Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
For everything you need to know about the Manning vs Dawson Creek NPHL Semi-Final, including stats, analysis and prediction, continue to read.
NPHL Semi-Final
Manning Comets vs Dawson Creek Canucks
[Best-of-seven]
Playoff History
This is a battle between two teams that have never met in NPHL playoff history.
Series Schedule
Thu., Feb. 21 – Manning at Dawson Creek
Sat., Feb. 23 – Dawson Creek at Manning
Tue., Feb. 26 – Manning at Dawson Creek
Fri., March 1 – Dawson Creek at Manning
*Sat., March 2 – Manning at Dawson Creek
*Tue., March 5 – Dawson Creek at Manning
*Thu., March 7 – Manning at Dawson Creek
* if necessary
The Season Series – 2018-19
1. Sat., Nov. 10 – Dawson Creek 3 at Manning 1
2. Sat., Nov. 17 – Manning 2 at Dawson Creek 5 [at Fairview]
PIMs: MAN 35; DC 43.
PP: MAN 0-4; DC 2-5.
Shots on Goal: MAN 61; DC 107.
DC swept the season series and outscored MAN 8-3 in a pair of low-scoring games. DC outshot MAN 107-61. Braden Gamble took the loss in both games despite making 99 saves on 107 shots. MAN failed to score on the PP in the 2 games.
Regular Season Series History
DC joined the NPHL in 1998-99. The teams have played 21 times in regular season history: 11 times in DC and 10 times in MAN.
* DC leads the overall series 18-3, outscoring MAN 171-55.
* DC is 10-1 at home, outscoring MAN 104-35.
* DC is 8-2 on the road, outscoring MAN 67-20.
* MAN in 1-0 in OT/SO games, winning 5-4 at DC.
* DC has shutout MAN twice.
* MAN has never shutout DC.
Analysis
Looking at the regular season history between the clubs this is a no-brainer. DC holds an 18-3 record in 21 games played, and outscored by a whopping MAN 171-55. So, in 21 games played MAN has scored only 55 goals or under three goals per game.
However, many of these games did not involve the current MAN roster with Jeremie Perron, Matt Boyd and Payton Proskurniak.
DC has not played since Feb. 2 – that’s a 19-day break so they will be chomping at the bit to get going. How much will rust be a factor?
You can’t be much better than DC was in the regular season. DC ranked first in power play percentage, penalty killing percentage, shots on goal for, shots on goal against, shots on goal for and against, and they were the least penalized team in the NPHL. That is very, very impressive.
Meanwhile, MAN ranked at the bottom or near the bottom in most categories, and are led by NPHL MVP Braden Gamble. If not for him, where would MAN be?
However, MAN has significantly improved their rankings and percentages in the playoff series vs GRIM. And GRIM was no slouch, especially with their potent power play. GRIM was only 6-for-29 in the series while MAN was 10-27. This will have to continue for MAN to have any chance.
MAN did keep GRIM’s big guns under wraps. Josh Peters [5-2-7 in four games] and Ty Wiebe [2-5-7 in six games] were their usual self, but MAN shut down Brendan Hawryluk [1-1-2 in six games] and Bond Hawryluk [1-2-3 in six games]. How MAN deals with DC’s scorers is a big question.
Matt Boyd [6-6-12] and Josh Rutherford [4-8-12] were on fire vs GRIM. Defenceman Michael Gillen [3-6-9] and NPHL Rookie-of-the-Year Taylor Paulovich [4-3-7] and Payton Proskurniak lead the offence. Somehow, despite their history vs DC, MAN must find a way to score 4-5 goals and hope Gamble holds the fort.
Prediction:
AN will find that DC is a different kettle of fish and a much tougher opponent than GRIM. DC is led by incredible balance and has no weaknesses, plus NPHL coach-of-the-Year Chris Stevens to lead them. It’s a sweep. DC in four.
Playoff Stats Package
[Ranking in Parenthesis]
Category Manning Dawson CreekRecord 4-2 First round bye
Power Play 10-27, 37.04% [2] First round bye
Penalty Kill 6-29, 79.31% [3] First round bye
Shots For 35.67 per game [4] First round bye
Shots Vs 40.33 per game [5] First round bye
Shots For/Against -28 [5] First round bye
PIM For 20.50 per game [4] First round bye
PIM Vs 16.50 per game [2] First round bye
PIM For/Against -24 [5] First round byeRegular Season Stats Package
[Ranking in Parenthesis]Category Manning Dawson Creek
Record 10-14-0-0 [3-East] 16-4-0-0 [1-West]
Power Play 21-115, 18.26% [6] 27-80, 33.75% [1]
Penalty Kill 35-113, 69.03% [7] 14-74, 81.08% [1]
Shots For 31.29 per game [7] 45.90 per game [1]
Shots Vs 45.54 per game [7] 34.00 per game [1]
Shots For/Against -342 [7] +238 [1]
PIM For 34.08 per game [7] 13.75 per game [1]
PIM Vs 30.83 per game [7] 16.00 per game [1]
PIM For/Against -78 [6] +45 [3]
Scoring 1st 41.67% [T6] 65.00% [1]
Record Scoring 1st Goal 6-4 [5] 13-0 [1]
Record Allow 1st Goal 4-10 [5] 3-4 [2]
Lead After 1 Period 4-2 [6] 9-0 [2]
Trail After 1 Period 5-9 [2] 1-4 [4]
Lead After 2 Periods 8-0 [T3] 14-0 [2]
Trail After 2 Periods 2-13 [2] 2-3 [1]
Goals Scored in 1st 1.04 per game [7] 1.80 per game [T3]
Goals Scored in 2nd 1.25 per game [6] 2.20 per game [2]
Goals Scored in 3rd 1.25 per game [7] 1.85 per game [4]
Goals Allowed in 1st 2.00 per game [5] 1.30 per game [T1]
Goals Allowed in 2nd 1.67 per game [5] 1.05 per game [2]
Goals Allowed in 3rd 2.25 per game [6] 1.05 per game [2]
Goal Diff in 1 -23 [7] +10 [2]
Goal Diff in 2 -10 [5] +23 [T1]
Goal Diff in 3 -24 [5] +16 [2]
Come From Behind Wins 25.00% [T3] 30.00% [2]
Blown Leads 25.00% [T4] 0% [1]
Team Stick Fouls 4.04 PIM/Game [5] 2.60 PIM/Game [2]