Through 16 games last season, Trevor Moore had 7 goals on 42 shots, giving him a 16% shooting rate. This season, he has just 2 goals on 40 shots—a 5% shooting rate. Neither rate is sustainable in the long run, and Moore's aim is to land somewhere in the middle. While another 30-goal season might be tough to reach, his main focus is just getting that scoring touch back.
“I’ll take them any way I can get them,” Moore said after his shorthanded goal against Columbus on Saturday. “But it feels good to beat a goalie - not just hitting an empty net. It just feels good.”
Kings coach Jim Hiller is hopeful that the goal can reset the trajectory of Moore's output, noting, “He had a great chance against Vancouver to tie it but hit the blocker or the shaft late in the third period. Last year, he scored 10 or 12 from the outside like that with his wrist shot. He’s had a lot of close shots that haven’t gone in, so it’s nice to see that one go. I hope it’ll help him keep shooting and find the net more.”
Despite Moore’s slow start, the Kings haven’t suffered much in the scoring department, thanks partly to a hot start from Alex Laferriere, who leads the team with 9 goals. With 54 goals in 16 games, the Kings are sixth in the NHL in scoring.
So what’s holding Moore back, if he’s getting similar shot volume as last year?
The difference may be in shot quality. At this point last season, Moore had 41 scoring chances and 19 high-danger chances, leading to 5.26 expected goals. This season, he’s registered only 27 scoring chances and 12 high-danger chances, resulting in 3.96 expected goals. Moore is also attempting fewer shots overall, down from 17.8 per 60 minutes last season to 12.5 this season.
While those stats shed some light on his struggles, history has shown that when it comes to goal scorers, their issues usually boil down to one thing: confidence. The relief on Moore’s face after his goal wasn’t just about ending the drought - it was about scoring the type of goal that highlighted his breakout last year. Moore and the Kings are hoping it’s a sign of things to come.