Breaking Down The 2023-24 Canucks Shooting And Goal-Scoring With NHL EDGE 35 Games In

It is safe to say the Vancouver Canucks offence has made the most of their opportunities this season. At the holiday break, they rank first in goals with 135 and are on pace for 316, which would be the fourth-highest goal total in the NHL since 2000-01. Here is a look at their shooting and goal-scoring trends through 35 games using the NHL's newest tool, NHL EDGE. 

Starting with shots, the Canucks have been very good this season at creating chances from high-danger areas. According to NHL EDGE, Vancouver has recorded 284 high-danger shots, which is the only location they are above the league average. As for the rest, they recorded 271 mid-range shots and 203 long-range shots, which are four under the league average. 

So what does this mean? Essentially, the Canucks are being selective of where they take shots from. Instead of shooting the puck from the point or sides which have a lower chance of resulting in a goal, they are driving the net and creating opportunities from as close to the crease as possible. They are also doing a great job at screening goaltenders and getting sticks in position to tip or deflect shots into the net. The good news is that this style of play is sustainable for the rest of the season and often is the most successful in the postseason. 

As for Vancouver's goal scoring, it follows a similar trend to the shot chart. The majority of the Canucks goals this season fall under the high-danger category, hitting the 35-game mark with 78 high-danger goals. This puts Vancouver in the 99th percentile, as they have recorded 23 more high-danger goals than the league average so far this season. They also rank in the 68th percentile in mid-range goals with 32 and the 67th percentile in long-range shots with seven. 

When looking at these statistics, the big number that stands out is the Canucks high-danger shooting percentage. So far this season, Vancouver ranks in the 99th percentile regarding shooting percentage at 27.5%. For comparison, the league average is 20.3%. They also rank near the top of the league in mid-range goals (73rd percentile) and long-range goals (75th percentile). These statistics are another indicator of just how efficient the Canucks offence has been this season, as they are making the most of their opportunities from all over the ice. 

While most discussion surrounding Vancouver revolves around potential regression, they actually became more efficient since the 25-game mark. Their shooting percentage rose from 13.3% to 13.8%, and they averaged 3.9 goals over the past ten games. While it is more than likely, they will go through a dry patch eventually during the year, especially if they do not increase their shot volume, the Canucks continue to be one of the most dangerous teams in the NHL as the calendar flips to 2024.