Thread by @WheatNOil

Oilers 5x5 Goals Against / 60 minutes

Lagesson: 0.7
Bear: 2.3
Russell: 2.4
Bouchard: 2.4
Larsson: 2.8
Nurse: 3.1
Barrie: 3.4
Jones: 3.7
Koekkoek: 3.8

Oilers 5x5 EXPECTED Goals Against / 60 minutes

Lagesson: 1.7
Jones: 2.1
Larsson: 2.2
Russell: 2.2
Bear: 2.3
Bouchard: 2.5
Nurse: 2.6
Koekkoek: 2.7
Barrie: 2.8

Oilers 5x5 on-ice save percentage:

Lagesson: .967
Bouchard: .935
Russell: .925
Bear: .924
Nurse: .916
Barrie: .912
Koekkoek: .898
Larsson: .896
Jones: .861

Goals against are only one side of the ledger but if we focus on that for a moment:

Jones has been getting lit up in goals against, which probably put him in Tippett’s ‘not good’ books. But that’s not because he’s giving up a lot of quality. The goalies aren’t making the save.

Now, we can argue that Jones defensive play is contributing to that but let’s be clear: .861 is a REALLY low save percentage. That’s not going to last. It will likely regress to a more normal number. Sure as Lagesson’s will drop from .967 (more on him in a moment).

Now, the other half of the ledger: Jones’ goals for and expected goals for are pretty good. So there’s no problem on that side of the ice.

He’s getting doused by save percentage. It won’t last. It’ll improve.

Now, Lagesson.

Small sample size and sure he’s getting a save percentage boost but... there’s very few chances against, just very few chances for too. Bottom of the team in Expected Goald For. I know @mparkatti pointed this out before but I didn’t realize the extent of it.

There’s a role on a team for a low event guy. And Lagesson can make an outlet pass when he needs to. That’s a useful player.

His on-ice save percentage will drop, but he’s had a good run early here.