Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
Fort St. John at Dawson Creek [Tue., Jan. 15]
LINE: Dawson Creek by 1/2
It’s a big game for DC in the battle for first place in the West Division. DC leads GP by one point but they have two games in hand. DC has six games left, GP only four. First place is important in the West because they receive a first round bye, then play the lowest seed in the East in the NPHL Semi-Final. Meanwhile, FSJ is destined for third place, they trail GP by nine points with only six games left to play. A DC win in regulation time, OT or a SO, and FSJ cannot catch DC in the standings.
DC dominates the statistics.
DC has the league’s top ranked PP and PK units, while FSJ is fourth and fifth respectively.
DC is ranked first in shots on goal per game, second in shots on goal allowed, and first in shots for and against. FSJ is fifth in shots on goal for, third in shots against, and fifth in shots for and against.
This game features a battle between the two least penalized teams in the NPHL: DC is the least penalized at 14.57 PIMs per game, FSJ is 15.86 PIMs per game. Overall, FSJ is ranked first in PIMS for and against at +147 for the season while DC is third at +27.
With the low penalty totals, these are also the NPHL’s two least penalized teams in terms of stick fouls. FSJ is first at only 2.50 PIMs per game, DC second at 3.0 PIMs per game.
DC is also first in scoring the first goal; DC has scored first in 64.29% of its games, FSJ only 42.86%.
Scoring first is vial to success. DC is a perfect 9-0 to rank first but FSJ is 5-1 to rank second.
If allowing the first goal, DC ranks first at 3-2 while FSJ drops to 2-6 to rank sixth.
Both teams are perfect when leading after one period: DC is 6-0 and FSJ 5-0 but DC is 2-1 when trailing after one period, FSJ is 1-5.
When leading after one period, DC is 11-0 and FSJ 6-0. Both teams are under .500 if trailing after two periods. DC is 1-2 and FSJ 0-5.
DC ranks second in goals for and against in all three periods while FSJ ranks third or fourth. The second period is clearly FSJ’s best. FSJ is +14 in the second period but even in the first and -3 in the third.
Falling behind doesn’t bother DC as they have won 28.57% of its games when trailing at one point in time. FSJ is a league worst at only 14.29%.
Perhaps the most amazing stat is that DC has not lost when leading in any game this season despite playing in a division with GP and FSJ.
DC has won three of four vs FSJ this season, including an impressive sweep before Christmas 5-1 and 7-2. DC has outscored FSJ in the four games 25-17. FSJ has split in DC this season and have won three of the last four in DC. Will the defending champs show up? FSJ has sputtered all season and shown no life in getting ready to make a title run. I’m still waiting for the sleeping giant to wake up. Until they do, DC to win and take the half-goal.
One thing worth noting, however. In its title run last season, FSJ won games at DC 6-3 on Jan. 23 and 7-1 on Jan.; 28, plus a 5-3 win at home Jan. 11. Can they do it again?
NOTE: David Temple, former NPHL linesman and avid NPHL fan, sets the lines, which are set on the Sunday previous for the games from Jan. 15-18.
LAST WEEK’S RECORD STRAIGHT-UP: 3-2
LAST WEEK’S RECORD AGAINST THE LINE: 3-2
SEASON RECORD STRAIGHT-UP: 39-19
SEASON RECORD AGAINST THE LINE: 33-25
The Season Series
1. Fri., Nov. 16 – Dawson Creek 9 at Fort St. John 7
2. Thu., Dec. 13 – Fort St. John 7 at Dawson Creek 4
3. Thu., Dec. 20 – Dawson Creek 5 at Fort St. John 1
4. Sat., Dec. 22 – Fort St. John 2 at Dawson Creek 7
5. Tue., Jan. 15 – Fort St. John at Dawson Creek
6. Wed., Jan. 30 – Dawson Creek at Fort St. John
The Stats Pack
[Ranking in Parenthesis]
Category Fort St. John Dawson CreekRecord 7-7-0-0 [3-West] 12-2-0-0 [1-West]
Power Play 16-67, 23.88% [4] 21-54, 38.39% [1]
Penalty Kill 13-48, 72.92% [5] 9-51, 82.35% [1]
Shots For 36.93 per game [5] 45.00 per game [2]
Shots Vs 37.57 per game [3] 33.00 per game [1]
Shots Diff -9 [5] +168 [1]
PIM For 15.86 per game [2] 14.57 per game [1]
PIM Vs 26.36 per game [4] 16.50 per game [1]
PIM Diff +147 [1] +27 [3]
Scoring 1st 42.86% [6] 64.29% [1]
Record Scoring 1st Goal 5-1 [2] 9-0 [1]
Record Allow 1st Goal 2-6 [6] 3-2 [2]
Lead After 1 Period 5-0 [3] 6-0 [2]
Trail After 1 Period 1-5 [6] 1-2 [4]
Lead After 2 Periods 6-0 [2] 11-0 [1]
Trail After 2 Periods 0-5 [T5] 1-2 [1]
Goals Scored in 1st 1.57 per game [6] 1.79 per game [4]
Goals Scored in 2nd 2.00 per game [3] 2.43 per game [2]
Goals Scored in 3rd 1.86 per game [3] 2.00 per game [2]
Goals Allowed in 1st 1.57 per game [4] 1.21 per game [1]
Goals Allowed in 2nd 1.00 per game [1] 1.07 per game [2]
Goals Allowed in 3rd 2.07 per game [5] 0.86 per game [1]
Goal Diff in 1 EVEN [3] +8 [2]
Goal Diff in 2 +14 [3] +19 [2]
Goal Diff in 3 -3 [4] +16 [2]
Come From Behind Wins 14.29% [7] 28.57% [2]
Blown Leads 14.29% [2] 0% [1]
Team Stick Fouls 2.50 PIM/Game [1] 3.00 PIM/Game [2]<>pre/>