By the numbers: Game 45 vs. Toronto

Scoring Chances

San Jose

Even Strength Scoring Chance Save Percentage: 100%

Toronto

Even Strength Scoring Chance Save Percentage: 87.5%

Period-by-Period Summary

Although all Shark players other than James Sheppard managed positive scoring chance differentials last night, the biggest props need to go to the Sharks' second line, as Karlsson, Couture, and Pavelski all had fantastic scoring chance numbers (Couture especially, being on the ice for zero scoring chances against). I think what stands out to me the most though is Tyler Kennedy's numbers compared to those of his linemates. Somehow, in very little additional icetime away from Hertl and McGinn, he managed to be on the ice for two more "scoring chances for" than Hertl was on the ice for, and one less "scoring chance against" than McGinn was on the ice for. Funny how shift lengths can lead to differences like that between linemates.

If you're trying to figure out why the numbers are so lopsided in this game, a good place to start is looking at the numbers posted by Toronto's top line and D-pairing. Plenty of criticism has been pointed at Toronto's top players over the last few years, and you definitely get a sense of why that is, looking at these numbers. While I think there are certainly explanations for these numbers (Phaneuf having to play with Pollak, Kessel/JVR having to play with Bozak), the fact remains that when your top players are posting numbers as bad as Kessel, Phaneuf, and the rest of Toronto's top players did in this game, your team is not going to experience much success.

Zone Entries

San Jose

Toronto

The Sharks had a pretty decent game on entries last night, with Marleau, Couture, and Kennedy not only managing a lot of entry attempts, but also carrying the puck in quite a bit and generating a lot of shot attempts off of their entries. Nieto and Sheppard led the team in carry-in percentage, though they put up basically opposite shot attempts/entry numbers, with Nieto having pretty low numbers there, and Sheppard having very good numbers.

Toronto's one big success in this game was their work through the neutral zone, as they just about managed to match San Jose's numbers in every category other than carry-in percentage, where they led San Jose. Their high carry-in percentage came courtesy of Van Riemsdyk, Bozak, Kadri, Gardiner and Kessel, who all managed very good numbers. Although he didn't contribute too many entries to his team, Rielly managed very good numbers, carrying the puck in twice on two entry attempts, showing the puck moving skills that made him the fifth overall pick in the 2012 draft.

Entry Targeting

San Jose

Toronto

While it's notable that Burns and Tennyson both had rare good games defending against opposition zone entry attempts, I think it's far more notable that Vlasic had a very rare terrible game, as he allowed Toronto to carry the puck in five times on their five entry attempts against him. Also odd is the fact that San Jose denied Toronto zero times on their entry attempts, with all of Toronto's failed entry attempts coming due to offside plays.

Morgan Rielly had quite the game for Toronto, not only entering the offensive zone quite well, but also defending against San Jose's entry attempts with success as well. The same cannot be said for Franson and Phaneuf, who allowed the Sharks to enter the offensive zone with control of the puck on the majority of their entry attempts against those two. Then there's Jake Gardiner. I will say, I'm a fan of Gardiner's, and I feel he's not quite hit his full potential yet, but I'd be lying if I said he's had a great season so far, with these numbers really showing part of why. If I had to venture a guess, I'd be pretty confident guessing that he doesn't usually allow the opposition to gain the blue line with control of the puck 90% of the time, but still, real ugly game last night for him.

Zone Exits

San Jose

Toronto

While players like Couture and Kennedy had good nights on zone exits, I'd like to specifically point out Wingels' numbers. Not only did he manage five successful zone exits, but he did so while turning the puck over zero times, which is a pretty big deal given how prone San Jose generally is to turning the puck over on their zone exit attempts. Hertl also had another decent game on zone exits, as his move to center really seems to be helping out his zone exit numbers.

Mike Santorelli was similar to Wingels in this game, as he also turned the puck over zero times in the defensive zone, but he didn't manage as many zone exits as Wingels. Toronto's most impressive zone exiters were Van Riemsdyk, Bozak and Kadri, as they all managed four or more successful breakouts, though their turnover numbers were pretty high. Also worth noting that first pairing defenseman Roman Pollak turned the puck over six times while exiting the zone last night, resulting in him posting a 50% turnover rate which obviously isn't very good for any defenseman, let alone one playing on your top D-pair.

Notes:

-Sharks dominated on scoring chances, with Couture's line leading the way

-Toronto's top line and D-pairing got smashed at evens, as they put up very below average scoring chance differentials

-Sheppard had a good game on zone exits, carrying the puck in two times on his two zone entries

-Rielly also carried the puck in twice on two attempts, though numbers put up by teammates like Van Riemsdyk somewhat overshadow Rielly's

-Vlasic allowed five carry-ins against on five Toronto entry attempts against him

-Gardiner allowed nine carry-ins against on ten San Jose entry attempts against him

-Wingels had a 0% turnover rate on zone exits

--Santorelli also had a 0% turnover rate, while Pollak had a 50% turnover rate