A Look at East vs. West (2012-2013)

[Pengwin7]

As we know, the lockout schedule only pitted Eastern teams vs. Eastern teams and Western teams vs. Western teams.

What can be somewhat misleading is that the statistics are still clumped all together!
(Note that even with interleague play, the NL and AL baseball statistics are typically separated. Yes, for the DH vs. Pitcher difference... I know.)

The goal numbers this season, 2013:
In the Eastern Conference: 2010 goals.
In the Western Conference: 1909 goals.

That's a pretty significant difference: 101 goals.
Or... 5% (100/2000) more scoring the Eastern Conference.
This can also be interpreted as 5% better goaltending stats in the Western Conference

Of no surprise, 12 of the top 20 goaltenders, by GAA, were from the West.

So... apples vs. oranges...
Are the skaters better in the East?
Or are the goalies & defense better in the West?
Or... is both true?

If that trends continues... it suggests that people should be picking their playoff skaters from the Eastern Conference if looking solely at points-per-game.

As a comparison, let's look at the last full season, 2011-2012:
In the Eastern Conference: 2782 goals for, 2877 goals against. (-95)
In the Western Conference: 2571 goals for, 2666 goals against. (+95)

The last full year's statistics suggest the Western Conference is better (+95).
The goals for suggest the Eastern Conference (2782 vs. 2571) may indeed have better skaters with the Western Conference (2666 vs. 2877) having the better defense/goalies.

This may be something to factor in next year as Detroit heads East, Columbus heads East, Winnipeg heads West.
Does Jimmy Howard's value go down?
Does Bobrovsky's value go down?
Does Ondrej Pavelec's value go up?

Things to consider!

[rataylor22]

I think the East definitely has better skaters than the west and the West definitely has better goalies.

Crosby, Stamkos, Ovechkin, Tavares, Malkin, Giroux......
Quick, Schneider, Rinne, Niemi, Bob, Phoenix (lol), Lehtonen.....

[kevinsrangers]

i think the east has better skaters. i also think they have better goalies.(vezina nominees).
i think the west has better defense and has better coaching.
gaa may have to do with all the great shooters in the east but save percentage may not say the same.
i havent looked this up this is all just my opinion as of right now.

great little right up , gives us something to think about. rep to ya.

[blayze]

East has better individual superstars.

West has better teams.

[tgraveline]

East has better individual superstars.

West has better teams.

Pretty much my sentiment.

[rataylor22]

i think the east has better skaters. i also think they have better goalies.(vezina nominees).
i think the west has better defense and has better coaching.
gaa may have to do with all the great shooters in the east but save percentage may not say the same.
i havent looked this up this is all just my opinion as of right now.

great little right up , gives us something to think about. rep to ya.

This is more because of East Coast bias than the quality of goalies. 75% of the PHWA is on the east coast and see about 25-40% of Western conference games to 75-90% of Eastern conference games. Of course you are going to trend to players you watch more. West has better goalies top to bottom then the East.