Isles PK still in historic position (and that's not a good thing)

The Isles have struggled on the penalty kill all season, and after allowing PP goals in 9 of the last 11 games, the Isles again find themselves with the worst penalty kill in the NHL.

The Isles have allowed 41 goals in 149 times short, for a 72.5% penalty kill, slightly worse than Buffalo (73.5%) and Philadelphia (75.7%).

No team in the last 20 years has functioned at that low of a rate; The 1993-94 Ottawa Senators killed 73.4% and the Isles are currently behind the Senators' pace.

Other teams prior to 1993-94 have been lower, with the worst being the 1979-80 Los Angeles Kings (67.7%). 

Worst Isles penalty killing

2014-15  72.5%

1988-89  73.6%

1972-73  75.9%

1973-74  76.0%

2009-10  76.3%

The Isles have never made the playoffs in a season in which they killed fewer than 76.5 of opponent power plays.

Their home penalty-kill is even worse.

The Isles PK is last in the league at home (69.2%) -- no one else is lower than 75.3% . The last team to finish under 70% at home was the 2008-09 Toronto Maple Leafs (69.4%).

One thing in the Isles' favor -- they have been shorthanded only 149 times -- which projects to 226 over 82 games, which would be the fewest in a full season in their history.  Only Calgary, Carolina and Chicago have been shorthanded less frequently than the Isles this season. 

The Isles are towards the top of the NHL in PP opportunities as well (188), yet have scored four fewer power play goals than they have allowed.  Their +39 differential is amongst the tops in the NHL.

 

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick