Tracking every puck-possession event, and breaking them down by zone not only allows us to quantify player performances, it also allows us to see where these plays are taking place.
PERCENTAGE OF EVENTS WITH PUCK-POSSESSION BY ZONE
The first two graphs are visual representations of the percentage of total puck-possession events occurring in each zone. Puck-possession events are defined as those events that occur when a Montreal Canadiens player has the puck on their stick. They include; passes, dekes, shots, dump-ins, dump-outs, etc. The obvious goal is to have a high percentage of puck-possession events occurring in the offensive-zone.
As we can see when we compare this season to last year, Montreal has shifted a percentage of puck-possession events from the neutral-zone to the offensive-zone. Thirty-nine percent of their events with possession are now occurring in the offensive-zone; compared to 37% in 2011-12.
2011-12
* the totals listed here were not rounded up; d-zone events are actually 41%
2013
PERCENTAGE OF DEFENSIVE-ZONE EVENTS BY ZONE
The next two graphs are visual representations of the percentage of defensive-events taking place in each zone.
At one point in time, almost every coach mentions how much easier it is to play when the puck is 200 feet from your own net. Tracking the number of defensive events taking place in each zone allows us to quantify just that. Defensive-events are defined as those plays taking place when the opposition, or neither team has possession of the puck. Those events include; loose-puck recoveries, puck-battles, blocked shots, blocked passes, etc.
Montreal has done an impressive job of shifting their defensive-events from the defensive to the offensive-zone. They have lowered the amount of defensive events in the defensive-zone by 3%, while increasing the amount of defensive-events in the offensive-zone by 4%. This is the result of a team much more active on the forecheck.
Expressed simply, this year's team is spending more time attempting to remove or acquire puck-possession in the offensive-zone, and less time defending in the defensive-zone than than last year's team.
2011-12
2013
PERCENTAGE OF EVENTS WITH POSSESSION VS DEFENSIVE-EVENTS
The final two graphs are visual representations of the percentage of total events occurring with, or without possession.
Incredibly, the percentage of events occurring with possession vs those occurring without possession are exactly the same. This would indicate that the percentage of possession vs non-possession events is far less important than where those events take place. Maybe those coaches do know what they're talking about.
2011-12
2013
