Break it down!
"In the world of 5-on-5 hockey, the 'Canes should own the momentum. If it comes to a lot of special teams play, the Habs are decidedly better on the PP (5th in the league-'Canes were 17th)."
This comment by Cason got me thinking about special teams. Plus, I really should have a go at a more serious analysis of this series.
Forwards: Ballyhooed shutdown man Rod Brind'amour has more goals (30), points (70), and PPGs (19) than any Hab. He's fourth in scoring for the 'Canes. Even without Erik Cole (he's the straw that stirs the mint julep) the edge goes to Carolina. It's not even close.
Defense: Montreal's blueliners are bigger names and play a higher 'event' game. You notice them more, and that's not always a good thing. The 'Canes are truly a defense by committee. The best thing I can say about them is that Laviolette's decision to dress seven regularly has been a stroke of genius. Edge to Montreal, if they can stay out of penalty trouble.
Goaltending: I have no idea. The most important position and the hardest to gauge.
Now, in this topsy-turvy post-modern world, do labels like 'forward' and 'defense' really matter? Quality is subjective and there is no absolute truth. Let's try to break things down by game situation instead.
Even strength: 'Canes are +10 on the season. Habs are -5.
PP/PK: If you look strictly at the success rates, it seem special teams would favour Montreal. However, Carolina plays a higher risk game in both situations with forwards on the points for PPs and an aggressive PK resulting in more SHGs for both sides. To take this into account, you have to look at the net +/- per opportunity, including PPGs for/against and SHGs against/for. Habs are +0.179 goals per power play opportunity and are -0.168 goals per penalty kill. 'Canes are +0.154 on the PP and -0.144 on the PK.
What's it all add up to? A wash. That is, if the opportunities are distributed evenly.
If the referees call everything in sight to make it plain that they're calling it tight, the differential will be crucial. Can we guess how the penalties be distributed? On the season, Montreal has dealt with 463 PPs and 481 PKs for a -18. Carolina has had 531 PPs and only 445 PKs for a whopping difference of +86. Yikes. That is what accounts for the Hurricanes +18 goal differential on special teams for the season, while Montreal is only +2.
This is something I addressed
~~~
Betrayed! Red Fisher says "Hurricanes in seven."
posted by Jeff J at 2:41 p.m.
5 Comments:
Great blog. My buddy's a diehard Habs' fan and I passed it along. He loves it.
This one's got upset special all over it - Habs in 7.
Looks like a battle over who can lower expectations more, eh? Great stuff. When do we start the smack?
I'm with Black Dog - Habs in 7!
The 'Canes allowed way too many goals this year, and, when Alex Kovalev comes out of hibernation for the playoffs, Martin Gerber and Cam Ward won't know what hit them.
Sorry, but I'm struggling to come up with 'smack.' If we were facing the Leafs, the potty mouth would be out in full force. I'll see what I can do...
That there is no smack is, in its way, the ultimate smack. They do not rise to the level of smack. Or, we could just call them the Whalers.
It's hard for me to get really riled up because I'm married to a Tennessean and I have a soft spot for Carolina and Nashville, the two Southern teams. (Atlanta is only kind of Southern, according to my wife, and Florida is not in the South).
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