By the Numbers: Looking ahead to the final quarter of the 2021-22 NHL regular season, which will hit after the fourth game played Saturday, March 19.
157 – Consecutive days this season that the “playoff line” in the Western Conference has had a difference of five points or fewer – equating to the entire 2021-22 season to date (i.e., the difference in points between Wild Card 2 and the first non-playoff team). That difference has been two points or fewer for all but one day since Feb. 14.
117 – On-pace point total for Oilers captain Connor McDavid (34-53—87 in 60 GP), which would be a career high. He can become the seventh player in NHL history to win the Art Ross Trophy at least four times (Wayne Gretzky: 10x; Mario Lemieux: 6x; Gordie Howe: 6x; Phil Esposito: 5x; Jaromir Jagr: 5x; and Stan Mikita: 4x).
98 – Number of points Predators captain Roman Josi is on pace for in 2021-22. Josi can become the sixth different defenseman in NHL history, and first since Hockey Hall of Fame member Brian Leetch (22-80—102 in 1991-92 w/ NYR), to record 98 or more points in a single season.
86 – Years since a Maple Leafs player was the NHL goals leader in consecutive campaigns (outright or tied), with Auston Matthews (45 G in 56 GP) in position to do so after claiming his first Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy in 2020-21. Charlie Conacher topped the League in goals for three straight seasons from 1933-34 to 1935-36 – after also leading in 1930-31 and 1931-32. The only other Toronto player to achieve the feat was Babe Dye (3 straight from 1920-21–1922-23).
78 – Percentage of goals scored at even strength in 2021-22 (4,630 of 5,960; regulation/OT goals only), tied with 2020-21 for the highest rate in nearly 50 years and for the second highest in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) behind 1972-73 (79%; 3,211 of 4,088 goals in 624 GP).
77 – Number of hat tricks to date in 2021-22, the most at this stage of a season in 25 years (1995-96: 90).
74 – Years since a Red Wings skater was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy (Jim McFadden in 1947-48).
65 – League-leading assist total for Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau (61 GP), a franchise record and 10 more than the next-closest players in 2021-22. To date, the highest a Florida player has ranked among the NHL’s assist leaders at the end of a season is tied for fourth (Viktor Kozlov: 53 in 1999-00). Huberdeau is on pace for the first 100-point season in Panthers history.
54 – On-pace goal total for Rangers forward Chris Kreider (40 G in 61 GP) in 2021-22, which would equal Jaromir Jagr (2005-06) for the single-season franchise record.
37 – Age of Stars forward Joe Pavelski (23-37—60 in 59 GP), who is on pace to become the first NHL player in more than a decade to record 80+ points in a season at age 37 or older (Teemu Selanne: 31-49—80 in 2010-11, 73 GP w/ ANA).
37 – Years since the same player on a Canadian-based club led the NHL in goals in consecutive seasons (outright or tied) – Wayne Gretzky had a four-season run with the Oilers from 1981-82 to 1984-85.
34 – Wins by the Panthers since Andrew Brunette was named interim head coach Oct. 29, 2021. Currently No. 1 in the East, Florida can become the first NHL team to finish first place in a conference after an in-season head coach change.
32 – Wins by Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who can become the first goaltender in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) – and third in League history – to at least share the NHL lead in wins in five consecutive seasons (having done so from 2017-18 to 2020-21). Only Clint Benedict (6; 1918-19 to 1923-24) and Terry Sawchuk (5; 1950-51 to 1954-55) have had a run of that length.
28 – Number of years since the Flames have featured four players with at least 30 goals in a single season, with Matthew Tkachuk (28 in 60 GP) and Johnny Gaudreau (27 in 60 GP) looking to join Elias Lindholm (30 in 60 GP) and Andrew Mangiapane (30 in 60 GP). Theo Fleury, Robert Reichel, Gary Roberts and Joe Nieuwendyk all hit the mark in 1993-94.
