Keeping Perspective: Reconciling the Difference Between Points Standings and Goal Differential/Metrics

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It's been a tough start to the season for the Toronto Legion, one that has, until recently, seen them consistently in the bottom 4 or 5 teams in the standings. The Legion now sit 9th in the VHL and 3rd in the North American Conference with 30 points (15-15-0), a sign that things may be starting to go their way despite how the standings have looked.

 

A closer look at the start to the season for the Legion pointed to this coming. While maintaining a lower position in the standings, the Legion have stayed in the top half of the league in goal differential (currently +7), losing many close games while carrying the play in their wins. Toronto sits 6th in the VHL in shots for, and has given up the 3rd fewest shots against. Several metrics have pointed to the low rank in the standings being a product of mostly bad luck rather than bad play, and that has been reflected in the recent jump in the standings.

 

While it's easy to point to those metrics and indicators of greater success, it is much more difficult to look at the standings each day and see a team sitting near the bottom. The ability to balance both the need for improvement and the patience to wait it out until the games start to go the right way is crucial, and the hope is that the patience is rewarded with better results as the season goes on. The Legion look to reap those rewards with a better run of play and stronger reflection in the standings in the coming weeks.