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Big-game goal scoring

Print | Comments () Posted by Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff May 29, 2009 04:31 PM

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Been fooling around with some numbers the last few days. Came up with this list, which you might find interesting.

In 2008-09, the Bruins had 10 players who scored 10 or more goals. Here is the list, in descending order, ranking the players in terms of goals scored against teams that qualified for the playoffs. Milan Lucic was the leader, scoring 58.8 percent of his goals against clubs that made the postseason.

1. Milan Lucic, 58.8 percent (10 vs. playoff teams, 7 vs. non-playoff teams)
2. Mark Recchi, 56.5 percent (13, 7)
3. Marc Savard, 52 percent (13, 12)
4. David Krejci, 50 percent (11, 11)
5. Chuck Kobasew, 47.6 percent (10, 11)
6. Dennis Wideman, 46.1 percent (6, 7)
7. Michael Ryder, 44.4 percent (12, 15)
8. Blake Wheeler, 42.9 percent (9, 12)
9. Zdeno Chara, 42.1 percent (8, 11)
10. Phil Kessel, 19.4 percent (7, 29)

ANALYSIS: That Kessel number was surprisingly low. Kessel was tied with Savard as the team leader with six playoff goals, indicating he didn't buckle under postseason pressure (with a bad shoulder, at that). But that low regular-season number is something the Bruins will consider as they proceed with contract negotiations.

tags Phil Kessel