Welcome to the Puck Luck Analytics blog!
In a game where players can skate at 25mph and the puck can move at 100mph, puck luck has long been credited with influencing the outcome of hockey games. However, the world is collecting and analyzing more and more data and the hockey world is no exception. It is becoming possible to dig deeper and find additional explanations for events previously thought to be random in nature.
The hockey world began using shot based statistics, such as Corsi and Fenwick, a number of years ago which brought a new understanding of the impact individual players have on a game. Additional metrics have evolved that now encompass shot quality along with shot quantity as teams look for an edge and fans look to better understand the game. And this is just the beginning. The NHL is now implementing tracking technology that will track puck and player location throughout a game that will allow a whole new level of analysis and commentary.
I decided to start this blog to explore the game of hockey from the perspective of the data that it generates. I hope you find it interesting and that it brings a fresh perspective to some of hockey’s oldest debates.
As a starting point, I’m going to delve into the anatomy of a championship team.
What do you think? What are the characteristics of a Stanley Cup championship team? How can these characteristics be measured? Can we use the findings to predict the next Stanley Cup champion?
