Mastodon
@Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins are 1st in xG%, are they unlucky or is there a bigger problem.



Penguins are 1st in xG%, are they unlucky or is there a bigger problem.

by ogsvg

23 Comments

  1. Mahler911

    Does this account for the fact that half of their shots are softballs lobbed into the goalie’s chest? Legitimately asking since I know nothing of FancyStats.

  2. sextoymagic

    I think it’s both. We are a good team but the results aren’t showing it. We could go on a massive win streak anytime. But we are bad defensively and goalies are failing us. Special teams coach is sinking us.

  3. IOGradThrowaway

    We’re also 28th in finishing and like 31st in PP%.

  4. jcdevries92

    We have the talent to be an offensive powerhouse, but we have a peewee level powerplay coach and nobody who screens the goalie to make the goalies job any amount of difficult.

  5. AIfieHitchcock

    When you are unlucky for 3 solid seasons, it’s no longer luck. They’ve been dominating in xG for years without payoff.

    It’s probably a good marker of exactly when the group stopped responding to the current unchanged system. The talent is there the method to convert it isn’t.

  6. Redeem_Deez

    High volume of shots + low quality of shots. A lot of shots look good on xG maps but the fact is that there are almost none that are screened. The Penguins are not THIS bad, but they need to make more offensive adjustments and start scoring greasy goals.

    ​

    Edit: that chart has Edmonton top-5 and genuinely good teams at middling ratings. Analytics, especially these public ones, weight shot volume way too fucking highly.

  7. theManWOFear

    Power play and goaltending stink. That’s enough to sink the best of teams. We really needed to goalies to play well this season. Old legs don’t last late into games and goalies really need to be solid down the stretch for us to have a chance.

  8. AnonPlzzzzzz

    1) The teams that are built by the GM don’t match the coaching style of a stubborn Mike Sullivan who is still coaching like it’s 2017 and refuses to change no matter the circumstances.

    2) Unreliable goaltending

    Those are the biggest problems.

    And every year they double down pretending those aren’t actually problems.

    So here we are.

    Pretty simple 🤷🏻‍♂️

  9. Euphoric__Dot

    It’s Jarry’s fault

    He hasn’t even scored a single goal all season

  10. What I’ve seen the past seasons is they want to set up “Harlem Globetrotter” plays and shot attempts. At least with Sid, Geno, Jake, Rust, the big guns. It’s like their skill level has them tied in knots, trying to make an extra pass, trying to set up the perfect lay up.

    I think many of the issues could be fixed if they take a “fire at will” strategy. Let the fancy stuff happen if there’s a place for it. Otherwise, shoot that shit.

  11. Ok_Coach608

    They might end up doing alright in the regular season but until they address net front presence (offense & defense) and the goalie they will never have a chance in the playoffs.

  12. PerfectCheesecake25

    They play like a soft ass no check beer league team

  13. heysmilinstrange

    It’s a small sample size for this season. I think they had similarly high numbers and poor results last season, though. I think it’s the coaching.

  14. They are a team designed to win the advanced stat contest but lose the real game. Why? They generate a high volume of shots but absolutely refuse to go to the crease and create havoc and block the goaltenders vision. Basically this is a soft team with lots of skill.

  15. That slapper from Geno DING off the crossbar says it all. Also the 8 or 7 times Sid got robbed says it all. And remember that bouncing puck for like 5 seconds that kept hitting players, sticks, posts, anything but bouncing in. Brutal luck.

    Also, way too many low quality and easy shots to save.

  16. JohnSpartans

    Our finishing has been one of the worst in the league for years. The trend continues.

  17. Manchu4-9INF

    I think they are playing great hockey. Out shooting every team we play really. A ton of our misses are off the bar or caught. Do other players need to step up? Absolutely. It’s like genius is the only guy shooting the puck.

  18. RaxZergling

    Been this way for awhile. Story of our lives and why I don’t enjoy watching hockey – the better team doesn’t always win.

  19. Bigger problem. Lack of finishing talent. Has been their Achilles heel for years. Doesn’t help that their goalie is trash and can’t make a timely save if his life depended on it.

  20. Topher-22

    We’re not great at actually scoring real goals. Shooting the puck from certain places on the ice is a great video game strategy.

    No one’s a threat to snipe a well placed shot.
    No one’s a menace in the crease.

    Also, Crosby looks noticeably worse this season with respect to puck control.

  21. Pens still try too much of the fancy crap with the extra/forced passes. Dumb all that down and put shots through when the opportunity is there rather than doing the Harlem globetrotter bs.

Write A Comment