The Cheechoo Law

As much as we all love the guy, no one can deny the fact that Jonathan Cheechoo has struggled to find the back of the net this season.  This isn't for lack of effort; Cheech works hard, and has averaged nearly 2 shots on net per game.  I submit for your consideration that the reason Cheechoo has only scored 5 times as an Ottawa Senator is due to The Cheechoo Law:

Jonathan Cheechoo can only score when it will have absolutely no impact on the outcome of the game.

Support for this theory becomes evident when we examine the 5 goals Cheechoo has scored this season:

1. Goal ties the game at 1-1.  Sens beat Edmonton 4-3 in SO.
2. Goal makes the game 6-1.  Sens beat Pittsburgh 6-2.
3. Goal makes the game 2-3.  Sens lose to L.A. 3-6.
4. Goal makes the game 2-5.  Sens lose to Washington 2-5.
5. Goal makes the game 5-2.  Sens beat Boston 5-2.

Three of Cheechoo's five goals have come late in games that were decided by 3 or more goals.  His 3rd goal came in a game that would eventually be decided by 3 goals, and (arguably) did not have an impact on the game's outcome.  Only his 1st goal of the season was scored in a 1 goal game.  Thus, four out of five Cheechoo goals had no impact on the outcome of the game they were scored in.

Furthermore, if you consider that only 22 of Ottawa's 60 games this season have been decided by 3 or more goals, we can see that Cheech scores in 18% of games decided by 3 or more goals, and only 2% of games decided by less than 3 goals.  A statistically-significant difference if you ask me.  So there you have it.