The Panthers and "blocked shots": too few or by design?

by Donny Rivette on Nov 16, 2011 8:29 PM EST in Florida Panthers News & Analysis

After closing out Tuesday night's 6-0 decimation in Dallas, one team-based stat on the box score screamed for attention: that of blocked shots (BkS), or rather in this case a lack of them by the Panthers. Granted, the Stars only succeeded in putting 25 pucks on-goal, but it's an extremely important defensive tactic that shouldn't be overlooked, even when your club is sitting relatively stable at 9-5-3.

Despite a mighty pounding concluded well before the final horn, the home team still managed to block an impressive 29 shots - defenseman Nicklas Grossman alone had five, only to be surpassed by Sheldon Souray's six. In total, 13 different Stars intentionally dropped to the ice at least once.

Florida's ironmen in the same category? Dmitry Kulikov and Ed Jovanovski had three apiece, followed up by forward Sean Bergenheim (one). And...yep, that's everyone. Seven blocks.

On a night when seemingly everything launched toward Kari Lehtonen squeaked past, such a low blocked-shot total could probably be forgiven, but still...hypothetically, those seven attempted shots could have found their way behind Scott Clemmensen had they not been blocked by Florida skaters, bringing us to an ugly 7-6 defeat. Again, a completely hypothetical situation, though certainly not impossible. Likely it's already been addressed, as such horrendously lopsided numbers would demand.

So where do the Cats stand among their NHL brothers in blocked-shots? Through Tuesday's games: 29th, with a total of 186 (or 2 better than 30th-ranked Detroit). Not so ironically, the league leader is Dallas with 303 (and now we know why). Full list here.

Perhaps more importantly, where do Florida's numbers land within the Southeast Division? Obviously fifth, but here's how the other four clubs have fared thus far in the category:

Carolina: 265 (18GP, 9th overall in BkS)
Tampa Bay: 253 (17GP, 13th)
Winnipeg: 232 (18GP, 20th)
Washington: 224 (16GP, 22nd)

Individual BkS leaders, league-wide:

Ladislav Smid, EDM: 56 (1st)
Brent Seabrook, CHI: 47 (2nd)
Brett Clark, TBL: 45 (3rd)

And the Panthers...

Mike Weaver: 26 (69th overall)
Jason Garrison: 22 (98th)
Brian Campbell: 20 (114th)

Anything to be inferred by the early numbers?

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Depends on what Dineen and the coaches have set up for a defensive philosophy

I have heard it said that some goalies play better when they are shelled and can get into a rhythm. Perhaps Theo and Clemmer (and Alien) want to see the ice more and don’t want their skaters interfering with their lines of sight by blocking shots.

It’d be interesting to hear what Dineen had to say about these numbers.

Unashamed Alex Burrows Fanboy, MN Wild Lover, and believer in the FLA Cats Blueprint

by JMarushin on Nov 16, 2011 8:37 PM EST reply actions

Some like a clear shooting lane to see the puck the whole way to the net

I’m putting here for reflection later on in the season…. #14 Tomas [Fleischmann] is getting a 40G season. FLASH COUNT: 7G/10A
by RPC on Sep 17, 2011 5:20 PM MDT
Find me on Twidduh And look at my Marmots

by Chris S Roberts on Nov 16, 2011 9:00 PM EST up reply actions

I think his philosophy is similar to DeBoer’s, which is to keep the shot opportunities to the outside where it’s easier for the goalies to stop them. Shot blocking is great and all, but if you can keep the puck from going in without skaters throwing themselves in front of pucks and getting hurt, all the better.

"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury

Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.

by John Beatty on Nov 17, 2011 8:39 AM EST up reply actions

No doubt the D is offensive-minded, maybe blocking shots just few to the wayside.

by Chris S Roberts on Nov 16, 2011 9:00 PM EST reply actions

We all respect a shot blocker's sacrifice...

But those injuries add up. If the defensive strategy is to let the goalie stop the long shots it could pay off in the long run. I’d rather the team gave up a long-bomb if it meant the D were better preserved for the long schedule.

by jimmyh71 on Nov 16, 2011 9:27 PM EST reply actions

Eh. Yea you don’t like a lot of shots getting through to your net, but I don’t think you can look at the block shots stat as a single entity. I’d be more interested to see total shots attempted in comparison to blocks. If they’re firing 40 times and 35 are getting to the net, that’s not so great. But if (like last night in Dallas) the other guys aren’t really getting chances and waiting until they get a clear lane to shoot, then the blocks will be low but that’s ok as long as they aren’t clean chances, which were basically non-existent last night. And those longer, bad angle shots, if I’m in net, I’d rather see it clean and have my defense take care of anyone looking for a rebound as opposed to trying to get in the way and block it themselves, which can only lead to tips and bounces and all kinds of fun.

On the other hand, when you’ve been playing like the Panthers have been with a shoot first, then shoot again mentality, there will be bodies and traffic in the way, so the other guys will have their share of blocks. It’s really just a game plan difference that (so far) hasn’t really hurt us.

by kSelvig on Nov 16, 2011 9:47 PM EST reply actions

What I’ve noticed in the first 17 games this season is that lanes are open for outside shots but the passing lanes have very active sticks between them. Sure, we give up a lot of shots per game but perhaps they’re not great quality shots. Also, rebounds have been controlled nicely by the defensemen in almost every game this season.

by eliran2 on Nov 16, 2011 10:19 PM EST reply actions

Speaking of blocked shots… I thought that I would mention that a 16 year old player named Kyle Fundytus passed away very recently blocking a shot. It hit him in the neck and he went into cardiac arrest. It’s pretty unreal that a young kid gave his life on the ice for his teammates, for this game. RIP.

by lipsonjeff on Nov 17, 2011 1:20 AM EST reply actions

Indeed. Tragic.

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Nov 17, 2011 3:26 PM EST up reply actions

As a player, I love to block shots because I feel like it’s something I can contribute to the game if I’m not playing great offensively, but I can say that a lot of goalies that I’ve played with have told me to let them see the shots and not try to do too much. Depending on how Tallas, Murphy, and Dineen are looking at it along with the goaltenders it may very well be that the defense is being coached to let the goalies see the shots.

Hockey is a business, only we fans love it as a game.

by JDMorris on Nov 17, 2011 9:20 AM EST reply actions

Something I don’t see anyone saying here is, when a player goes down to block a shit (not just kneeling but tries a full slide), he essentially takes himself out of the play. He’s committed, over committed, himself to that one play, where as the shooter could decide to pass the puck instead. Not only do goalies not like having their sight lines blocked, but a lot of coaches don’t like their players taking themselves out of a play.

by MrOmnipotent on Nov 17, 2011 9:31 AM EST reply actions