How much better are the Penguins under Mike Sullivan?
Sidney Crosby's rolling. Phil Kessel has jump. All parties appear to be getting along, as they'll contend they always have.
It's clear the Pittsburgh Penguins are a different team since Mike Sullivan took the head coaching reins from Mike Johnston in mid-December. Yet, here they are today, as they were when the change was made, seeded outside the postseason bracket.
So they're a different team, sure, but are they in fact a better team?
The Record
The overall optics around the Penguins suggest they are better with Sullivan. Their record, however, does not.
| Under Johnston | Under Sullivan |
|---|---|
| 15-10-3 | 7-7-4 |
This is tricky. Many teams see immediate gains in response to a coaching change, but the Penguins almost needed time to shed - for a lack of a better term - the stink.
Pittsburgh has earned points in eight of its last 10 games; the club's only regulation losses over that span came against a pair of Central Division heavyweights in the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues.
Goals for and against
Pittsburgh has essentially surrendered a goal for each scored all season long. And though it hasn't really changed from Johnston to Sullivan, the goals are coming at a higher rate.
| Coach | GF/G | GA/G |
|---|---|---|
| Under Johnston | 2.35 | 2.32 |
| Under Sullivan | 2.61 | 2.67 |
Even over the last 10 games, perhaps the Pens' most encouraging stretch all season, they're only outscoring the competition 33-27.
Possession
This chart best illustrates the most profound change under Sullivan:
Penguins running shot-attempts on the season still climbing under Mike Sullivan pic.twitter.com/6XGRjXP3oQ
— Mike Darnay (@MikeDarnay) January 22, 2016
You can literally see Johnston's effect erasing itself from Pittsburgh's game.
Crosby
The captain's production goes well beyond his team's overall offensive uptick thanks to a little more consistency with his linemates, and more attacking freedom.
| Under Johnston | Under Sullivan |
|---|---|
| 0.68 P/G | 1.18 P/G |
With 20 points in 17 games under Sullivan, Crosby is scoring at a half-point per game better than he did with Johnston, and exceeded his total output in 11 fewer games. He's shooting more, taking 3.35 shots per game, and has seen his scoring percentage increase twofold as a result.
Sidney Crosby, left for dead by many in November, has 20 points in his last 15 games. Exactly his career average of 1.33 points per game.
— Ian Denomme (@IanDenomme) January 22, 2016
Kessel
Kessel's production increase is microscopic compared to Crosby's, but is still in line with the overall jump the Penguins have made under Sullivan.
His yield, though, does mirror the team's overall efficiency. Under Sullivan, Kessel had just three points in the first eight games - primarily losses - and now has nine over his last 10.