NHL Goal Scoring Rises Early in the Season

Wild Scores and Sloppy Play

The NHL is off to its earliest start in history, and the scoreboard is lighting up. Fans have already seen wild games like Vancouver and Edmonton playing to 9-7 and 6-5 finishes. Pittsburgh also shut out Philadelphia 7-0, while Colorado beat Los Angeles 8-4.

Coaches and players agree that the play has been a bit loose. New York Islanders coach Peter DeBoer noted that the high number of goals shows there is still some loose hockey on the ice. Goaltenders are struggling to keep the puck out of the net, with the league average save percentage sitting at .890.

The Impact of Shorter Camps

This season features shorter training camps and fewer exhibition games. That has left coaches with less time to teach defensive systems and special teams. Still, some teams are finding quick success. Utah's team leads the league on the power play, clicking at 61.5 percent.

Utah player Dylan Guenther, who leads the league with six power play points, suggested that teams had less time to practice special teams. He added that his team put a big emphasis on it during camp. Guenther also welcomed the change, saying he is not going to complain about having a shorter camp.

New Jersey defenseman Brenden Dillon pointed out that the high skill level in the league makes defensive mistakes costly. Dillon said that all it takes is one stick in the wrong spot for teams to make you pay.

Adjusting to the New Normal

Devils coach Sheldon Keefe explained that coaches must prioritize a few key areas in a short camp and build from there. This has led to some lopsided results, with 22 games already decided by three or more goals.

Some teams are looking to capitalize on the early chaos. New York Islanders player Kyle Palmieri said his team talked about taking advantage of the sloppy play across the league by staying disciplined.

While coaches might want more time to fix errors, players seem happy with the shorter preseason. Utah coach Andre Tourigny summed up the early season by saying no team is perfect at this point.