The Chicago Blackhawks rank in the top 10 in the NHL in 5-on-5 shot attempts percentage (52.52; 10th) and shot attempts (25). They are top three in points per 60 minutes (11.17; 2nd), goals per 60 (4.24; 3rd) and assists per 60 (6.93; 3rd). Part of their offensive resurgence can be attributed to center Jonathan Toews, who is playing at a 1.8 points-per game pace (NHL career average, 0.86). Toews could maintain this level of production if his NHL career-low shooting percentage from last season (9.5) reverts to his career average (14.2) or stays above it (26.3 entering Thursday). Another statistic to consider when projecting the Blackhawks bounce-back potential is that they have given up the 12th most 5-on-5 goals-against (12). The Blackhawks will get a boost at even-strength when starting goaltender Corey Crawford (concussion), who ranks tied for seventh in the NHL with Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals in even-strength save percentage (.927; minimum 300 games) since 2010-11, returns to the lineup.
The Ottawa Senatorsrank in the top six in goals for (24; T-3rd) and against (22; T-6th). The Senators have four defensemen in the top 11 in NHL points per 60 (Thomas Chabot, Maxime Lajoie, Dylan DeMelo,
Christian Jaros
) a feat that may surprise some after two-time Norris trophy winner Erik Karlsson was traded to the San Jose Sharks on Sept. 13. Ottawa's defensemen have combined for nine goals, 37.5 percent of their total (24), the highest in the NHL. The Senators have allowed five power-play goals (T-8th) despite Craig Anderson being among the top five goalies in penalty kill save percentage (.902; minimum four games). Anderson also ranks ninth among goalies in even-strength save percentage (.928). If the Senators continue to get above league average goaltending from Anderson, it could help offset their unsustainable shooting percentage (14.9 percent; 2nd in NHL). Over the past six seasons no team has finished with a shooting percentage better than 10.8 (Tampa Bay Lighting, 2017-18). The Senators have a league-high 10 skaters shooting above 15 percent, a number that likely will regress closer to their total from last season (two skaters; minimum 25 games).
The Montreal Canadiens rank sixth in shot attempts (47) and seventh in shot attempts percentage (53.78). Part of their positive possession metrics can be explained by allowing the fifth fewest shots per game in the NHL (26.3), better than the 32.3 per game they allowed in 2017-18. If the Canadiens are to maintain their 49-win pace, they'll need goaltender Carey Price, who had an NHL career-low .900 save percentage last season, to play closer to his career average (.918). Price is 2-1-1 with a .912 save percentage through four games and backup Antti Niemi is 2-0-0 although he has a worse save percentage (.893). The Canadiens are benefitting from suppressing opposing teams' shots but will need their team save percentage (.905) to be closer to their 2016-17 average (.918), the last time they qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
