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dnL · 03-08-2017, 03:02 AM

Intensity in Four Cities

By Halfdan Thorstein

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Take a look at the SMJHL standings, right now. You probably can't, or won't, so I'll help you out.

Right now, Prince George and Kelowna are neck-and-neck at the top of their respective conference. Prince George is sitting at 59 points - the leader - in 45 games played. Kelowna is directly behind, with 58 points in 44 games played. You can't get much closer than that!

If either team wins out - and only one does so - that team is the champion of their respective conference. The number one seed going into their side of the playoffs.

If we slide into the other division, we see Halifax in first with 59 points in 44 games played, and right behind them with 56 points in 44 games is Montreal. A little less close - but hardly. One or two slipped-up games, and one team gives the conference championship to the other.

As of this point in time, Halifax sits atop the league, with 59 points in 44 games - a solid 67% points per game. Kelowna sits next, with 66.1%; Prince George in third with a slightly lower 66%; and finally Montreal in fourth at 64%. You can clearly see how close things are, right now; most excitingly, the top two in the league are from different conferences, and the other two are from different conferences, creating an exciting close to the season.

Here's what each team has in store for the rest of the season:

- Prince George - 5 remaining games, against Halifax (4-2), Kelowna (3-4), Detroit (4-0), Colorado (3-5), and one more against Detroit. Against these four teams, Prince George has a 10-11 record. We can almost be assured Prince George will secure both games against Detroit, for four points; they'll likely win against Halifax, and both Kelowna and Colorado will be hard-fought battles. We can likely guess Prince George finishes with 7 more points for a season total of 66 points.

- Kelowna - 6 remaining games, against Halifax (0-4), Montreal (2-3), Prince George (4-1-2), Colorado (7-0), Vancouver (7-1), and one more against Halifax. Against these five teams, Kelowna has a 17-9-1 record. We can use historical data to grant 6 points to Kelowna against Prince George, Colorado, and Vancouver, with one additional point in the games between Halifax and Montreal - for a running total of 66 points.

- Halifax - 6 remaining games, against Kelowna (4-0), Prince George (2-4), Vancouver (4-1-1), St. Louis (4-1-2), Colorado (3-0-2), and one more against Kelowna. Based on records, Halifax has 10 more points coming their way - 4 against Kelowna, and two each against Vancouver, St. Louis, and Colorado. They ought to finish right around 69 points - likely winning the league's trophy.

- Montreal - 6 remaining games, against Detroit (6-0-1), St. Louis (4-3), Kelowna (3-2), Vancouver (3-1-1), and another game each against Kelowna and St. Louis. Detroit and Vancouver should be four easy points, and between St. Louis and Kelowna, the eight remaining points should yield about 6 points for Montreal. At the end of the season, that should net them about 66 points on the season.

What's the result? Three times will likely finish right around 66 points, with Halifax having the opportunity to finish with nearly 70 points. Can they do it? Can Prince George, Kelowna, or Montreal surpass Halifax to take the league lead in the last remaining games?

We don't have much time left - We'll just have to see.

If we look at recent success, we have to be looking at Prince George or Kelowna taking the lead. Both teams have a 7-3-0 record in their past ten games, while Halifax and Montreal have a 5-3-2 and 3-4-3 record, respectively, in their last ten.

My money's on Kelowna - they had a brief period of struggle, where lines weren't clicking and the special teams were suspect, but they seem to have returned to form and, in their remaining 6 games, ought to be a force to be reckoned with.

~656 words

Copenhagen · 03-08-2017, 08:32 AM

nice article man

Jenny · 03-08-2017, 12:58 PM

Nereus · 03-08-2017, 01:03 PM

in tents

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