Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
Happy New Year to all! What a way to end the year! HP’s home-and-home sweep of GRIM sent me to an 0-2 record ATL. David Temple, former NPHL linesman and avid NPHL fan, sets the lines.
Falher at Grimshaw [Fri., Jan. 4]
LINE: Falher by 2 1/2
It’s the fifth of six meetings this season. FAL has won all four previous games but had to forfeit the first game so, for the record, FAL has won three of four. It’s the battle of the hottest team in the league – FAL has won seven straight – vs the coldest team in the league – GRIM has lost eight of nine after a 4-0-1-0 start.
Despite the records, GRIM has better special teams – their PP ranks second to FAL’s fourth, and their PK units are third to FAL’s sixth. Both teams rank similar in shots on goal for, shots on goal against, PIMs for and PIMs against. Both teams also score first in 42.86% of their games. FAL is 3-3 when scoring first, GRIM is 4-2. But falling behind is fatal for GRIM, who is 3-5 while FAL is 7-1 when allowing the first goal. While GRIM is slightly better on special teams, FAL dominates on even play. Overall, FAL ranks first in the NPHL in goals scored in the first and second periods, and third in the final frame. FAL also ranks second or third in goals allowed in each period while GRIM ranks fifth or sixth. In goals for and against, it’s the same story. FAL ranks first in the first and second periods, and third in the final frame; GRIM is ranked fourth to sixth. FAL also has more come from behind wins this season in its games [50%] while GRIM has blown leads in 35.71% of its games to rank sixth. Not counting the forfeit, GRIM has lost four straight in FAL and five of six. In the last four games, GRIM has surrendered eight goals three times and 12 goals once. That suggests the line is too low. Until GRIM shows it is turning things around – they just lost to winless HP twice last week – take FAL to win and cover.
The season series
1. Sat., Nov. 3 – Grimshaw 6 at Falher 8 [FAL forfeits game]
2. Sat., Nov. 10 – Falher 9 at Grimshaw 8 [OT]
3. Sat., Dec. 8 – Falher 10 at Grimshaw 4
4. Sat., Dec. 22 – Grimshaw 2 at Falher 7
5. Fri., Jan. 4 – Falher at Grimshaw
6. Sat., Jan. 26 – Grimshaw at Falher
The Stats Pack
[Ranking in Parenthesis]
Category Falher GrimshawRecord 10-3-0-1 [1-East] 5-7-2-0 [3-East]
Power Play 18-81, 22.22% [4] 26-74, 35.14% [2]
Penalty Kill 21-75, 72.00% [6] 12-55, 78.18% [3]
Shots For 42.50 per game [3] 41.57 per game [4]
Shots Vs 38.43 per game [5] 37.93 per game [3]
Shots Diff +57 [3] +51 [4]
PIM For 24.21 per game [4] 26.07 per game [5]
PIM Vs 27.07 per game [5] 28.14 per game [6]
PIM Diff +40 [2] +29 [3]
Scoring 1st 42.86% [T6] 42.86 [T6]
Record Scoring 1st Goal 3-3 [5] 2-4 [6]
Record Allow 1st Goal 7-1 [1] 3-5 [5]
Lead After 1 Period 6-3 [4] 4-2 [5]
Trail After 1 Period 2-1 [1] 1-6 [6]
Lead After 2 Periods 9-2 [6] 4-0 [5]
Trail After 2 Periods 0-1 [3] 1-8 [2]
Goals Scored in 1st 2.50 per game [1] 2.07 per game [2]
Goals Scored in 2nd 2.71 per game [1] 1.57 per game [5]
Goals Scored in 3rd 2.07 per game [3] 1.71 [5]
Goals Allowed in 1st 1.36 per game [2] 2.07 [6]
Goals Allowed in 2nd 1.14 per game [3] 2.64 [6]
Goals Allowed in 3rd 2.00 [T3] 2.14 [T5]
Goal Diff in 1 +16 [1] EVEN [4]
Goal Diff in 2 +22 [1] -15 [6]
Goal Diff in 3 +1 [T3] -6 [5]
Come From Behind Wins 50.00% [1] 21.43% [4]
Blown Leads 21.437% [4] 35.71% [6]
Team Stick Fouls 4.57 PIM/Game [6] 3.43 PIM/Game [3]LAST WEEK’S RECORD STRAIGHT-UP: 1-1
LAST WEEK’S RECORD AGAINST THE LINE: 0-2
SEASON RECORD STRAIGHT-UP: 30-17
SEASON RECORD AGAINST THE LINE: 28-19