from Josh Yohe of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,

During the first two weeks of the season, NHL games produced an average of 5.55 goals, which is slightly up from the past three seasons. However, starting Feb. 1, games are producing only 5.13 goals per game.

Goal-scoring typically drops during the course of the season, as games become more important and power plays decline. The 5.13 total, should it continue, would represent the NHL's lowest-scoring season since 1956.

The league average is 5.36 goals per game so far for the 2013 season, but that number is dropping almost daily. Last season's goals-per-game average was 5.34.

“Teams have actually had some time to practice defense now and work on their systems,” Penguins left wing Tanner Glass said. “In the first couple of weeks, there were scoring chances taking place that you just wouldn't normally see.”

Officiating, Glass said, is also playing a significant role in the drastic drop in scoring.

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