Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
A Tale of Two Cites was the theme last week. I never picked a single game right against the spread Thursday and Friday, going 0-3, but rebounded with three correct picks Saturday to split the week. David Temple, former NPHL linesman and avid NPHL fan, sets the lines.
Falher at Manning [Fri., Dec. 14]
LINE: Manning by 1/2
It’s the third of six meetings this season and a battle of the two top teams in the East. FAL won at home 11-4 on Nov. 9 and lost 6-5 in a shootout at MAN Nov. 23. Both teams are hot coming in with three-game winning streaks. MAN ranks last in the league in shots on goal for [30.50 per game] and shots on goal against [45.50] but they have the great equalizer in Braden Gamble in net. MAN is being outshot by an average of 15 shots per game while FAL is basically even at -3. Penalties could be a factor: Man ranks second-to-last in PIMs for and against while FAL is ranked third and second. That could mean an extra PP or two for FAL. MAN leads the league in scoring the first goal of the game but they are only 3-3, tied for fourth, when scoring first. FAL is 5-2 when leading after two periods but 0-1 when trailing. The first period might decide this one: FAL is first in goals scored while MAN is last. In the second period FAL is also first, MAN sixth. In fact, FAL has the best goals for and against in the first period [+8] and second periods [+14]. FAL won both meetings at MAN last season 5-2 and 9-4, but only 4-3 the last two seasons overall. MAN has trouble scoring at home vs FAL. In the last 12 games, MAN has not scored more than five goals (not counting the SO goal), and they have scored three or less goals six times. MAN has added some players but FAL is waking up. Talent rules. FAL to win and take the half-goal.
The Season Series
1. Fri., Nov. 9 – Manning 4 at Falher 11
2. Fri., Nov. 23 – Falher 5 at Manning 6 (SO)
3. Fri., Dec. 14 – Falher at Manning
4. Thu., Jan. 3 – Manning at Falher
5. Fri., Jan. 11 – Manning at Falher
6. Fri., Jan. 18 – Falher at Manning
The Stats Pack
[Ranking in Parenthesis]
Category Falher ManningRecord 6-3-0-1 [1-East] 5-5-0-0 [2-East]
Power Play 13-53, 24.53% [4] 11-46, 23.91% [5]
Penalty Kill 15-46, 67.39% [6] 12-43, 71.09% [4]
Shots For 40.20 per game [4] 30.50 per game [7]
Shots Vs 40.50 per game [5] 45.50 per game [7]
Shots Diff -3 [5] -150 [7]
PIM For 22.70 per game [3] 29.10 per game [6]
PIM Vs 15.57 per game [2] 33.20 per game [6]
PIM Diff +5 [5] +41 [3]
Scoring 1st 40.00% [7] 60.00% [1]
Record Scoring 1st Goal 1-3 [6] 3-3 [T4]
Record Allow 1st Goal 5-1 [1] 2-2 [T3]
Lead After 1 Period 3-3 {6] 2-1 [5]
Trail After 1 Period 2-1 [1] 2-3 [4]
Lead After 2 Periods 5-2 [6] 4-0 [3]
Trail After 2 Periods 0-1 [T-3] 1-5 [2]
Goals Scored in 1st 2.10 per game [1] 0.90 per game [7]
Goals Scored in 2nd 2.70 per game [1] 1.60 per game [6]
Goals Scored in 3rd 2.10 per game [4] 1.44 per game [7]
Goals Allowed in 1st 1.30 per game [2] 1.60 per game [5]
Goals Allowed in 2nd 1.30 per game [4] 1.80 per game [5]
Goals Allowed in 3rd 2.60 per game [7] 2.00 per game [T3]
Goal Diff in 1 +8 [1] -7 [7]
Goal Diff in 2 +14 [1] -2 [5]
Goal Diff in 3 -5 [5] -7 [6]
Come From Behind Wins 50.00% [1] 30.00% [3]
Blown Leads 30.00% [T5] 30.00% [T5]
Team Stick Fouls 5.30 PIM/Game [7] 4.10 PIM/Game [4]LAST WEEK’S RECORD STRAIGHT-UP: 3-3
LAST WEEK’S RECORD AGAINST THE LINE: 3-3
SEASON RECORD STRAIGHT-UP: 22-10
SEASON RECORD AGAINST THE LINE: 21-11