Stanley Cup Final Preview: Stunning Numbers for Penguins, Sharks
Stunning Numbers is an occasional look at stats and figures from around the NHL
The Pittsburgh Penguins and the San Jose Sharks are going to battle for the Stanley Cup. Who are they? How did they get here?
A look at some of the numbers behind the conference champs”
3,160
The combined total of regular season, playoff, Olympic and world championship games played by Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau of the San Jose Sharks before playing in their first Stanley Cup Final game on Monday.
2
The age of Penguins goalie Matt Murray when Dainius Zubrus of the Sharks made his debut with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1996, which was also the year he was taken in the NHL Draft.
30
The total number of Canadian players on both teams’ active rosters – an important fact to know in Gary Bettman’s Plan To Attract Canadian Viewers To A Non-Canadian Playoff Season Through Canadian Players.
339
The number of power-play opportunities between the regular season and postseason for the Sharks, most for any team in the NHL this season. The Penguins, by comparison, had 325.
79
The number of power-play goals the Sharks have scored this season between the regular and playoff seasons.
84-1-2
The combined record of the Sharks and Penguins when leading after two periods in the regular season and postseason. San Jose had the two overtime losses in the first 82 games. Pittsburgh had the lone other loss, in the playoffs.
56
The number of games, out of 100 played, in which the Sharks have scored the first goal of the game, winning 45 of them. The Penguins have done it 46 times in 100 games, winning 39 times.
73.74
The Corsi +/- (shot attempts for/against, 5-on-5, score adjusted) of Chris Kunitz of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who has had one of the sneaky-great playoff performances of the season.
.847
The save percentage on high-danger scoring chances (score adjusted) for Matt Murray of the Penguins, in all situations, according to War On Ice. For Martin Jones, same scenario: .778.
4
The combined number of penalty minutes for captain Joe Pavelski and Sidney Crosby through 18 games apiece. Leading by example, obviously.
-145
The opening money line on the Pittsburgh Penguins via Bovada, who are slight favorites for the Stanley Cup Final.
33/1
The opening season odds to win the Stanley Cup for the San Jose Sharks. So congrats, someone, maybe. (The Penguins were 12-to-1).
