MONTREAL, QC. — So much talk leading up to the playoffs was about how important it was for team’s to move into a position to hold home ice advantage in the playoffs, even if only for a round or so. I myself spoke about it on many occasions, also making reference to season stats showing that by a great majority, teams have a better success ratio at home, versus on the road.
So exactly is going on in these 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs then? Home ice has almost proven to be a disadvantage for most teams so far, or has it? Let’s take a quick look at each series and what home ice advantage has meant for each:
| VAN vs CHI | 4 | 3 | 1 | 75% |
| SJ vs LAK | 3 | 1 | 2 | 33% |
| DET vs PHX | 3 | 2 | 1 | 66% |
| ANA vs NAS | 3 | 2 | 1 | 66% |
| WAS vs NYR | 3 | 3 | 0 | 100% |
| PHI vs BUF | 3 | 1 | 2 | 33% |
| BOS vs MTL | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
| PIT vs TB | 3 | 1 | 2 | 33% |
As we can see, In some battles, it’s proven to be an advantage (WAS vs NYR for example) while in others, it’s proven to be a disadvantage so far (BOS vs MTL for example). Overall, it’s not been the determining factor so far that many including myself predicted, with teams having home ice advantage winning only a little more than half of the games, 13 out of 25 for a 52% margin.
It’s still early however, there’s still much time for teams to turn things around at home.
Why exactly are teams not as successful at home as predicted? The answer to this is not clear cut. You have to examine each series on a case by case basis to better understand.
In the Detroit/Phoenix series, it would seem that Detroit is simply too strong and if they close out the series in four games tonight, it would make sense for that series to finish at 50%, with Detroit winning both their games at home and on the road.
In the Washington/NY Rangers series, it seems both teams have been more comfortable on home ice with all three games going to the team playing at home.
Finally, in the Boston/Montreal series, it’s been quite the opposite. All three games have seen the road team win, and in this example, nerves and preparation could be to blame.
Boston looked totally unprepared to face off against the Canadiens in both their games at home, while both Jacques Martin and Carey Price did not hesitate to communicate through the media that the Habs were not all that ready for the start of game number three.
Is it the pressure of playing at home, in front of demanding fans, while playing in the most hyped series of the first round of these playoffs? Perhaps, but whether it is or not, it now seems this series might go to the first team who can win a game at home, rather than on the road.
Also read my latest at AllHabs.net – Habs Looking for Reasons to be Positive.
Follow @stevofarnham on twitter.
(Graphic: Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)
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