NHL GOALTENDING STATISTICS

Vujtek striving for consistency

Jason Arnott’s emergency appendectomy was just what the doctor ordered-for him and Vladimir Vujtek. When Dr. Olau Thurston removed the rookie center’s appendix Dec. 27, hours after Arnott had scored two points in a 6-0 rout of the Winnipeg Jets, Vujtek was elevated from a likely scratch to the Oilers’ first-line center. He responded the next night with two goals against the Montreal Canadiens, then was benched the following night in Calgary. “From the penthouse to the doghouse in one period,” he chuckled. Luckily, Vujtek had time to get it together and played well in a 4-4 tie against the San Jose Sharks Jan. 2. “It’s certainly an opportunity for him. I hope he seizes the chance. That’s how guys’ careers are made.” said coach-general manager Glen Sather, who was close to assigning Vujtek to…

NHL’s death trap

A unique paradox afflicts the NHL: the players are better, but the game is worse. The influx of talented Europeans has more than compensated for the talent drain of expansion. Goaltending has never been better, Wayne Gretzky is back in form and most teams boast a franchise player or someone touted as one. The problem is the product. An average of 6.60 goals per game have been scored this season. That’s the lowest since 1977-78 and down more than a half-a-goal a game from last year. While shots on goal are on the rise, scoring chances, by all accounts, are way down. “I would guess they are down by about a quarter to a third from last year,” said New York Rangers’ broadcaster John Davidson. Davidson, like many others, blames the neutral-zone trap, a strategy that…

Warrior Smyth on rampage

Ryan Smyth was immune from the Moose Jaw Warriors’ pre-Christmas swoon. The 17-year-old left winger had six goals during the Western League team’s eight-game losing streak. The Banff, Alta., native has made himself a strong first-round candidate for the NHL’s 1994 entry draft. He had 28 goals and 51 points in 34 games. “Talk of the draft comes up every once in a while,” the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder said. “I talk about it and hear about it here and there. Scouts want’ to talk to me, so it’s on my mind.” Another left winger, Jeff Friesen of the Regina Pats, was touted the top draft prospect from the WHL when the season started. But as Smyth’s stock has gradually risen, Friesen’s has slowly dropped. “Coming into the season, it was Friesen this, Friesen that,” Smyth said.…