Rookie Ovechkin or Prime Matthews

[bambamcam4ever]

Matthews, in his best season, was on the ice for 81 non PP goals against.

Ovechkin, in his rookie season, was on the ice for 70 non PP goals against.

Matthews had an NHL caliber blue line behind him. Ovechkin had a bunch of no-name scrubs (Mike Green played 22 games. Otherwise it was Jamie Heward, Bryan Muir, Steve Eminger, Shane Morrison, etc.).

So where is the evidence for this significant defensive distinction you speak of?

There were fewer ES goals that season because so much time was spent on the PP for both teams

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Ovechkin.
Finishing 3rd in league points and a 1st team selection with this support is insane.

View attachment 996831

This is the answer indeed. Difficult to refute.

 

[Regal]

There were fewer ES goals that season because so much time was spent on the PP for both teams

ES scoring per minute has also been higher in recent years, and there’s 3 on 3 and teams are pulling the goalie more. Matthews also had a terrible on-ice save percentage so gave up a lot more goals than expected. Though his on-ice save percentage being poor is a bit of a trend

 

[Midnight Judges]

There were fewer ES goals that season because so much time was spent on the PP for both teams

True, but even when you factor that in, the Leafs were giving up more goals per 60 with Matthews on the ice at ES than the Caps were with Ovechkin.

ES Minutes
Matthews: 1274
Ovechkin: 1141

81 / 1274 = .0635
70 / 1141 = .061

To be fair, Matthews had 10 EN goals against and 4 3v3 goals against. I don't know what wonky situations apply for Ovie because natural stat trick doesn't do the data for '05-06 but clearly there was less EN and no 3v3.

Whatever the case, this idea that Matthews was getting a significantly better defensive result is not showing up in the Goals against stats despite Ovechkin being surrounded by very bad lottery team players.