San Jose Sharks

Difference Between ‘Good Hockey’ & ‘Winning Hockey’? (+)

Published

1 year ago

December 1, 2022

Sheng Peng

Credit: Hockey Shots/Dean Tait

OTTAWA – According to David Quinn, there’s a difference between “good hockey” and “winning hockey.”

“We play a lot of good hockey,” the San Jose Sharks bench boss said at the outset of this road trip, “we need to play winning hockey.”

The stats bear out Quinn’s argument, to some degree. Per Natural Stat Trick, the Sharks have a 50.82 Expected Goals % at 5-on-5, 14th-best in the NHL. Yet their record is just 8-14-4.

In fact, along with the Ottawa Senators, they’re one of just two teams in the top half of the league in xGF % at 5-on-5 to have a below .500 record.

So what’s the thin line between Quinn and more wins?

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