Through the mid-1990s, we saw an extreme shift in the game of hockey. Unfortunately, it was a downward shift instead of upwards as we witnessed a slower, more defensive game as offense took a back seat.

As a result, the shot totals in the NHL decreased and, most importantly, goal scoring becoming scarce. The fans ultimately became frustrated with the game and started to whine and complain about the lack of scoring.

I would have to agree with this train of thought as the game became boring. Who wants to see a 2-1, 1-0 game? The fans want to see goals and the NHL was doing nothing to change the game.

Did the fans really have something to complain about? Let me break it down for you.

The following list shows the average goals scored per game, per team over the course of a decade:
1981-1990: 3.82
1991-2000: 3.08
2001-2004: 2.81

As you can see by the numbers, the fans had every right to judge the league and show their displeasure. In just over 20 years, goal scoring had decreased by one goal per game, per team, per season. Teams in the 1980s scored an average of 305 goals per season, while in the ‘90s they scored an average 255. Finally, in the first four years of the new millennium, teams have scored an average of 230 goals.

What was it going to take for the NHL to start making some changes to get scoring, as well as, the game back on track?

On July 22, 2004, some 310 days after the NHL locked out its players; the NHL ratified the new CBA and also issued documents that explained rule changes for the upcoming 2005-2006 regular season.

With the injection of obstruction-hooking penalties, no two-line pass and a slew of other rule changes, teams are showing signs of renewed life offensively.

The result -- in the first 16-20 games of the season, teams are averaging 3.16 goals per game. If that pace holds up until the end of the season, it will be the first time since 1993-1994 that teams would sport a goals per game average over 3.00. I would say the new rules are working.

It took many years, but the NHL finally listened to its fans. Congratulations to all the fans that continued to apply the pressure on the league. I wouldn’t say that it was well worth the wait, as the wait was 12 years overdue. However, I would say that the league did the correct thing in making these changes. Hockey is once again an exciting, fast pace game that allows for more goals than saves.