Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
High Prairie at Falher [Thu., Jan. 31]
LINE: Falher by 6 1/2
FAL has swept the first 5 games this season outscoring HP 45-18 in the process. HP has lost 16 straight at FAL [not including playoffs] since 2010.
Both teams are locked into their seeds and this is a playoff preview.
However, this game takes on added importance for FAL for two reasons and it’s not good news for HP. If FAL wins this game, and at DC in regulation time Saturday, they win the Lawrence Cup. So motivation is there.
And there is the matter of the NPHL scoring race to be settled. GRIM’s Ty Wiebe leads with 23-29-52 points but FAL’s Pat Rowan has 20-27-47 points, Dallas Brochu 22-24-46 points, and Darren Kramer 23-21-44 points. A big game by this line closes the gap for any of the three to win the scoring title. GRIM hosts MAN Friday, FAL is at DC Saturday to end the season.
HP’s rankings are last or next to last in most categories. FAL’s PP is fifth and PK fourth, and they take the third most shots on goal per game, and allow the third fewest so they don’t excel in any category either.
What does stand out is overall shots on goal for and against: FAL ranks third at +110 shots but HP is sixth at -194 shots.
It’s the same difference in PIMs overall. FAL ranks fourth at -2 PIM while HP is last at -150 PIMs.
Despite their record, HP does score first in 40.91% of its games, but they are 1-9 when scoring first to rank last, and 2-5 when leading after one period to rank last. HP also ranks last in the fact they have blown leads in 45.45% of their games, so getting the lead is not a problem, keeping it is. To compound matters, FAL ranks first in come from behind wins at 36.36%.
Leading is still important. HP is 0-12 when trailing after one period and 0-18 when trailing after two periods. FAL is 8-4 when leading after one period, 12-2 when leading after two.
HP ranks last or second last in all period scoring, and allowing goals by period. FAL ranks first in goals scored in the first and second periods, they also rank first in goals for and against in the first period at +17 goals and in the second period at +23 goals. For some reason, FAL falls off to zero in the third. HP is really bad in the second period, being outscored by 49 goals.
I think FAL’s stars will be licking their chops. FAL to win and cover. This will not be close.
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. 22-25.
WEDNESDAY’S RECORD STRAIGHT-UP: 1-0
WEDNESDAY’S RECORD AGAINST THE LINE: 1-0
SEASON RECORD STRAIGHT-UP: 47-26
SEASON RECORD AGAINST THE LINE: 40-33
The Season Series
1. Thu., Nov. 15 – Falher 10 at High Prairie 4
2. Thu., Dec. 6 – High Prairie 5 at Falher 6
3. Thu., Dec. 13 – Falher 7 at High Prairie 4
4. Thu., Dec. 20– High Prairie 3 at Falher 12
5. Thu., Jan. 24 – Falher 10 at High Prairie 2
6. Thu., Jan. 31 – High Prairie at Falher
The Stats Pack
[Ranking in Parenthesis]
[Stats as of Sunday, Jan. 27]
Category High Prairie FalherRecord 3-16-2-1 [4-East] 13-8-0-1 [1-East]
Power Play 16-84, 19.05% [7] 26-117, 11.11% [5]
Penalty Kill 32-108, 70.37% [6] 30-125, 76.00% [4]
Shots For 35.27 per game [6] 42.32 per game [3]
Shots Vs 44.09 per game [6] 37.32 per game [3]
Shots For/Against -194 [6] +110 [3]
PIM For 25.82 per game [5] 24.09 per game [3]
PIM Vs 19.00 per game [2] 24.00 per game [3]
PIM For/Against -150 [7] -2 [4]
Scoring 1st 40.91% [7] 45.45% [T4]
Record Scoring 1st Goal 1-8 [7] 6-4 [T4]
Record Allow 1st Goal 2-11 [7] 7-5 [1]
Lead After 1 Period 2-5 [7] 8-4 [6]
Trail After 1 Period 0-12 [7] 2-4 [T2]
Lead After 2 Periods 2-1 [7] 12-2 [5]
Trail After 2 Periods 0-18 [7] 0-6 [T5]
Goals Scored in 1st 1.73 per game [6] 2.14 per game [1]
Goals Scored in 2nd 1.18 per game [7] 2.23 per game [1]
Goals Scored in 3rd 1.36 per game [T6] 2.00 per game [T3]
Goals Allowed in 1st 2.41 per game [7] 1.36 per game [2]
Goals Allowed in 2nd 3.41 per game [7] 1.18 per game [3]
Goals Allowed in 3rd 2.32 per game [T6] 2.00 per game [4]
Goal Diff in 1 -15 [6] +17 [1]
Goal Diff in 2 -49 [2] +23 [1]
Goal Diff in 3 -24 [7] 0 [4]
Come From Behind Wins 13.64% [7] 36.36% [1]
Blown Leads 45.45% [7] 27.27% [5]
Team Stick Fouls 3.41 PIM/Game [4] 4.86 PIM/Game [7]