Trying on the Tampa Bay Lightning’s early-season transition microstats with zone entries and zone exits, it’s honest to say the group has some work to do. Earlier than the season, followers knew this Lightning squad would look a lot totally different in comparison with earlier seasons. With a document of 7-6-1, they’ll look to interrupt away from the center of the pack within the standings because the season progresses.
Associated: Lightning Strikes: McDonagh, Cooper, Gretzky & Extra
Now that I’ve coated zone entries and exits, what about one other under-covered sector in hockey? Passing stats are restricted to assists within the public sphere, and the NHL doesn’t present any extra information. Right here’s a have a look at how the Lightning have executed with passing stats this season.
Microstats Monitoring Challenge Background
I plan to hand-track microstats for the Lightning all through the 2024-25 season. This dataset will embody information factors similar to passes, zone entries, and extra stats the NHL doesn’t cowl. I’ll proceed to share my findings all through the season, so keep tuned for updates.
Passing is an undervalued sector of study for a wide range of causes. To start out, pictures that spring instantly from a passing play have a greater conversion price in opposition to goaltenders resulting from pre-shot goalie motion. Furthermore, passes from behind the aim line and throughout the crease additionally improve the chances of scoring. I’ve coated 4 full video games at five-on-five for the Lightning this season (Oct. 11, Oct. 15, Oct. 19, Oct. 22). With that, who’s been simplest at exiting the zone in 2024-25?
Passing Evaluation: General Workforce
When analyzing passing stats, gamers who make the ultimate move earlier than a shot on aim present probably the most passing worth to their teammates. Their capability to make use of time and area to search out teammates for the very best quality shot on the web isn’t coated sufficient across the NHL. Surprisingly, Brayden Level leads the group in major shot assists this season with seven, adopted by Victor Hedman and Conor Geekie with 5.
The Lightning should transfer the puck across the zone extra continuously earlier than their shot makes an attempt to get the protection and goaltender out of place. What are some totally different passing types to generate these scoring possibilities?
Passing Evaluation: Particular person Highlight
There are two frequent passing archetypes within the NHL. As I discussed in the zone entries article, no two gamers generate offense the identical approach. The 2 totally different types are a quality-over-quantity strategy and a possession-driven passing type.
High quality Over Amount
Gamers who search for high quality over amount with their passes are likely to play with extra danger, firing cross-slot seam and goal-line passes, even when there’s an opportunity it will get picked off. These gamers look to search out that high-danger play, using your complete offensive zone to get the goaltender out of place earlier than the shot. Gamers like Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel have perfected this talent and may execute no-look passing performs from behind the online. Moreover, they’ll additionally idiot your complete rink and switch a shot try right into a harmful cross-slot move. Kucherov and Guentzel are tied for first on the group with 5 high-danger passes (passes to the slot plus cross-slot passes plus goal-line passes).
Possession Drivers
Alternatively, some gamers will play a less-risky type and management the perimeter of the offensive zone, counting on their defensemen activating on the blue line for shot makes an attempt from vary. These gamers usually have strong possession metrics like Corsi for proportion (CF%). Extra instances than not, backside six forwards will play this low-risk, perimeter recreation whereas the elite offensive skills exploit defenses by means of riskier passing performs. These possession drivers will make the most of level passes and middle lane feeds to generate scoring possibilities. Nick Paul, Anthony Cirelli, and Mitchell Chaffee are the Lightning’s perimeter, possession-driving passers within the offensive zone.
Tampa Bay Wants Extra Passing Performs Earlier than Pictures
Whereas all this info is crucial, it’s essential to notice that the pattern dimension stays small. The ultimate dataset could have roughly 5 instances the video games tracked already, and a bigger pattern dimension will permit us to make extra correct conclusions about gamers. However, the Lightning must generate extra shot makes an attempt instantly off performs with a number of passes. This technique will get the opposing protection and goaltender out of place. The Lightning face the powerhouse Winnipeg Jets on house ice Thursday evening (Nov. 14) at Amalie Area.
