NHL Final Four: Stepping it Up, and Down

A little stat action as we head into the last stop before the Stanley Cup. And remember that cliche about giving 110 per cent? Here's the thing: Tim Connolly has given 150 per cent these NHL playoffs. No wonder his head hurts.

Point production, regular season vs. playoffs.

They've stepped it up:

Player, team................G...A....Pts..Pts/G..Season Pts/G..Difference
Connolly, Buf (8 games)...5...6....11...1.38......0.87................+0.51
Grier, Buf (11)................3...5.....8...0.73......0.29................+0.44
Tallinder, Buf (11)...........1...6.....7...0.64......0.26................+0.38
Drury, Buf (11)...............6...7...13...1.18......0.83................+0.35
Marchant, Ana (11).........2...6....8....0.73......0.41................+0.32
Pronger, Edm (12)...........2..10...12...1.00......0.70................+0.30
Penner, Ana (8)..............1...5.....6...0.67......0.37................+0.30
Pisani, Edm (12)..............7...1....8....0.67......0.46................+0.27
Horcoff, Edm (12)............5...9..14....1.17......0.92................+0.25
Roy, Buf (11)..................3...7..10....0.91......0.66................+0.25

Notice how there are no Hurricanes in this list, which is by no means scientific, by the way. Those Sabres should tail off some -- but the numbers, imperfect as they are, confirm an eyeball impression: that Buffalo's playing outta their skins. While many look for an excuse why the Senators lost, they forget the cardinal rule: Give the winner some credit. These Sabres are rolling. That's why I'm taking the Sabres to win this series, over a very good 'Canes team (Eric Staal, with 15 points in 11 games, has upped his production tops on Carolina, his 15 points in 11 games an increase of 14 per cent on his regular season production -- and a good thing, the best player elevating his game when it matters the most. Just ask the Cleveland Cavaliers).

Buffalo in six, I say. And get well, Tim. As for the west, the numbers outside this group are most telling. Much as I'd love to see some Canadian content for the country that cares, Brzgalov has been huge. Anaheim in 7 -- and I dare neutrals to stay up late for all of 'em.

Now to those at the bottom of the list. This is the group who, according to pure production, are off the most from their regular season numbers (and again, I haven't bothered to factor in +/-, or status in terms of lines, or anything that might mitigate the suggestions here that these guys have to pick it up, from the most pickitupedness down):

Player, team................G...A....Pts..Pts/G..Season Pts/G..Difference
McDonald, Ana (11).........1...5....6.....0.55....1.04................-0.49
Dvorak, Edm (7)..............0...0....0.....0.00....0.44................-0.44
Afinogenov, Buf (11)........3...3....6.....0.55....0.95................-0.40
Bergeron, Edm (12)..........1...0....1.....0.08....0.47................-0.39
Whitney, Car (10)............4...1...5......0.50...0.87.................-0.37
Getzlaf, Ana (11).............2...2...4......0.36....0.68................-0.32
C Adams, Car (11)...........0...0...0.......0.00...0.31.................-0.31
Fedoruk, Ana (9).............0...0....0..... 0.00...0.30.................-0.30
J Williams, Car (11)..........2...5....7......0.64....0.93 ...............-0.29
K Adams, Car (11)...........0...0....0......0.00....0.28................-0.28

Comments

[James Park]

Derek Roy... Yes he may have had 2 hot games and not too much after that, but don't take your eyes off of this guy. He may be small, but he's lightning fast, see's the ice very well. His passes are bang on and gives his linemates many chances that didn't come up big in the final games against Ottawa because of Emery playing solid. Roy's playmaking abilities will make him franchise player in the years to come...

And Don Cherry... If you were 5'10" 185 Lbs being pushed by a guy with 3 inches on ya and 30 Lbs, you would probably go flying after a cross-check too... Don you know your hockey, but sometimes you make dumb dumb comments...

[Peter]

I tell ya, CY, has this been one late week or what? I mean last night I wasn't in bed til 2:30! The only other thing on was infomercials and 1-800-bikinichicks! Those Oilers-Sharks-Jays-Angels games were making for some tough mornings. The upcoming Colorado series should be fun, despite what Rance Mulliniks had to say, simply because we're heading to one of the best hitter's parks in the league. I'll be rooting for Josh Towers to have a good outing, or this could be a slugfest out west.