Power Plays vs. Times Short

My trivia question earlier in the week inspired some questions -- unfortunately I wasn't able to find anyone who had a complete table together.

The information I use below is based on what's available on ESPN.com

It may make some of the conspiracy theorists on the list rest a little easier.

So for the 2000-01 to 2005-06 seasons:

Five teams have had more power plays that the opposition in each of the five seasons:

Carolina
Colorado
Minnesota
Ottawa
Tampa Bay

(three of these teams have won the Stanley Cup during these five seasons)

Five teams have had more times shorts than the opposition in each of the last five seasons:

Chicago
Florida
NY Islanders
NY Rangers
Washington

In terms of biggest power play difference (total power plays - total penalty kills)

Tampa has had the most power plays relative to their opponents= +270 (an average of 54 a season)

The remainder of the top 5:

Carolina 228
New Jersey 164
Buffalo 157
Minnesota 142

(again, three of the five have won the Cup in the last five seasons)


The bottom five is led by Florida. The Panthers have been short 272 times more than their opponents (an average of 54.4 per season) The Rangers and Blackhawks have each been shorthanded 268 times more than their opponents.

Washington is fourth, having been shorthanded 244 times more than their opponents, while Boston is fifth with 198.

The Islanders are tied with Phoenix for sixth, having been shorthanded 143 times more than their opponents.


Since Montreal and Toronto didn't come up in these lists, and people asked:

The Canadiens have had more pp's than their opponents in three of the last five seasons, and have had 94 power plays more than their opponents.

The Maple Leafs have had more pp's than their opponents only twice in the last five seasons, and have had 66 fewer power plays than their opponents.


The table below shows the entire league, in order of 5 year difference in power plays. The "more or less" column can be interpreted as "Seasons with more pp – Seasons with fewer pp – Seasons with pp total equal to opponent"

team Sum of PP diff More or less
Tampa Bay 270 5-0-0
Carolina 228 5-0-0
Minnesota 142 5-0-0
Ottawa 140 5-0-0
Colorado 85 5-0-0
Buffalo 157 4-1-0
Vancouver 82 4-1-0
Columbus 61 4-1-0
New Jersey 164 3-2-0
Nashville 134 3-2-0
Montreal 94 3-2-0
San Jose 89 3-2-0
Dallas 35 3-2-0
Edmonton 31 3-2-0
Atlanta 5 3-2-0
Calgary 46 3-1-1
Los Angeles 27 2-3-0
St. Louis -2 2-3-0
Philadelphia -23 2-3-0
Anaheim -32 2-3-0
Toronto -65 2-3-0
Pittsburgh -86 1-4-0
Phoenix -143 1-4-0
Boston -198 1-4-0
Detroit -46 1-3-1
NY Islanders -143 0-5-0
Washington -244 0-5-0
Chicago -268 0-5-0
NY Rangers -268 0-5-0
Florida -272 0-5-0
Grand Total 0

As for the current season (thru Friday):

Of the five teams that have had more pp's than their opponents in each of the last five years, three are a cinch to do so again :

Carolina +38
Colorado -3
Minnesota +30
Ottawa +16
Tampa Bay +65

Of the five that have had fewer pp's that their opponents in each of the last five years, three are a cinch to do it again.


Chicago -59
Florida -87
NY Islanders -92
NY Rangers +10
Washington -4

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of FSN statistician Eric Hornick. Eric, who has worked the Stanley Cup Finals four times, celebrated his 25th anniversary as the statistician on Islander home telecasts on January 21, 2007. Often referred to on-air as an actuary, he is one of 2,921 Fellows of the Casualty Actuarial Society and is the President-Elect of the Casualty Actuaries of Greater NY.You can find him in the "Best Seat in the House", about six feet to Howie and Billy's left, at most Islander home games.For more on the actuarial profession, visit www.beanactuary.org