why is the PK so much better?

[mjd1001]

Why is the PK so much better this year? Except for one single aspect, its not.

 

Last year (per 2 minutes PK 4 on 5):

-1.68 shots allowed, 0.24 expected goals allowed, 1.70 scoring chances allowed, 0.71 high danger chances allowed.

This year (per 2 minutes PK):

-1.86 shots allowed, 0.28 expected goals allowed, 2.05 scoring chances allowed, 0.80 high danger chances allowed.

So far per PK, this years PK is allowing more shots, more 'expected goals', more 'scoring chances' and more 'high danger chances' (better quality shots from the prime scoring areas.  In every metric that can be measured, the PK is kinda the same as last year, but slightly worse in all those areas.

Why are they the top rated PK then? The goalies.

Last year:  .830 saves percentage short handed

This year: .943 save percentage short handed.

So again, the PK "looks" better this year but the numbers show the skaters aren't really playing much different. They are allowing the same (or more) number of shots. Same (or more) shots from the prime scoring areas.  What we think of as 'good PK' is really just the goalies making a lot more saves than last year.

The good news...the goalies ARE better than last year on the PK. The bad news....its is unlikely their PK save percentage is going to stay at .943

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/teamreport.php?season=20242025&team=BUF&stype=2

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/teamreport.php?team=BUF

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20252026&thruseason=20252026&stype=2&sit=pk&score=all&stdoi=g&rate=n&team=BUF&pos=S&loc=B&toi=0&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410&lines=single&draftteam=ALL

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20252026&thruseason=20242025&stype=2&sit=pk&score=all&stdoi=g&rate=n&team=BUF&pos=S&loc=B&toi=0&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410&lines=single&draftteam=ALL

 

Edited 8 hours ago by mjd1001

[PerreaultForever]

It's also about goalies being able to see pucks and defending the net front area. Timmons and Samuelsson have been very good on the PK. 

[DarthEbriate]

At this time last year, Levi was being rushed, Reimer was with San Jose, and Luukkonen was fall flat after and solid previous season. 

This year, we have the veteran in the lineup and playing almost exclusively. The kid (Ellis) has played one “no one has video on me yet” game, and Luukkonen has had one good showing and one messy one. 

[shrader]

31 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

At this time last year, Levi was being rushed, Reimer was with San Jose, and Luukkonen was fall flat after and solid previous season. 

This year, we have the veteran in the lineup and playing almost exclusively. The kid (Ellis) has played one “no one has video on me yet” game, and Luukkonen has had one good showing and one messy one. 

Anaheim 

[Kristian]

Good goaltending makes everything look better. Buffalo fans, of all people, know this.

And ***** goaltending, makes everything look worse. Buffalo fans, of all people, know this.

Edited 8 minutes ago by Kristian