An exciting new analytical tool for media and fans (here). With the slogan "Know your team. Know the enemy"; the tool aims to simplify the analysis of advanced NHL statistics (courtesy natrualstattrick.com) with the assistance of data visualization. The visual, - data geeks call it a tornado or butterfly visualization - quickly draws the eye to differences between the teams, allowing the user to efficiently spot the anomalies and investigate the statistics further. The len

Its hard to believe teams that boast the point-man power of Roman Josi, P.K. Subban, Shea Weber and Jeff Petry have the worse power plays in the NHL. Yes, the Preds are ranked 2nd last (13.14%) and the Habs are dead last at 13.03% efficiency, i mean futility. This at a time when the average NHL power play is around 20%, which we haven't seen since the 1980s! So what do the underlying numbers say? Firstly, they say that the Habs power play is actually slightly better than t

The Habs are a much better team than last year, that's for sure. But how much better? Looking at the underlying numbers using the VERSUS Team Comparison Tool, we can pin-point some major differences in performance between last year's version of the Habs, and this years'. The overarching improvements have been overall 5v5 OFFENCE generation, and a better PK, which is off-set by a bad PP this year. A closer look reveals more specific details: 1️⃣ SHOOT % - is way up. Last y

John Tavares leaves and Barry Trotz arrives. What are the differences between last year's Islanders and this year's version? Using the VERSUS Team Comparison Tool, a few things come to the surface. 1️⃣ The OFFENCE generates at an almost identical rate and style. This is surprising given that a) JT is gone and b) the Isles have tightened up on the D-side of the puck (see point 2) 2️⃣ The DEFENCE is much much better. In the top tier of the NHL in suppression of High-Danger Ch

interactive data viz here

interactive data viz here

It's wonderful to see the NHL celebrate goals like it's 1989. Dead Puck Era Highlighted source viz at tableau public here