Sabres GM: Drop in NHL goal-scoring a 'media-driven' concern

Drop in NHL goal-scoring a 'media-driven' concern

[...] again, so do the numbers, which show the downward trend in goal-scoring hasn't abated since the NHL instituted rules to eliminate obstruction following the 2004-05 lockout.

Questions are once again being raised as to whether the league should tinker with its rules, the size of its nets and goalie equipment — or all of the above.

Get the goalie equipment right, but how much scoring was there this week? Murray said on Nov. 23, two days after five out of 11 games ended in a shutout.

"Our coaches have to come up with offensive schemes to match defensive schemes," Murray said.

The 12 combined goals remain an NHL season high.

Not including shootouts, there have been 12 or more goals scored just seven times since the start of the 2013-14 season.

Tortorella previously accused the Penguins of whining in April 2012, after Rangers forward Derek Stepan was hurt following a knee-on-knee hit by then-Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpik.

If scoring is what fans want, Washington travels to face Montreal on Thursday in a meeting between two of the league's top four offenses.