Scoring has been up considerably in the National Hockey League over the past five regular seasons. Last season saw another sharp move to the upside, with teams scoring an average of 3.14 goals per game – the highest number since 1993-94.

For a few years, much of the hockey public was reticent to acknowledge the realities that the scoring environment had changed in the league. We’ve seen scoring surges in years past – sometimes a fleeting burst of offensive output in the early months of the regular season that fades late, other times juiced by an increase in penalty rates and corresponding power-play opportunities. In most cases, we were fooled. Games would get defensive in a hurry, with grinding hockey and dominating goaltenders defining the outcome.

But this run has been different. Of critical importance, the scoring outburst has sustained itself, unlike in times past. What do we attribute it to? Probably several factors. Goaltending equipment size reductions, an influx of top-end skill across lineups, the deepening of rosters and near elimination of grinders and enforcer-type skaters further down the lineup, and strategic and tactical changes coaches have made in a data-rich environment have all likely contributed.

Consider the trend in scoring behaviour over the past 15 years.

We can reasonably assume that scoring rates heading into this season will remain sustainably higher. That raises an interesting question: How many players will cross the coveted 50-goal mark? It’s an accomplishment four players (Toronto’s Auston Matthews, Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl, New York’s Chris Kreider, and Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin) realized a season ago.

Crossing the 50-goal threshold is an accomplishment in any scoring environment, but the reality is today’s game has given the league’s best attackers an outside opportunity – so long as they play on a capable team and can stay reasonably healthy.