Detroit Red Wings key statistics

NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 31 teams from Nov. 16-Dec. 16. Today, three key statistics for the Detroit Red Wings.

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1. Goals per game

The Red Wings were last in the NHL in goals (2.00) and allowed the most goals per game (3.73) last season. They scored the fewest 5-on-5 goals (91) and were tied with the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks for third-fewest at 5-on-4 (27). Detroit had 17 losses in regulation when scoring first, the most in the NHL, and a League-high nine when leading after the first period. Forward
Anthony Mantha
led the Red Wings in points per game (0.88) despite missing 28 games with multiple injuries and should help Detroit improve its scoring this season if he's fully healthy.

2. Shot attempts percentage

Detroit was last with a shot attempts percentage of 46.0 percent and was out-attempted 3,166 to 2,697. Mantha led the Red Wings with a plus-83 SAT differential in 43 games, and center Dylan Larkin was second at plus-10 playing all 71 games. Mantha and Larkin skate on the top line, and if each can play a full season it's safe to project Detroit with a better SAT percentage. They were the only two skaters on the Red Wings who were positive in SAT differential, and the top line will be relied on heavily to generate shot attempts.

3. Penalty-kill percentage

The Red Wings were last with a penalty-kill percentage of 74.3 percent and allowed the most goals by opposing power plays (58) last season. Detroit was shorthanded an average of 3.18 times per game, eighth in the NHL. Goalie
Jimmy Howard
, who is an unrestricted free agent, had the second-lowest save percentage (.817) on the kill behind Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators (.780) among those to play at least 20 games. Thomas Greiss, who signed a two-year contract with the Red Wings on Oct. 11, had an .851 save percentage while shorthanded for the New York Islanders last season. He should help the Red Wings improve their penalty-kill percentage.