By the Numbers: A look at how the Penguins compare statistically to last years team at the 48 game mark

| 30 ROW | Diff +41 | Home 20-3-0 | Away 14-9-2 | Vs East 24-10-1 | Vs West 10-2-1 |

| 33 ROW | Diff +46 | Home 18-6-0 | Away 18-6-0 | Vs East 36-12-0 | Vs West N/A |

ANALYSIS: The Penguins last season posted 72 points in the lockout shortened 48 game season and not to go much into memory lane but they went to the playoffs as a heavy favorite to reach the Stanley Cup Finals but would be remembered best as paper champions.

This Penguins team having 70 points at the 48 game mark is a bit more impressive considering the injuries the Penguins have constantly dealt with and considering the Penguins have played 13 games against the stronger Western Conference, going 10-2-1, compared to last season when the Penguins didn’t play the west.

The one stat that stands out for the Penguins is that they were more efficient last season at 5-on-5, which isn’t surprising. Defensively I like this years group better but being 21st in the NHL in giving up 89 even strength goals is something that stands out but it’s a bit difficult to statistically measure with so many key players on the backend missing time this season, including their best shutdown defenseman in Paul Martin.

The Penguins have a combined percentage of 112.4% on special teams, compared to last season (104.3%). The penalty kill, though, was on the upswing going into the playoffs as it took time for a new alignment to work. Last spring, Pittsburgh was 92.3% on the penalty kill in 15 post-season games.

Where last year’s team was stronger was at forward where the Penguins were much deeper and had more stability in goal with Tomas Vokoun as a second option behind Marc Andre Fleury. As good as Fleury’s numbers have been in winning a league high 27 games, there’s not much difference from the Fleury we’re seeing this regular season compared to previous years in the regular season.

Fleury’s save percentage in 39 games is .917. Last season it was .916.