I want to begin by stating, this is not a shameless plug at all, don’t care if you buy into what I am about to say or not. This is just too good to pass up though in sharing it with you.
Normally I don’t rant about my “Stat Magic” theory when it includes something said or predicted before a game. It is too easy because typically, it is a 50/50 shot that the person dropping comments and stats gets it right. The best forms come during a game, but that is another story altogether.
What this is about is the Stat Magic whammy that Ray Ferraro of ESPN laid on the Flames in their 3-0 loss to the Sharks Thursday night. In this article:
published on Wednesday he makes some awesome points. I love Ray so I am not bashing at all, but what I love about my SM theory is that he nailed it right on the head for game 3. Here are some examples from the article and their impact on the game in an otherworldly karma filled way…
“The Flames need to take fewer penalties and avoid putting themselves at a disadvantage so often. Calgary had 20 penalty minutes in the first two games. If the Sharks can start taking advantage of that, things could start to turn around a little bit. Composure will be key going back home and playing in front of a raucous crowd.”
Calgary took 10 penalties to SJ’s 3, ouch
“First, Evgeni Nabokov has to be far better going forward than he was in allowing eight goals on 57 shots over the first two games. Second, the threesome of Patrick Marleau, Vincent Damphousse and Jonathan Cheechoo has to come through with some offense. Third, Nils Ekman has been a big disappointment for the Sharks during the playoffs; he has to pick it up as well. San Jose definitely needs a spark, and coach Ron Wilson intimated after Game 2 that changes may be coming in terms of line combinations and players in or out of the lineup.”
Nabokov pitched a shutout making 34 saves, Calgary even out shot SJ. To make matters worse with this quote, 2 of the 3 players mentioned (Marleau and Damphousse) were a combined +2 with a goal, 6 shots on goal and the player he mentions that is dissapointing, Ekman, was a scratch for this game.
“The line of Shean Donovan, Ville Nieminen and Marcus Nilson has not gotten the attention it deserves. All three are very fast and each of them had a goal and an assist in the Flames` 4-1 win in Game 2. Donovan and Nilson are also key penalty killers.”
That line ended up a –4 with obviously no points, and 4 shots on goal…not good.
I know my article is mainly quotes but what you should take away from it is that there were some specifics mentioned, and those specifics were a large part of the success of the Sharks and the demise of the Flames. Call it what you like, the Stat Magic was alive and well here. I didn’t watch the game but I would bet someone dropped a live comment or stat that fed the fire as well.
