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.
Grande Prairie at Manning [Sat., Jan. 5]
LINE: Grande Prairie by 3 1/2
It’s the second of four meetings this season between clubs who are each second in their division. MAN has won five of seven after a poor start while GP tries to improve on a 2-2-2 road record [GP is 5-1 at home].
MAN relies on its PP which is third-ranked while GP’s is fifth. However, GP only has one less PPG on one more PP chance so it’s very close. This may be important: GP is the second most penalized team in the NPHL, teams playing MAN have the most penalties called against them. If that translates into PP chances, MAN may have a chance. GP ranks second in shots on goal for, shots on goal against, and shots on goal for and against [+97] while MAN ranks last in each category, including a terrible -194 shots on goal for and against in only 14 games. Getting the lead is important to GP – they are 5-2 when scoring first, 5-0 when leading after one period, and 7-0 when leading after two periods. MAN is also 5-0 when leading after two. GP has yet to win when trailing after two periods but MAN has won twice in nine games. That doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to let GP have a lead after two periods. GP leads the lead in goals scored in the third period and goals allowed. Their +21 goals in the third period is a league best. MAN ranks fifth or worst in goals scored and allowed in each period. MAN does not have trouble getting leads, they have trouble keeping them; MAN has blown leads in 28.57% of its games, fifth worst in the NPHL. GP has not lost in MAN in over 16 years; GP has won seven straight in MAN since an 8-7 loss Nov. 23, 2012 [it was GP’s last loss to MAN]. GP has covered the current line in four of those games, but not covered this line in three of the last four games. Overall, MAN has lost nine straight in GP and seven straight in MAN for 16 straight losses overall. Going with history at MAN, GP to win but MAN with the goals.
The season series
1. Sat., Nov. 24 – Manning 3 at Grande Prairie 10
2. Sat., Jan. 5 – Grande Prairie at Manning
The Stats Pack
[Ranking in Parenthesis]
Category Grande Prairie ManningRecord 7-3-2-0 [2-West] 7-7-0-0 [2-East]
Power Play 13-60, 21.67% [5] 14-59, 23.73% [3]
Penalty Kill 16-74, 78.38 [2] 15-63, 76.19% [4]
Shots For 45.00 per game [2] 30.57 per game [7]
Shots Vs 36.92 [2] 44.43 per game [7]
Shots Diff +97 [2] -194 [7]
PIM For 27.50 per game [6] 27.64 per game [7]
PIM Vs 18.92 per game [3] 29.21 per game [7]
PIM Diff -103 [7] +22 [4]
Scoring 1st 58.33% [T1] 57.14% [3]
Record Scoring 1st Goal 5-2 [3] 4-4 [4]
Record Allow 1st Goal 2-3 [4] 3-3 [3]
Lead After 1 Period 5-0 [T1} 2-1 {6]
Trail After 1 Period 2-3 [3] 4-4 [2]
Lead After 2 Periods 7-0 [2] 5-0 [T2]
Trail After 2 Periods 0-5 [T5] 2-7 [1]
Goals Scored in 1st 1.58 per game [5] 0.86 per game [7]
Goals Scored in 2nd 1.67 per game [4] 1.50 per game [6]
Goals Scored in 3rd 2.75 per game [1] 1.21 per game [7]
Goals Allowed in 1st 1.42 per game [3] 1.79 per game [5]
Goals Allowed in 2nd 1.33 per game [4] 1.57 per game [5]
Goals Allowed in 3rd 1.00 per game [T1] 2.14 per game [T5]
Goal Diff in 1 +2 [3] -13 [7]
Goal Diff in 2 +4 [4] -1 [5]
Goal Diff in 3 +21 [1] -13 [6]
Come From Behind Wins 16.67% [5] 35.71% [2]
Blown Leads 16.67% [3] 28.57% [5]
Team Stick Fouls 5.17 pim/Game [7] 3.79 PIM/Game [4]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