from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,

This season, according to hockey-reference.com, NHL clubs average 2.93 goals per game, up from 2.77 last season. An increase, yes, but bear in mind that scoring tends to fall in the stretch run, which will bring the final number down. In the end, one-tenth of a goal per game is an advancement – but that’s eight goals per season per team.

Whoopee.

Other than an aberration coming out of the lost season — 3.08 goals per game in 2005-06 — the last time NHL teams averaged better than 3.00 goals per game was 22 years ago: 3.14 goals per game in 1995-96.

We’re stuck in what is affectionately known as “a 3-2 league.”

“We hear about the race to three now?” said Oilers winger Mike Cammalleri. “The race to four or five would be a lot more fun.”

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