Kats Krunch: AHL 3-in-3 Sets

Gus Katsaros — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 18:02:48 +0000

One could make a case that Bridgeport or Providence possess one of, if not the most difficult schedules in professional sports. Consider this:

They play 16 sets of three games in three nights. The AHL average is eight (8) per team.
They’ve played five already, in nine weeks. The AHL average is 2.5 sets per team already played.
Both went through four straight weekends with a 3-in-3 set.

Despite the scheduling, Providence holds a record of 1-4 in Game 1’s, 0-5 in Game 2’s and 3-2 in Game 3’s. Bridgeport holds a record of 2-3 across all games.

For a full, detailed breakdown team by team, you can download the pdf I created for all AHL teams.

AHL2014-15 Scheds

AHL scheduling is bonkers under normal circumstances tacking on travel conditions, sometimes wintery, terrible hikes to the next venue.

Manchester (14) and Springfield (14) are a close second with Texas, Rockford, Milwaukee and Charlotte play the least amount of sets with three each.

This is how the AHL splits in 2014-15. Splits include monthly units for a more micro approach. Manchester and Springfield with four sets in March. Hershey has four in February.

The Gm1, 2 and 3 columns represent the amount of games the listed team has against opposition in the midst a 3-in-3 set. Bridgeport – and Providence – lead the AHL with 17 and 16 games respectively facing a team playing Game 3 of a 3-in-3. The AHL Average is 7.5.

This isn’t new with Providence either. They were one off the most sets in 2013-14 and led the AHL in 2012-13.

I’ve also incorporated the number of games as a rested/tired team on the game in consecutive nights, however, that could mean Game 2 or Game 3 of a set, adding another layer to what should be considered a schedule loss.

In 2014-15 18 games feature a team playing Game 3 versus a rested opponent. Collectively, tired teams have a 2- 7 record.

TEAM RECORDS

To this point, North Division leading Utica Comets and West Division Oklahoma City has yet to play a 3-in-3 set. Presented below are the records for team sets.

The table on the right is the record of teams as the roll through games 1-3 in their sets. That is, Adirondack has an 0-2 record in game 2’s and 2-0 in game 3’s.

The table on the right represents is from the opposition team facing a team in their 3-in-3 set. Albany is 2-1 versus teams playing game 1’s and providence is 5-2 against teams playing game 3’s that is, 5 of 14 wins this season.

RESTED & TIRED

Of course I couldn’t resist breaking down the rested and tired scenario here. At the NHL level, rested teams usually win about .596% of their games. Thus far in 48 games rested teams have won 32, for a winning percentage of .667%.

Midwest Division leading Rockford IceHogs have played five games as a rested team earning eight points.

The records are up to mid December. Binghamton, Manchester, Norfolk and Bridgeport, have yet to play as a tired team. On the rested side, Charlotte, Grand Rapids, Springfield, Syracuse, Utica and Wilkes-Barre Scranton have not played as a rested team.

Portland holds the dubious distinction of having four losses as a tired team, both losses to divisional rival, Providence.

I guess there’s a bright light in each schedule after all.

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Avalanche Prospects: A Monster Mash

Gus Katsaros — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 15:24:41 +0000

The Lake Erie Monsters skated to a 4-0 penalty-filled victory in their third game of the season as visitors to the Toronto Marlies at Ricoh Coliseum. The Monsters iced 15 of 17 players aged 25 or younger as of Sept 15, 2012 (Mike Connolly and Joey Hishon were the only scratches).

While the Avalanche boasted youth up front, it was a pair of mobile defenders that were standouts, along with a solid effort by former Sudbury Wolves and former OHL scoring champ, Mike Sgarbossa.

I was on hand and made some notes on Tyson Barrie, Stefan Elliott and Mike Sgarbossa.

Tyson Barrie:

Scored Monsters second goal walking in off the point and snapping a hard quick shot. Showed maturity and patience while rushing, picking his spots to skate the puck out, or finding outlets when there was limited space .. actively jumped into the rush and involved offensively .. better committed to making sensible pinches, and limiting the high risk moves .. still, he got away with one with a quick move skating it out of the defensive zone where he pushed the puck through Joe Colborne's legs, eluded being hit and came out with the puck on the other end - with speed - to carry on the rush .. showed great imagination and playmaking skills, while also playing a part on the penalty kill in a penalty filled game - Marlies were 0-12 on the power play.

Stefan Elliott:

Iced on a majority of penalty kill chances due to the steady string of Monsters infractions, especially in the second period .. liked to originate the rush from behind the net, relying on initial quickness and fluid skating ability to get the puck through the zone and through center ice .. prone to make some risky decisions as the lone man back, especially if he has to fight off forecheckers where his change of pace and lateral dexterity will only help him to an extent .. aggressive on the point directing pucks through traffic and on goal .. takes a lot of shots quick, hanging on to thie puck very little .. small windup, and accurate wrist shot .. keenly joined the rush and played the point on the power play .. matured quick last season making his NHL debut and has looked every bit ready to return with a good shot of making the Avalanche full time when the NHL resumes play.

Mike Sgarbossa:

Played a solid, unspectacular overall game making few mistakes and earning two assists - his first points of the season .. quickly identified the defensive responsibility with efforts to be involved down low in front of his net .. stood next to the goal on the 3rd Monsters goal as the puck was at the point, perfectly positioned for a potential rebound .. visible on every shift, pushing the play along, or clogging lanes without the puck .. only blemish a high sticking penalty at the end of the second period, while his ice time was hampered due to the amount of time on the penalty kill .. undersized and a lacked some of the strength required to fend off bigger opponents, an issue that needs to be addressed .. good start up skater and quick lateral shifts to mazimixe his ability to escape oncoming checkers .. a work in progress, but has some good tools to kick start the process.

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lake erie – McKeen's Hockey

Kats Krunch: AHL 3-in-3 Sets

TEAM RECORDS

RESTED & TIRED

Avalanche Prospects: A Monster Mash