Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
The final week before the Christmas break, except for GP, who started their break after the Saturday win over GRIM. They don’t play until Jan. 3, a break of 19 days. Meanwhile it’s not all bad for winless HP. Every team makes the playoffs and HP has only four more road games left after their trip to FAL this week: FAL and MAN, and GRIM twice with one game at PR. Seven are at home. David Temple, former NPHL linesman and avid NPHL fan, sets the lines. To his credit, Temple called the GRIM upset over GP last week.
Grimshaw at Falher (Sat., Dec. 22)
LINE: Falher by 3 1/2
GRIM goes south to FAL after being up north in MAN the night before. At least they are two short trips. It’s the fourth of six meetings this season. FAL has actually won each game but had to forfeit one – the opening game Nov. 3 by a score of 8-6. Otherwise, FAL has won 9-8 in OT and 10-4, both games in GRIM. Despite a poorer record, GRIM leads FAL in several key categories that would normally suggest a better record including PP and PK units, shots on goal for, and shots on goals against per game. Yet, FAL is 8-3-0-1 and GRIM 5-4-1-0. Strange! In fact, GRIM’s PP is ranked third and FAL’s sixth, and GRIM’s PK is third and FAL’s sixth. If it is special teams that decide the game, note GRIM draws the sixth most PIMs per game in the NPHL while FAL is third. However, GRIM also commits the second most PIMS per game in the league. Scoring first doesn’t seem to matter to these teams. GRIM is 2-2 to rank fourth and FAL 2-3 to rank sixth. FAL is also a sparkling 6-1 when allowing the first goal to lead the league. FAL ranks first in the NPHL in goals for and against in both the first and second periods at +10 and +16 respectively, but falls to -1 in the third. Another amazing stat is that FAL has come from behind in 50 per cent of its games played this season to win. FAL does score on GRIM; eight, nine and 10 goals in the three games this season. Last year, FAL scored eight and 12 goals at home, four and five in GRIM. FAL is heating up. The trend continues. 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 GRIM 8 [OT]
3. Sat., Dec. 8 – Falher 10 at Grimshaw 4
4. Sat., Dec. 22 – Grimshaw at Falher
5. Fri., Jan. 4 – Falher at Grimshaw
6. Sat., Jan. 26 – Grimshaw at Falher
The Stats Pack
[Ranking in Parenthesis]
Category Grimshaw FalherRecord 5-4-1-0 [2-East] 8-3-0-1 [1-East]
Power Play 19-50, 38.00% [1] 15-68, 22.06% [4]
Penalty Kill 10-45, 77.78% [3] 18-60, 70.00% [6]
Shots For 41.20 per game [2] 40.50 per game [4]
Shots Vs 36.20 per game [2] 39.33 per game [5]
Shots Diff +50 [3] +14 [5]
PIM For 28.50 per game [6] 23.83 per game [3]
PIM Vs 30.80 per game [6] 24.92 per game [5]
PIM Diff +23 [3] +13 [5]
Scoring 1st 40.00% [7] 41.67% [T5]
Record Scoring 1st Goal 2-2 [4] 2-3 [6]
Record Allow 1st Goal 3-3 [5] 6-1 [1]
Lead After 1 Period 4-1 {4] 4-3 [6]
Trail After 1 Period 1-3 [T5] 2-1 [1]
Lead After 2 Periods 4-0 [T4] 7-2 [6]
Trail After 2 Periods 1-5 [1] 0-1 [3]
Goals Scored in 1st 2.10 per game [2] 2.17 per game [1]
Goals Scored in 2nd 1.70 per game [4] 2.67 per game [2]
Goals Scored in 3rd 1.80 per game [4] 2.08 per game [3]
Goals Allowed in 1st 1.70 per game [6] 1.33 per game [2]
Goals Allowed in 2nd 2.60 per game [6] 1.33 per game [T3]
Goals Allowed in 3rd 2.40 per game [7] 2.17 per game [4]
Goal Diff in 1 +4 [T2] +10 [1]
Goal Diff in 2 -9 [6] +16 [1]
Goal Diff in 3 -6 [5] -1 [4]
Come From Behind Wins 30.00% [T2] 50.00% [1]
Blown Leads 20.00% [4] 25.00% [4]
Team Stick Fouls 4.00 PIM/Game [3] 5.00 PIM/Game [6]LAST WEEK’S RECORD STRAIGHT-UP: 5-2
LAST WEEK’S RECORD AGAINST THE LINE: 4-3
SEASON RECORD STRAIGHT-UP: 27-12
SEASON RECORD AGAINST THE LINE: 25-14