History Rewritten

Three months ago, we took a look at some single-season EHE team records that might be surpassed in 2017-18. At the time, projections showed that the league was experiencing a season of extreme highs and lows: at least two teams had a shot at besting the records for most wins and most points; meanwhile another handful were on their way to setting new low-water marks in those same categories.

With the season now officially at an end, it's time to look back and see how those projections turned out.

[All midseason projections were compared against the abbreviated 2014-15 season.]
[Only those midseason projections that would have broken the previous records are shown here.]

Most Wins: 57, Boston Bruins (2016-17)
Midseason Projections: Ducks - 64 wins; 'Hawks - 59 wins
Result: Colorado Avalanche set a new record with 58 wins

After 41 games there were two teams in the running to beat 57 wins, but in the end neither the Ducks (53 wins) nor 'Hawks (also 53 wins) could maintain their amazing form for the full 82-game schedule. 

Instead it was the Colorado Avalanche who caught fire, posting an incredible 33-8-0 record over the second half to finish with a league-record 58 wins. 

Fewest Wins: 29, Arizona Coyotes (2016-17)
Midseason Projections: Flames - 20 wins; Blues - 22 wins; Sabres - 27 wins
Result: Calgary Flames set a new record with 20 wins

Down at the other end of the table, the Calgary Flames maintained their pace from midseason, landing on exactly 20 wins to set this unfortunate record. 

The Sabres also nailed their projected win total at 27, while the Blues improved slightly and got to 26 wins -- but both teams remain noteworthy for coming in under the previous bar of 29.

Most Points: 123, Boston Bruins (2016-17)
Midseason Projection: Ducks - 135 points
Result: Colorado Avalanche set a new record of 123 points

Yes it's technically a tie, but by virtue of their higher win (58-57) and ROW (57-54) totals, we'll give the Avs the edge over the '16-17 Bruins.

The Ducks (117 points) couldn't come anywhere near their projected total, but to be fair it seems unlikely that any team will ever reach 135 points. 

Fewest Points: 66, Chicago Blackhawks (2016-17)
Midseason Projections: Flames - 47 points; Blues - 56 points; Sabres - 64 points
Result: Calgary Flames set a new record with 48 points

This one is no surprise, given the Flames' paltry win total. They're joined in ignominy by the Sabres (62 points) and Blues (63 points) both of whom also fell short of the previous league-low.  

Most Goals For: 276, Colorado Avalanche (2016-17)
Midseason Projections: Ducks - 312 goals; 'Hawks - 305 goals
Result: Chicago sets a new record with 298 goals

The 'Hawks (298 goals) may have missed their projected total, but they nevertheless smashed the old record by 22 goals. Unfortunately they missed out on a real chance to become the first EHE team to ever exceed 300 goals, but that can't take the shine off what was an amazing turnaround season in the Windy City.

Meanwhile, the Avs (289 goals) bested their own record from last season, and the expansion Vegas Golden Knights (280 goals) also managed to beat the previous mark.

And just to further prove that this was an amazing season for offense, the Ducks (274 goals) slowed considerably compared to their projected total, yet still came within two goals of the previous record.

Fewest Goals For: 166, Calgary Flames (2016-17)
Midseason Projection: Flames - 150 goals
Result: Calgary Flames set a new record with 165 goals

The only team threatening the '16-17 Calgary Flames record was the '17-18 Calgary Flames, and they, ahem, didn't disappoint. Sure, the 165 goals by the boys in red was a marginal uptick from their projected total, but they still finished one goal shy of their pop-gun offense from last year.

Fewest Goals Against: 186, Dallas Stars (2015-16)
Midseason Projections: Ducks - 179 goals against; Penguins - 182 goals against
Result: Record unchanged

Finally we come to one record that will stand for at least another year, as the Ducks (209 goals against) and Penguins (191 goals against) both let their defensive standards slip in the second half -- though the Penguins (2.44 GA p/g in their final 41 games) will surely be less concerned than the Ducks (2.91 GA p/g in their final 41 games).

Most Goals Against: 269, Detroit Red Wings (2015-16)
Midseason Projection: Red Wings - 293 goals against
Result: Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens tie to set a new record with 286 goals against

This year's Red Wings (264 goals against) just barely got themselves off the hook, and in the meantime three teams whizzed past them on a tobaggan ride to the bottom: the Sabres (273 goals against) Flames (286 goals against) and Canadiens (286 goals against) all managed lower the bar on this particular record.

Worst Power Play Percentage: 10.5% Florida Panthers (2014-15)
Midseason Projection: Edmonton Oilers - 8.9%; St. Louis Blues - 9.2%
Result: St. Louis Blues set a new record with a 9.5% Power Play Percentage

The Oilers fashioned a tidy turnaround in the second half, adding a full 6% to their powerplay conversion rate -- surely a big part of what helped them secure a playoff spot.

The St. Louis Blues, on the other hand, continued to struggle with the man advantage: a measly 0.3% improvement left them at 9.5% making them the first and only team to finish a season at less than 10% efficiency.

So there you have it. When the original projections were calculated at the halfway point, we wondered if this EHE season would produce the statistically best AND worst teams in league history, and it seems we now have an answer: the 2017-18 Colorado Avalanche are the new standard for regular-season dominance, while the 2017-18 Calgary Flames produced a campaign of futility unmatched in the EHE's four seasons of existence.
 
To be sure, the next few months will have a huge impact on how this season of two extremes will ultimately be perceived. If the Avalanche fail to bring home their first-ever Stanley Cup, for example, 58 wins and 123 points will be cold comfort in Denver. And at the other end of the spectrum, no one in Cowtown will be crying into their Black Label if 20 wins and 48 points paves the way to Rasmus Dahlin wearing the flaming 'C' next October.

Nevertheless, some significant markers have now been set in the Elite Hockey Experience record book, and the fabric of the league's history is all the more interesting for it.