Minnesota Wild Statistics: The Good, Average and Downright Ugly

As playoff hopes slip away from the Minnesota Wild, we are left to wonder how we got here. Yes, injuries and sicknesses haven’t helped, but every team has to deal with problems. All you have to do is look at the stats to figure out how the Wild have found themselves last place in the division at the halfway point.

The Good

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31.6 – Shots per game – 5th best in NHL 

The Wild have had no problems getting shots on net. They’re usually ineffective, but hey, they’re shots.

26.8 – Shots against per game – 2nd best in NHL

Only one team allows less shots than the Wild. So they probably don’t give up many goals, right?

84.3% – Penalty kill – 8th best in NHL

Killing penalties has not been a problem. They’ve committed the 8th fewest, too.

15 – Goals from Jason Zucker – 29th most in NHL

Amidst all of the turmoil, Jason Zucker is having a breakout year.

23 – Assists from Jason Pominville – 27th most in NHL

Pominville hasn’t missed a game all year and is on pace for the 2nd most assists of his career.

The Average

2.74 – Goals per game – 15th in NHL

5th most shots in the league and only 15th in goals scored? Time to take better shots.

10-6-5 – Record at Xcel Energy Center – 15th in NHL

The crowds at the X have been great all year. The Wild’s play there, however, has been average.

-7 – Goal differential – 19th in NHL

Right where you’d expect with a below average record.

25 – Points from Thomas Vanek – T90th in NHL

He’s gotten better since an awful start, but we’d like to see more.

The Downright Ugly

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41 – Total Points through 40 games – 9th worst in NHL

At this rate, we’ll be talking about possible draft picks in May.

2.90 – Goals against – 7th worst in NHL

2nd fewest shots allowed and 7th most goals against? That adds up to bad goaltending.

.892 – Save Percentage – 2nd worst in NHL

You just can’t expect to win with a save percentage this low.

15% – Power Play Percentage – 7th worst in NHL

It has gotten much better lately, but it couldn’t have gotten any worse.

18 – Points from Charlie Coyle – 204th in NHL

Rough start to the season after a 5 year extension.

.902 – Darcy Kuemper‘s Save Percentage – 34th among goalies in NHL

It seems Kuemper either has an exceptional start or gets pulled. Very inconsistent at a position where consistency is all that matters.

.893 – Niklas Backstrom‘s Save Percentage – T39th among goalies in NHL

As bad as Kuemper has been, Backstrom has been worse.

2-5-3 – Record last 10 games – 7th worst in NHL

The Wild are going the wrong way at a do-or-die time of the year.

8-11-0 – Record on the Road – 7th worst in NHL

Leaving points on the road in 11 of 19 games is a big reason the Wild are where they are.

Jan 2, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo in the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Xcel Energy Center. The Minnesota Wild win 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports