Skip to main content

Take a look at the numbers below, and one thing become clear about the Vancouver Canucks-Chicago Blackhawks playoff series.

Offensively, they are very much alike.

Both are teams are high-scoring, put a lot of pucks on net, excel on the power play, and are proficient at even-strength.

It's the defensive side of the game that separates the Western Conference's first- and eighth-place sides.

Vancouver is much stingier (nearly half a goal per game), and far superior on the penalty kill. The Canucks have also been much better sitting on early leads, and at closing out opponents when they lead in the third period.

Goals per game

Vancouver: 3.15 (1st)

Chicago: 3.07 (4th)

Goals against per game

Vancouver: 2.20 (1st)

Chicago: 2.68 (12th)

Five-on-five (goals for/against ratio)

Vancouver: 1.32 (2nd)

Chicago: 1.15 (7th)

Power play percentage

Vancouver: 24.3 (1st)

Chicago: 23.1 (4th)

Penalty kill percentage

Vancouver: 85.6 (3rd)

Chicago: 79.2 (25th)

Shots per game

Vancouver: 32 (6th)

Chicago: 32.2 (5th)

Shots against per game

Vancouver: 30.1 (12th)

Chicago: 28.7 (7th)

Scoring first (winning percentage)

Vancouver: 83.7 (1st)

Chicago: 68.1 (19th)

Leading after two periods (winning percentage)

Vancouver: 92.7 (6th)

Chicago: 82.5 (24th)

Face-off percentage

Vancouver: 54.9 (1st)

Chicago: 50.8 (12th)

Interact with The Globe