TAMPA, FL – MAY 24: Head coach Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning reacts against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 24, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Jason Behnken/Getty Images)

Jon Cooper expects high-scoring games around the NHL this season

It seems scoring has been up in the National Hockey League with crooked numbers showing up in box scores so far this season. The San Jose Sharks and New York Rangers recently combined for 11 goals – with New York popping seven in. The game is reaching a peak in terms of excitement with many, many skilled youngsters to watch: Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Johnny Gaudreau… the list goes on and on.

With the plethora of high-talent danglers in the league,  Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper believes players are too skilled and good to ask them to tame things down.

As Cooper notes in the end, it will be difficult for the scoring to continue to go this high as goaltenders will soon adjust to a slightly different style of play, but for now, it’s good to hear at least one head coach talk about allowing highly skilled players to do their thing.

The more scoring, the better the NHL product is. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good old fashioned 1-0 game, but there’s more entertainment value seeing the likes of McDavid or Matthews get the chance to completely dominate a game. Scoring rising should make for a more watched, fun broadcast. Everybody (except goalies) should be behind that.

Scoring is growing naturally through pure talent. That’s the best case scenario considering all of the recent talk about expanding nets or shrinking pads.

About Liam McGuire

Social +Staff writer for The Comeback & Awful Announcing. Liammcguirejournalism@gmail.com

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