"If you can't spot the sucker at the table it's you."
- JimmyP

Chiefs could suck a whole table off in no time

Chiefs could suck a whole table off in no time
- mdw7413

You’re no slouch yourself don’t sell yourself short.

If you want a chuckle, Ryan Lambert is at it again.....
https://sports.yahoo.com/...ed-164826420.html?src=rss

Really enjoyed this blog Ben. 👍

Personally I’m hoping for Columbus. Bob oft poops the bed come playoffs, and it would a great way to showcase the Islanders organization to Panarin, Duchene and Dzingel.
- Wildschwein

Thanks for reading!

Great article.
- coohill

Thank you!

A lot of mathematical calculations go into some of these shots on goal. But seriously, I have more of a problem with one of the underlying assumptions of these posts......i.e., that PPG is the best indicator of a player's success on the ice. PPG only considers offense, not defense, and defense is just as important as offense in the outcome of a game. (Consider this season's Islanders vs. last season's Islanders.) I'm not sure what the answer is. Advanced stats? Seems like a huge effort. +/-? Flawed stat, but better than nothing, and certainly better than a stat that only measures offense.
- JohnScammo

Agreed for sure that PPG isn't an accurate measure of on ice success on it's own. I usually include a line that says:

"*Note: I realize PPG isn’t an accurate measure for defenders, but without getting into point shares/deeper defensive stats, analysis for defense will be based on their offensive history.*"

Like you said, it's tricky to find another answer. I won't say I've really looked into including any advanced stats (and maybe I should) but it does seem like quite an effort, especially for publishing frequent content. For plus/minus I actually didn't hate the stat but I find it does often lack accuracy. My thought process was that at least with PPG, it's an accurate measure for forwards and it measures the offensive side of defencemen. But I'll be looking into new ways of trying to find a more accurate meausurement.

As for the message before, looking at these posts they have been extremely stats-heavy. For future posts, I'll start trying to find a better mix of writing and stats.

Thanks for reading the posts and I appreciate the feedback!

Agreed for sure that PPG isn't an accurate measure of on ice success on it's own. I usually include a line that says:

"*Note: I realize PPG isn’t an accurate measure for defenders, but without getting into point shares/deeper defensive stats, analysis for defense will be based on their offensive history.*"

Like you said, it's tricky to find another answer. I won't say I've really looked into including any advanced stats (and maybe I should) but it does seem like quite an effort, especially for publishing frequent content. For plus/minus I actually didn't hate the stat but I find it does often lack accuracy. My thought process was that at least with PPG, it's an accurate measure for forwards and it measures the offensive side of defencemen. But I'll be looking into new ways of trying to find a more accurate meausurement.

As for the message before, looking at these posts they have been extremely stats-heavy. For future posts, I'll start trying to find a better mix of writing and stats.

Thanks for reading the posts and I appreciate the feedback!
- Ben Shelley

You're welcome, and I appreciate your efforts. And yes, I have read your disclaimer regarding defensemen.

Just to play devil's advocate for a minute, let me just say that PPG is not really an accurate measure for forwards either. Forwards also have defensive responsibilities, and keeping an opponent from scoring is just as important to winning a game as scoring itself. That is why I think +/- is better overall than PPG, despite the flaws that we both recognize.

My ghast is flabbered. I actually met another Islanders fan in Northern Alberta.

My ghast is flabbered. I actually met another Islanders fan in Northern Alberta.
- Wildschwein

One , two, or three eyes and did he have any teeth left in his mouth?

One , two, or three eyes and did they have any teeth left in their mouth?
- Cptmjl

I said Islanders fan, not Rangers fan.

Nice guy in truth. He saw my Islanders hat from across the grocery store and came right upbto me to shake hands. Very passionate fellow.

I said Islanders fan, not Rangers fan.

Nice guy in truth. He saw my Islanders hat from across the grocery store and came right upbto me to shake hands. Very passionate fellow.
- Wildschwein

He probably took a wrong turn at Athabasca.

He probably took a wrong turn at Athabasca.
- JohnScammo

Maybe.

My ghast is flabbered. I actually met another Islanders fan in Northern Alberta.
- Wildschwein

Don't make too much of it. I just wanted to see if your wife really did look like MDW's girlfriend. Plus I always wondered if I could pass off as Canadian by saying "aboot" and "eh".

Don't make too much of it. I just wanted to see if your wife really did look like MDW's girlfriend. Plus I always wondered if I could pass off as Canadian by saying "aboot" and "eh".
- JimmyP

Well? 🤞

And yes, you made a fine socialist.

you can run all the math in the world but this jackets team is not the same it beat earlier in the year

Well? 🤞

And yes, you made a fine socialist.
- Wildschwein

It turns out MDW's girlfriend looks very similar to you. Go figure.

you can run all the math in the world but this jackets team is not the same it beat earlier in the year
- Dan Petriw

I was really hoping they would miss. Still, they have a long haul ahead of them coming in as a wild card.

I was really hoping they would miss. Still, they have a long haul ahead of them coming in as a wild card.
- JimmyP

There's still a slight chance Columbus will miss the playoffs, but, even though they are tied in points currently with Montreal, they own the first tiebreaker over the Habs (ROWs) and the Habs next play the Caps whereas Columbus plays the Rangers. The most likely match up is Columbus and Tampa which could prove to be a pretty good series.

There's still a slight chance Columbus will miss the playoffs, but, even though they are tied in points currently with Montreal, they own the first tiebreaker over the Habs (ROWs) and the Habs next play the Caps whereas Columbus plays the Rangers. The most likely match up is Columbus and Tampa which could prove to be a pretty good series.
- JohnScammo

Agreed. I'd rather see Lightning v Jackets, but it's unlikely. I think the Lightning will spank the Canes 4-0 or 4-1. That means they will be well rested for the next series which will most likely be the Bruins. That may be their hardest match up to the finals.

Agreed. I'd rather see Lightning v Jackets, but it's unlikely. I think the Lightning will spank the Canes 4-0 or 4-1. That means they will be well rested for the next series which will most likely be the Bruins. That may be their hardest match up to the finals.
- JimmyP

Ummm, I don't think you thought this through. When we play them in the conference finals, and beat them, THAT will be their hardest series

It turns out MDW's girlfriend looks very similar to you. Go figure.
- JimmyP

If only he were so lucky.

As s Pens fan Carolina is the team that scares me for some reason. Washington, Tampa, Boston are all really good. But, Carolina just has an "it" factor this year.

The Senators... or maybe Torontoe... for different reasons...

There's still a slight chance Columbus will miss the playoffs, but, even though they are tied in points currently with Montreal, they own the first tiebreaker over the Habs (ROWs) and the Habs next play the Caps whereas Columbus plays the Rangers. The most likely match up is Columbus and Tampa which could prove to be a pretty good series.
- JohnScammo

Pretty much every series in the playoffs is going to be a good series. Just spitballin' here, but I don't think any team mails it in during the playoffs. Just sayin'.
The Isles are going to play whoever they play. There's no bad teams in the playoffs. It's not like they can request to play the Sens, Devils & Rags. They're in. Let's see how far they can ride this out and enjoy it.

Pretty much every series in the playoffs is going to be a good series. Just spitballin' here, but I don't think any team mails it in during the playoffs. Just sayin'.
The Isles are going to play whoever they play. There's no bad teams in the playoffs. It's not like they can request to play the Sens, Devils & Rags. They're in. Let's see how far they can ride this out and enjoy it.
- Isleshockeyman

Isles will struggle against any team as long as the offense and PP continue to struggle. Just no easy teams to play.