Game Predictions Nov 1, 2006
Game Predictions, beginning with tonight, now use team offence and defence, as well as power rankings, to determine predicted winners. Power Ranks are multiplied by the ratio of offence (average shots plus goals taken per game) over defence (average shots plus goals allowed per game). Power Ranks, team offence and team defence stats are kept and used separately for home and away games.
Away Home Prediction
————————————————
Carolina Atlanta Carolina
Colorado Columbus Colorado
NY Rangers Anaheim Anaheim
Toronto Tampa Bay Tampa Bay
Pittsburgh Los Angeles Pittsburgh
Calgary Detroit Detroit
St. Louis Dallas Dallas
Nashville Edmonton Nashville
The closest prediction is Tampa Bay or Toronto. The widest gap between team strengths is Dallas over St. Louis. Neither of those are surprising, as both Tampa Bay and Toronto have been inconsistent and Dallas has obviously been a better team than St. Louis.
Carolina over Atlanta should be a very interesting game, and one where I would be tempted to vote against my prediction. Atlanta should be upset with themselves over their game in Toronto, and should come out flying.
Pittsburgh over Los Angeles is a closer call than you might think. Pittsburgh has been giving up far more shots than it is taking. If Marc-Andre Fleury gets injured or just hits a cold streak, Pittsburgh could be in serious trouble.