VSN Presents: S92 VHL Power Rankings (Wk4)

[Gaikoku-hito 2,133]

 

Last week after question why Moscow was so low in my power ranking, I took a look at my data collection process and this dumb writer found that he made a basic mistake of ranking teams straight 1-16 in all categories but that means in situation where a team or teams tied the team names were used by the great program meaning the program put the teams in alphabetical order so could actually negatively affect some teams more than others. I re-ran the numbers after figuring this small error so that now if teams tie in the stat they all get the highest or lowest rank giving no advantage to alphabetical order of the teams.

 

Did this affect Moscow Menace Power Ranking from last week?

 

No, not at all but it did affect Chicago, who was rated 11th last week when they should have been tied for 8th with Helsinki bumping New York and Riga down on placement. Only other teams affected was Toronto and Warsaw; who became tied for 12th so the 12th & 13th ranking wasn`t really affected at all by these errors.

 

Now lets get on with this week Power ranking before it become too late in the week again and people question if these are for this week or last week!!

 

 

 

Ranked 16th

Goals For: 13th

Goals Against: 15th

Standings: 15th

Score: 14.33

Last Ranking: 15th

 

3-11-1 record last week, lack of goals scoring and second worst goals against last week means Seattle Bears were always going to be close to this ranking. A bit surprised that they did finish 16th this week as I was sure another team had a much worse week, but in the end that wasn`t the case.

 

 

Ranked 15th

Goals For: 16th

Goals Against: 9th

Standings: 16th

Score: 13.67

Last Ranking: 9th

 

Good goaltending saves this teams arse this week as I was 100% sure that they would have been 16th after going a rather impress in a bad way 2-11-1 while only scoring 23 goals; compared that to the second worse team, the Bears at 35 goals that is a difference of -12. Ouch. Crazy to think that this team could still make the play-offs after such a devastating week.

 

 

Ranked 14th

Goals For: 13th

Goals Against: 13th

Standings: 14th

Score: 13.33

Last Ranking: 16th

 

Not sure that Vancouver actually improved this week as the Wolves have a very similar record, almost the same as last week at 3-9-2. This is simply a case where the other teams were simply worse so Vancouver improved in the power rankings.

 

 

Ranked 13th

Goals For: 12th

Goals Against: 14th

Standings: 13th

Score: 13.00

Last Ranking: 10th

 

Riga had tough time scoring last week; while continuing to struggle to keep the puck out of the 4X4 behind a Rookie Goaltender. This is the second straight week that Riga has fallen in the power rankings from 6th, 10th and now 13th. Can they fall again next week? That’s seems unlikely but you never know.

 

 

Ranked 12th

Goals For: 13th 

Goals Against: 12th

Standings: 11th

Score: 12.00

Last Ranking: 14th

 

5-7-2 for HC Davos seems to be the normal record as I think it has changed that much but with better goaltendering, a bit more goal scoring and simply other teams having dumpster fires Davos reaches new highest of 12th this week and season.

 

 

Ranked 11th

Goals For: 11th

Goals Against: 9th

Standings: 12th 

Score: 10.67

Last Ranking: 5th

 

How the mighty have fallen or is it an age think with a few members ready to retire at the end of the season? Either way Los Angeles Stars fall for the second week after a 4-7-2 seen them caught and passed by Calgary in the standings. In the end the Stars will want to change the trend in the final few weeks heading into the play-offs.

 

 

Ranked 10th

Goals For: 4th 

Goals Against: 16th  

Standings: 10th  

Score: 10.00

Last Ranking: 2nd

 

After two weeks of moving up the standings from 4th and as high as second last week, the dragons could protect the front of the net last week allowing the most goals through the week. Add in a 6-5-3 record and it not hard to understand why this team fell this week. D.C. will need to play better defensive hockey in the final remaining games getting ready for the play-off or it might be a short trip to post season play for the red and black dragons from D.C.

 

 

Ranked 9th

Goals For: 7th

Goals Against: 11th

Standings: 7th

Score: 8.33

Last Ranking: 4th

 

Had a harder time out scoring their problems last week but still managed an mid-range record with 8-5-1 but missing the week previous loser points really seen the team drop in the ranking. Another team what will need to work as team towards the defensive side of the puck and allow the offense to flow.

