Times are changing in the NHL.
Home ice advantage in the playoffs was once considered a significant edge.
Results from last year and this year show that the road team is winning more.
Going back to 2023, road teams went 31-19 in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, an NHL record for most wins by the visitors in any round.
The 2023 First Round was the opposite of ‘Home Sweet Home’, with clubs combining to set an NHL record for most road wins in a series. Three teams won three road games: Seattle, Florida and Toronto. #FirstRoundRecap #NHLStats: https://t.co/OO3iR68Vx5 pic.twitter.com/3MAFYsWwVZ
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 2, 2023
First round fun facts:
Road teams went 31-19, setting a new NHL record for away wins in a playoff round
Every team won at least once on the road
7 of 8 advancing teams faced a series deficit, tied for most in one round in NHL history
6 of 8 series were clinched on the road
— David Dwork (@DavidDwork) May 2, 2023
Overall in the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, the road team went 47-41.
In the crucial game 7, the visitors went 2-2 in last year’s post-season.
This year, the road team again has been winning the majority of the games.
The NHL saw away teams go 22-22 in the first round and an eye-popping 16-9 in the second round, including all 4 series-clinchers.
The Second Round of the 2024 #StanleyCup Playoffs produced four series of 6+ games (including a #Game7) and 15 one-goal games to go along with a record 16 road wins (including all 4 series-clinchers).
Read this 🧵 and click this link for more #NHLStats: https://t.co/hsC7g6ZE0l pic.twitter.com/Sv432EQBKk
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 21, 2024
In the Conference Finals, the road team is 3-2 in the East (Florida leading the New York Rangers) and 2-2 in the West (Edmonton and Dallas tied after four games).
Overall, the road team is 43-35 this year and 90-76 including games from 2023.
In the crucial Game 7, the visitors are just 1-2 with that win on the road going to Edmonton who ended the Canucks season in Vancouver.
Home ice advantage in hockey playoffs means next to nothing other than financially. Over the past 5 years the NHL home team 231 wins visiting team 229…. 11-8 in game 7’s.
— Dana Dirks (@danadirks48) May 22, 2024
It is not just the NHL where road teams are having success.
Look at the WHL playoffs.
The champion Moose Jaw Warriors had identical records of 8-2 at home and on the road in the post-season.
They won a crucial Game 7 on the road in Saskatoon against the regular season champion Blades to capture the Eastern Conference title.
The Western Conference champion Portland Winterhawks also had identical records at home and on the road (6-3 each).
Prince George fans painfully remember that Portland had its biggest win of 12 in the post-season coming on the road at CN Centre, 2-1 in double overtime to end the Cougars season.
P.G. was a bit better at home (6-2) compared to the road (4-3) in the playoffs but Saskatoon’s home record (6-3) was on a percentage basis less than its away record (5-2).
In other words of the top four teams in the WHL, home ice advantage did not come into play.
Of course, teams in any league strive for the so-called home ice advantage but in reality where the game is played does not significantly (or at all?) matter.
Players, coaches, fans naturally want to have their team with the extra home game but the less distractions on the road can often prove beneficial.
The cold hard facts back that up.
FROM THE QUOTE RACK:
Angel Hernandez, who has arguably been criticized more than any other major league umpire, has announced his retirement. Finally after 33 years he has made a right call.
*Contributor Mark Ragovin of New York
Angel Hernandez is retiring. So the job of worst official in sports is available; wonder who is going to get the title?
*Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Aaron Boone comes to the defense of Angel Hernandez. 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/RyATCAdyIp
— theScore (@theScore) May 28, 2024
A teen in Georgia has earned a college degree before graduating high school. In American college football’s Southeast Conference it’s just the opposite—players try to get to high school level in studies before graduating college.
*Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Tokyo police arrested a man suspected of stealing more than 1000 bras and panties over 20 years. Laugh if you must, but that’s really a large undertaking.
Hartley Miller is the news and sports director/supervisor plus morning news anchor for 94.3 the GOAT and Country 97fm. He has completed his 11th year as the radio colour commentator for the Prince George Cougars home games. Hartley has been on the airwaves in PG since 1979 and is the author of You Don’t Say (sports quotes).
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