Being first on the puck is an expression heard often around the game; even by those commentators who express their lack of interest in (or outright contempt toward) "advanced stats". That said, data-generated scouting can provide us with information about any one facet of a players performance; including loose-puck recoveries. LPR's are a direct reflection both a player's willingness and ability to be the first on the puck.
The graph included here is a visual representation of the number of offensive-zone loose-pucks each Montreal Canadiens player has recovered per-minute of even-strength ice-time. The black bar shows their season average, while the red bar shows their contribution over the last 10 games.
Only 7 of the 22 Habs players included here have recovered more offensive-zone loose-pucks per-minute over the last 10 games than their season average. As a team, Montreal has gone from recovering 0.342 o-zone loose-pucks per-minute to only 0.317 over the last 10 games. This drop in LPR's is the main reason for a drop in offensive-zone events, as the Habs have engaged in only 1.413 o-zone events per-minute over the last 10; compared to a season average of 1.533.
- Habs d-men have gone from 0.182 o-zone LPR's this season to 0.155 in the last 10.
- Habs wingers have gone from 0.469 o-zone LPR's this season to 0.444 in the last 10.
- Habs centremen have gone from 0.421 o-zone LPR's this season to 0.325 in the last 10.
SCORING CHANCES
Only 6 of the Habs 22 players included here have directly produced more scoring chances per-minute of even-strength ice-time over the last 10 games than their season average.
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