the two chances the Canes had at the end of the first, there was a 13-0 streak against the Leafs.

That the Leafs managed to stay out of the box for large stretches of the game was probably a big factor, as they only gave up two 5-on-4 advantages, and the Hurricanes capitalized on one of them. (Note that their PP goal came in the second, but was not technically considered a chance.)

The only Leaf to out-chance his opponents at even strength? Cody Franson.

I expect the picture to look somewhat rosier when I look at the next game, the Leafs’ 7-1 drubbing of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

One other note I will add is that I have begun tracking what type of chances are occurring. Follow me over the jump for a list of scoring chance types.

SUST = Sustained pressure: this can mean a number of things, including a chance from cycling the puck, a chance off a blocked shot, the result of a scrum, or just hemming a team in with a series of good forechecking and passing.

TIP = An intentionally tipped shot. Pretty straightforward.

RUSH = Again, this one is straightforward, though it should be noted that I specify if the rush is ever odd-manned.

1T = One timer. If a shot comes as a one-timer, and the play is on a rush, it will be labelled ‘RUSH’. If the one-timer comes off sustained pressure, it will be labelled ‘1T’.

TO = Turnover by the defending team: if the puck is turned over, then passed, then shot, it will be labelled ‘RUSH’ or ‘SUST’. The puck has to be shot by the player intercepting the pass/play.

REBD = Rebound: similar to the turnover, if a player picks up a rebound and then passes it to a teammate for a chance, it will be labelled ‘SUST’. The chance has to be taken by the first player on the puck to be considered a rebound.

BKWY = Breakaway: a player has to have a completely unencumbered shot at the net. If there is a defender hanging off their back, the chance will be labelled ‘RUSH’.

Other types of chances may crop up over the course of the season – a penalty shot being one – but these were all the types necessary to do my first game of scoring chance types. Hopefully, after a much larger number of games, we’ll have some good info on the types of chances the Leafs have been giving up, and be able to identify trends in individual performances – particularly goalies and rebounds.

Scoring Chances for NHL Game Number 20286