 

 

Ranked 8th

Goals For: 7th

Goals Against: 7th

Standings: 7th

Score: 7.33

Last Ranking: 11th

 

Second week in a row that the Phoenix moves up the power ranking but in this situation it was down to an easier schedule but one that was much needed as Chicago pulled themselves back into play-off contention capitalizing on New York’s` struggles rather than having a massive heater themselves as they only managed an 8-5-1 record and a tough schedule is likely to see them drop again.

 

 

Ranked 7th

Goals For: 10th

Goals Against: 1st  

Standings: 9th

Score: 6.67

Last Ranking: 13th

 

After two weeks of falling in the power ranking Toronto got a huge boost from Strong goaltending and team defense this week; again, not to beat a dead horse but also took advantage of New York’s issues. Toronto continues play right around that five hundred mark with another 8-6-0 week. Toronto will look to stay consistent as they head towards; hopefully a play-off spot.

 

 

Ranked 6th

Goals For: 9th

Goals Against: 3rd   

Standings: 6th

Score: 6.00

Last Ranking: 3rd

 

Where loser points helped London last week due to other teams having such heaters Prague becomes victim of their own loser points as they drop in the rankings with a strong 8-3-3 record. While Prague struggled slight with depth scoring again; there isn`t a lot to be worried about if you are a Phantom as play-off seem secured this season as Prague is locked with Helsinki and London fighting over third in the European Conference. They will try to avoid the wildcard if they can.

 

 

Ranked 5th

Goals For: 5th

Goals Against: 3rd

Standings: 2nd  

Score: 4.67

Last Ranking: 12th

 

I feel for the fans and the franchise in Warsaw as the STHS gods just seem cruel!! After trading way their season and making the choice to collect assets for as many players as they could; Warsaw goes on a complete heater with 10-3-2 record. Only saving grace was the fact that they were so far back of the play-offs it really had no effect on the standings. It was a great week beating up on all the non-playoff teams but Warsaw should find themselves falling back down the power rankings in the final two weeks.

 

 

Ranked 4th

Goals For: 5th

Goals Against: 3th

Standings: 5th 

Score: 4.33

Last Ranking: 8th 

 

After playing five hundred the week before and noticing issues with their power-play and making changes have seemed to pay-off for the team as Helsinki had a very strong week with 10-3-1 record; which I think might have even surprised some of the Titans. It really shouldn`t surprise anyone since the Titans limped into the play-offs last season and made the cup finals. This season they look more grounded and look set to attack the European conference again either as the 3rd place team or again as wildcard team as they are locked with London and Prague fighting over third.

 

 

Ranked 3rd

Goals For: 2nd  

Goals Against: 6th       

Standings: 2nd   

Score: 3.33

Last Ranking: 1st  

 

The best team in Europe wasn`t the best team in Europe last week even with a 10-2-2 record and the tied second best record of the week as defensive hockey still seems to be a possible Achilles heel for Malmo as they continue to hover around the 5th best every week in Goals against. Locked into the play-offs and only the Victory Cup is left for the team to claim in the final weeks.

 

 

Ranked 2nd

Goals For: 2nd

Goals Against: 5th

Standings: 2th

Score: 3.00

Last Ranking: 6th

 

After a struggling the week before Calgary came back with a vengeance with a 11-3-0 record and not only caught Los Angeles Stars but passed them in the standing to claim top spot in the North American Conference. This team is heading in the right direction at the right time and seems to be putting all of North America on notice heading into the play-offs. Can they keep it rolling and put pressure on Malmo for the Victory Cup? Nah!! Malmo would need to stumble badly for that to happen.

 

 

Ranked 1st

Goals For: 1st   

Goals Against: 2nd  

Standings: 1st  

Score: 1.33

Last Ranking: 7th

 

The Edmonton Oilers of the VHL as Moscow struggled the week prior only to win 16 straight games starting with four straight at the end of previous week; while going 13-0-1 last week. It was clearly a dominate run as Menace topped both Goals for with seven more goals than any other team. Trades just before the trade deadline seems to kick start the Menace offense allowing the team to focus more on defensive play. Should locked into the second hole in the Europe conference but still have a off chance of catching Malmo for the Victory Cup, but one thing I know fore sure most of Europe will not want a first round match up with Moscow at the moment.

 

 

Like always concern and comment below what you think of this week’s Power ranking, anything that can be improved or anything you would like to see add in the future. Until next week keep your head up and sticks on the ice!!