20 – Number of different players in NHL history to score 60+ goals in one regular season, with AustonMatthews (45 G in 56 GP) on pace to join that list in 2021-22. Matthews (San Ramon, Calif.) enters the final quarter needing 10 goals to equal the single-season record for goals by a U.S.-born player – Jimmy Carson (Southfield, Mich.) had 55 with the Kings in 1987-88 and was later equaled by Kevin Stevens (Brockton, Mass.) with the Penguins in 1992-93. Matthews also can become the first U.S.-born player to top the NHL in goals more than once.
16 – Number of players on pace for 40+ goals in 2021-22, a feat last seen 26 years ago (1995-96: 18).
16 – Years since Darryl Sutter guided the Flames to first place in the Northwest Division in 2005-06. To date, the longest span between first-place finishes in a division by an NHL head coach with one franchise is 12 years (Jacques Lemaire with NJD: 1997-98 and 2009-10, 1st in Atlantic).
9 – League-leading shutout total by Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom, one shy of the franchise mark set by Miikka Kiprusoff (10 in 2005-06). Only five goaltenders in the last 15 years have recorded 10 or more shutouts in a single season: Marc-Andre Fleury (10 in 2014-15), Jonathan Quick (10 in 2011-12), Henrik Lundqvist (11 in 2010-11 & 10 in 2007-08), Steve Mason (10 in 2008-09) and Martin Brodeur (12 in 2006-07).
7 – Instances of a team winning the Presidents’ Trophy in consecutive seasons. Three of those teams won the Stanley Cup after winning their second straight Presidents’ Trophy (EDM in 1987; CGY in 1989; DAL in 1999).
6.2 – Goals-per-game rate to date in 2021-22. Only one of the past 24 seasons have ended with scoring at that rate or higher (2005-06: 6.2).
6 – Players in NHL history to record their first career 50-goal season at age 30 or older. Rangers forward Chris Kreider (age 30) is on pace to join Johnny Bucyk (1970-71), Joe Mullen (1988-89), Vic Hadfield (1971-72), Jean Pronovost (1975-76), Bernie Geoffrion (1960-61) and Lanny McDonald (1982-83).
6 – Number of players on pace for 100+ points in 2021-22, a feat seen once in the past 14 years (2018-19: 6).
5 – Number of rookies on pace to accumulate at least 50 points in 2021-22: Michael Bunting (TOR), Lucas Raymond (DET), Trevor Zegras (ANA), Moritz Seider (DET) and Anton Lundell (FLA). Since 1994-95, only two seasons have seen as many rookies hit the mark (2017-18: 7; 2005-06: 5).
5 – Games required by Coyotes forward Phil Kessel to surpass Doug Jarvis (964) for sole possession of the second-longest “Ironman” streak in NHL history. Kessel is set to skate in his 965th consecutive regular-season game March 27 in Winnipeg.
4 – Number of different defensemen in the past 27 years that have scored 25+ goals in a season, with CaleMakar (21 G in 57 GP) on track to join that list in 2021-22 (current pace: 29 goals). He enters March 18 needing two goals to equal a franchise record for a defenseman.
4 – Number of U.S.-born players among the top 10 in goals in 2021-22 (Auston Matthews, Chris Kreider, Kyle Connor and Alex DeBrincat). Only two seasons in NHL history have ended with at least four U.S.-born players among the top 10 highest goal totals: 2016-17 (5; Matthews, Max Pacioretty, Cam Atkinson, Patrick Kane and Anders Lee) and 1991-92 (4; Kevin Stevens, Jeremy Roenick, Pat LaFontaine and JoeMullen).
2 – Number of Bruins in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) who have led rookie goaltenders in wins at the end of a season (outright or tied) – Jeremy Swayman (17 W in 29 GP) can join Blaine Lacher (1994-95) and Andrew Raycroft (2003-04).
1 – Number of goaltenders who have ended an NHL season with a save percentage of .939 or higher since 1955-56 when shots on goal were officially tracked (min. 40 GP), with Rangers netminder Igor Shesterkin (.938 SV% in 40 GP) aiming to join Jacques Plante (.944 SV% in 1970-71, 40 GP) on that list.
