The Pittsburgh Penguins clinched a playoff spot Tuesday night with a 6-4 win in Tampa Bay. Sidney Crosby led the way with a pair of power-play goals, and that’s been a rare sight this season.
Only six of Crosby's 32 goals have come with the man-advantage. The two red lights against Tampa also lifted Crosby’s point total to 101, marking the third 100-point season of his four-year career.
Including Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, and Evgeni Malkin’s efforts this season, there have been 264 100-point seasons in NHL history. But has anyone ever reached 100 points scoring fewer power-play goals?
Gretzky Power-Play Goal Totals
Oddly enough, Wayne Gretzky was never much of a sniper on the power play. Like Crosby, he was far too busy spreading the wealth, often turning down shots to set up his teammates. Gretzky only reached 20 power-play goals in a season once (1983-84) and had 10 seasons with fewer than 10 power-play markers.
In 1984-85, Gretzky scored 73 goals and 208 points, yet only eight of those tallies came with the man-advantage. Gretzky also had a mere eight power-play goals when he went for 142 points in 1988-89.
Forsberg's Power-Play Goal Totals
Peter Forsberg, another brilliant playmaker who thought pass first, never scored more than 12 power-play goals in a season (2000-01). He went for 100 points twice in his career, collecting seven power-play goals in 1995-96 and eight in 2002-003.
Oates and Rogers Share Record
It certainly makes sense playmakers would dot the list, and few players in NHL history could pass the puck like Adam Oates. Surprisingly, Oates, stubby, straight stick blade and all, actually scored 45 goals in 1992-93 when he piled up a career-high 142 points. Twenty-four of those goals came on the power play. The following year, in 1993-94, Oates notched 116 points, with 16 of his 32 goals coming on the man-advantage.
But never fear. In 1990-91, Oates had only three power-play goals in a 115-point season for the St. Louis Blues. That’s more like it.
Oates shares the record, though, with the all but forgotten Mike Rogers. From 1980 to 1982, Rogers rattled off three consecutive 100-points seasons, the first two with the Hartford Whalers and the third with the New York Rangers. Over those three campaigns, he buried 122 goals, but only 19 came with the man-advantage. And in 1979-80, Rogers netted a mere three power-play goals while going for 44 goals and 105 points with the Whale.
Fewest Power-Play Goals in a 100-Point Season
3 - Mike Rogers, Hartford Whalers, 1979-80 (44-61-105)
3 – Adam Oates, St. Louis Blues, 1990-91 (25-90-115)
4 – Ken Hodge, Boston Bruins, 1970-71 (43-62-105)
5 – Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins, 1970-71 (37-102-139)
5 – Jean Ratelle, New York Rangers, 1971-72 (46-63-109)
5 – Peter Stastny, Quebec Nordiques, 1982-83 (47-77-124)
6 – Mike Rogers, New York Rangers, 1981-82 (38-65-103)
6 – Mike Bossy, New York Islanders, 1983-84 (57-61-118)
6 – Bernie Federko, St. Louis Blues, 1984-85 (30-73-103)
6 – Neal Broten, Minnesota North Stars, 1985-86 (29-76-105)
6 – Adam Oates, St. Louis Blues, 1989-90 (23-79-102)
6 – Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, 2008-09 (32-69-101)*
* still active
Michael Dell - Michael Dell has been the Head Writer and Editor-in-Chief of LCS Hockey (www.lcshockey.com) since 1994. In his spare time he enjoys ...
