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The Inferno
December 2010 - The Month in Review
1st Jan 2011 | Posted by Gareth Thomas
Last month I said I didn't want November to end. I guess the Devils have been trying to make that happen for me. So, let me make the song and dance.
THE DEVILS DIDN'T LOSE A SINGLE GAME IN DECEMBER!!
Or November. In fact, we now have to go all the way back to the 28th of October to see the last time the Devils lost a game (a 7-3 loss in Dundee, that gave the Stars their first ever EIHL win). In the last 21 games we are 20-1, in the last 16 we are 16-0. Yes – 16 wins on the bounce.
We long ago passed all the Devils Elite era win records, including home, away, league and all competition. We are now tied for the all time win streak in Elite League history. Hopefully we will add that to largest winning margin record we picked up against Hull in November.
Taken the time to consider that? Feels good doesn't it? Well, enough self congratulation – how did we get there? Who has been coming up big and who has been putting in 50% effort. The easy answer is everyone has been coming up big.
The reason we have been winning comfortably so consistently is easy – we've been scoring goals without conceding them. We average 1.143 goals against with 3.29 goals for. It doesn't get more basic than that.
Starting right at the back, Lyle has gone from his excellent 0.925 with a 2.142 GAA in December to an amazing 0.955 with a GAA of 1.143 and one shutout. In the 7 games of the month, we have only conceded 8 goals. Those are the stats of a netminder who is liking what he is doing at the moment.
Of course, Lyle isn't doing it all himself. The Defence are coming up really big for us. We only allowed 177 shots on goal, which is 25 less than November – the month we arguably faced the easier opponents.
On to the actual scoring then, and statistically we have been a bit quieter in December than November, with the team only averaging 9.14 points per game (3.29 goals a game) against the insane 16 points per game (5.86 goals per game) in November. But strip the Hull fiasco out of the equation and we are about on par with the previous month.
The lines are still looking fairly balanced, with the first averaging 1.71 goals per game, the second 0.43 and the third managing 0.86. Point production is similarly split, with the top line good for 4.14 points per game, the second 1.57 and the third 1.71 and the D matching the second line with 1.57. So whilst it is obvious (and probably expected) that the top line is coming up with the goods, we have secondary scoring throughout the team, and a third line that is almost good for a goal a game.
Similarly with goals, Matzka got the most for the month (6) with Pelle and MacRae tied in second (5). But the whole team have been chipping in. Much like we aren't looking for one line to put up the goals, we aren't looking to any one player. We clearly have go to guys, but if they aren't coming up with the goods someone else just steps up to the plate.
With that depth, we still manage to have 3 guys in the top ten points table for the whole League.
Looking to the D, can't forget about the work that Weller is doing – and how the rest of the D have solidified around him. There is no formal record of +/- or ice time, but I would put money on Weller being at the top of the league in those measures, and the stats of the rest of our core being improved with him. Since Weller arrived passing has been sharper, and the whole team seems to be that half a step quicker.
Also, is there a coincidence that we haven't lost a game since Weller started playing for us?
As mentioned above, the league do not record the stats that really us how a defenceman is performing. But with the shot counts and the goals against, we know the entire defence is doing the business. That would not happen if the whole defence is not performing. Mark and Mark have been doing all the little things right, clearing the zone, making the sensible pass, setting up the rush, and coming forward when required. Just to show them that we are noticing them doing the things that my spreadsheet can't analyse, I tip my hat to them. But they aren't quite up there with my choice for December
Player of the month – Stuart MacRae
When Stu came in, we were expecting a selfish goal scoring centre. We got the opposite. He has proved to be the consummate play making centre, who seems to win every draw and find the smart pass. In fact, his goal tally this month doubles his tally for the season. It looks like he has finally managed to find the back of the net, and is tied with Pelle for second place in goals for December (5). There is no surprise that our third line is up there with many first lines, when you have MacRae feeding the puck, Tylor and Sam making plays and now all three finding the net, and feeding off each other.
That is December done and dusted. On to the new year, and another month. We go into January the hottest team in the league. Do you think we have what it takes? Take it up on the forum...
The Streak
Or November. In fact, we now have to go all the way back to the 28th of October to see the last time the Devils lost a game (a 7-3 loss in Dundee, that gave the Stars their first ever EIHL win). In the last 21 games we are 20-1, in the last 16 we are 16-0. Yes – 16 wins on the bounce.
