The NHL averaged 5.9 total goals per game in the opening month of the regular season, just a slight dip from the 6.0 average through October last season.
This season's average is up from the 5.7 goals per game the league posted in October 2007, which was the lowest tally since the lockout.
See below, as per the NHL, total goals per game in the month of October since the lockout (figures include the shootout tiebreaker goals):
2009-10: 5.9
2008-09: 6.0
2007-08: 5.7
2006-07: 6.0
2005-06: 6.5
All of which is way up from the 5.1 total goals per game the NHL averaged for the entire 2003-04 season, the last year before the lockout.
After a massive influx of rule changes meant to open up the game, it was expected that the first post-lockout season would be the most offensive, players having to adjust to the crackdown on obstruction, taking more penalties because of it, and resulting in more power plays. Coaches also adjusted, eventually realizing a 1-2-2 system can still work in the new NHL even without the clutch and grab.
The fear in 2007-08, as I recall, was the league was headed back down the path to pre-lockout goal totals. But as you can see from last season and this year in October, the trends are back up.
Now if we can only get the darn goalie equipment issue figured out, then we'd really be talking. But that's a blog for another day.
Pierre LeBrun
