What's behind Gaudreau's mind-boggling scoring surge?
For his career, Johnny Gaudreau has captivated hockey audiences with his imaginative, energizing style of play. Through three full NHL seasons, the diminutive winger has enjoyed his fair share of success, but nothing quite like what he's accomplished through his first 20 games of the 2017-18 season.
With 31 points, Gaudreau sits third in league scoring, behind only Tampa Bay's unstoppable first-line duo of Steven Stamkos (35) and Nikita Kucherov (33). Of late, however, Johnny Hockey is in a class of his own.
Gaudreau extended his point streak to 10 games Monday, accumulating an absurd eight goals and 11 assists over that span. To further shine a light on just how good he's been, Gaudreau has scored in six straight games, including five consecutive multi-point efforts - a feat that hasn't been accomplished by a Flames player since Jarome Iginla in 2002.
He's been flat-out incredible:
Perspective - #Flames LW Johnny Gaudreau has 19 points during his 10-game spree. Sean Monahan is his only teammate with 19-plus points this season.
- Wes Gilbertson (@WesGilbertson) November 21, 2017
Gaudreau's always been a game-changing threat offensively (0.93 points per game in his career), but has never produced quite like this (1.55 this season). With that said, it makes one wonder: What's behind Gaudreau's recent surge, and how long can it continue?
Looking at Gaudreau's performance this season, several things have improved. First, he's shooting more. He's on track to record 246 shots, significantly eclipsing his previous career high of 217. Gaudreau is also shooting 16.7 percent this season, which likely won't last, but considering he's shot 13.2 percent for his career, it's reasonable to believe that number won't revert too drastically.
Additionally, both the quality and quantity of chances Gaudreau is creating have increased. Gaudreau is averaging 1.85 individual scoring chances for per game, putting him on pace to produce 151 this season, supplanting his previous best of 133. In terms of quality, Gaudreau's 15 high-danger chances so far tracks him for 61 should he play all 82 games, yet another career benchmark. (All stats at five-on-five, courtesy Natural Stat Trick)
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
To no one's surprise, Gaudreau's recent outpouring of points has paid major dividends for the Flames as a whole, now winners of seven of their last 10 while climbing into third in the wide open Pacific Division.
In all likelihood, Gaudreau won't maintain such a blistering streak and reach the 41 goals and 86 assists he's on pace for, but even with a considerable dip or an unsuspected cold streak potentially in the forecast, Gaudreau's torrid stretch has put him firmly in place to obliterate his personal-bests in goals (30), assists (48), and points (78).
Until then, though, let's sit back and see just how far he can go.
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