We long ago passed all the Devils Elite era win records, including home, away, league and all competition. We are now tied for the all time win streak in Elite League history. Hopefully we will add that to largest winning margin record we picked up against Hull in November.
Taken the time to consider that? Feels good doesn't it? Well, enough self congratulation – how did we get there? Who has been coming up big and who has been putting in 50% effort. The easy answer is everyone has been coming up big.
The reason we have been winning comfortably so consistently is easy – we've been scoring goals without conceding them. We average 1.143 goals against with 3.29 goals for. It doesn't get more basic than that.
Defence wins... or at least helps
|
No |
Name |
GP |
Shots |
GA |
SO |
Avg |
% |
Wins |
Loss |
SOL |
|
30 |
Stevie Lyle |
7 |
176 |
8 |
1 |
1.14 |
0.96 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
Starting right at the back, Lyle has gone from his excellent 0.925 with a 2.142 GAA in December to an amazing 0.955 with a GAA of 1.143 and one shutout. In the 7 games of the month, we have only conceded 8 goals. Those are the stats of a netminder who is liking what he is doing at the moment.
Of course, Lyle isn't doing it all himself. The Defence are coming up really big for us. We only allowed 177 shots on goal, which is 25 less than November – the month we arguably faced the easier opponents.
Shoot on sight
Whilst the D are keeping the shots down, our forwards are running rampant putting up 271 shots in that same period. On average we have outshot the other teams in every period, and have only been outshot in the game against Belfast (although from the webcast I wouldn't have believed that).On to the actual scoring then, and statistically we have been a bit quieter in December than November, with the team only averaging 9.14 points per game (3.29 goals a game) against the insane 16 points per game (5.86 goals per game) in November. But strip the Hull fiasco out of the equation and we are about on par with the previous month.
The lines are still looking fairly balanced, with the first averaging 1.71 goals per game, the second 0.43 and the third managing 0.86. Point production is similarly split, with the top line good for 4.14 points per game, the second 1.57 and the third 1.71 and the D matching the second line with 1.57. So whilst it is obvious (and probably expected) that the top line is coming up with the goods, we have secondary scoring throughout the team, and a third line that is almost good for a goal a game.
A team effort
Looking at the individual stats, we see more or less what we would expect. Pelle leads on points (11) with Matzka and Birbraer tied in second (9). But they are not miles ahead of all the other forwards.Similarly with goals, Matzka got the most for the month (6) with Pelle and MacRae tied in second (5). But the whole team have been chipping in. Much like we aren't looking for one line to put up the goals, we aren't looking to any one player. We clearly have go to guys, but if they aren't coming up with the goods someone else just steps up to the plate.
With that depth, we still manage to have 3 guys in the top ten points table for the whole League.
Looking to the D, can't forget about the work that Weller is doing – and how the rest of the D have solidified around him. There is no formal record of +/- or ice time, but I would put money on Weller being at the top of the league in those measures, and the stats of the rest of our core being improved with him. Since Weller arrived passing has been sharper, and the whole team seems to be that half a step quicker.
Also, is there a coincidence that we haven't lost a game since Weller started playing for us?
Player of the Month
Honourable Mention Mark Smith & Mark Richardson|
No |
Name |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
PIM |
|
5 |
Mark Smith |
7 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
17 |
Mark Richardson |
7 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
As mentioned above, the league do not record the stats that really us how a defenceman is performing. But with the shot counts and the goals against, we know the entire defence is doing the business. That would not happen if the whole defence is not performing. Mark and Mark have been doing all the little things right, clearing the zone, making the sensible pass, setting up the rush, and coming forward when required. Just to show them that we are noticing them doing the things that my spreadsheet can't analyse, I tip my hat to them. But they aren't quite up there with my choice for December
Player of the month – Stuart MacRae
|
No |
Name |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
PIM |
|
18 |
Stuart MacRae |
7 |
5 |
2 |
7 |
6 |
When Stu came in, we were expecting a selfish goal scoring centre. We got the opposite. He has proved to be the consummate play making centre, who seems to win every draw and find the smart pass. In fact, his goal tally this month doubles his tally for the season. It looks like he has finally managed to find the back of the net, and is tied with Pelle for second place in goals for December (5). There is no surprise that our third line is up there with many first lines, when you have MacRae feeding the puck, Tylor and Sam making plays and now all three finding the net, and feeding off each other.
That is December done and dusted. On to the new year, and another month. We go into January the hottest team in the league. Do you think we have what it takes? Take it up on the forum...
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