Behind The Net: FanShots

Colorado Avalanche First Half Scoring Chances

2010-08-27T15:44:46Z

Colorado Avalanche First Half Scoring Chances

Amazing work by the tireless Scott Reynolds.

Francois Beauchemin's cognitive dissonance

2010-08-22T18:14:02Z

Francois Beauchemin's cognitive dissonance

Forget that Beauchemin thinks the Leafs could go far this season; this line really got me:

"We had one of the best finishes to the season in the league and we can build on that."

The Leafs were 3-7-11 after the Olympic break. They had one regulation win in their last 12 games. Not to burst anyone's bubble, but that's probably one of the worst finishes in the league.

More Soccer Passing Analysis

2010-08-13T20:02:40Z

More Soccer Passing Analysis

great stuff here - looks like somebody else found a good use for all the data out there.

Jeff Ma interview on BP

2010-07-15T23:21:50Z

Jeff Ma interview on BP

Great interview with Jeff, who just published his first book: The House Advantage.

Homophobia And Discrimination In Hockey

2010-07-07T13:47:46Z

Homophobia And Discrimination In Hockey

Derek discusses reactions to his father's day column.

Fascism breeds World Cup wins??

2010-06-30T23:08:36Z

Fascism breeds World Cup wins??

I'm going to have to disagree on this one. What breeds world cup wins is playing close to home (or to your home time zone). When the World Cup is held in the Americas, a team from the Americas has won. When it's held in Europe, a European team has won. The lone exceptions are 1958 - when Brazil defeated Sweden in Sweden - and 2002, when the Koreans hosted the cup and finished 4th.

Like the Olympics, host countries have frequently done much better than expected given their performance in preceding or following cups - Chile in 1962, and the aforementioned Swedish and Korean teams, for example.

Some of that is familiarity. Some of that is additional investment in the sport in the years leading up to the cup. Some of it is additional interest among potential athletes. And some of it is hometown refereeing. Doesn't matter - it has nothing to do with fascism.

HockeyFanland!

2010-06-26T23:51:15Z

HockeyFanland!

Help a hockey fan grow a his hockey site!
I want to talk hockey with you become a member today!
I'm not the best blogger, but I love the game of hockey!

Soccer Quantified

2010-06-26T17:48:47Z

Soccer Quantified

I would be remiss if I didn't link to the amazing blog, Soccer Quantified. Great stats there and much more accessible than the stuff I write!

Sharks not so stupid as assumed

2010-06-22T22:10:12Z

Sharks not so stupid as assumed

Easy call on this one: the Sharks told Evgeni Nabokov they won't be re-signing him. There's no need to pay market rates for league-average goaltending. One of the biggest inefficiencies at the moment is goaltenders commanding a 20% premium on the free agent market, particularly when there are dozens of these guys kicking around.

Blackhawks will march in Chicago's gay Pride Parade

2010-06-22T18:19:30Z

Blackhawks will march in Chicago's gay Pride Parade

Cubs too. Great story. It's too bad nobody ever wins a championship here in San Francisco!

Advanced NFL Stats becomes Advanced World Cup Stats

2010-06-21T15:34:27Z

Advanced NFL Stats becomes Advanced World Cup Stats

I have to give it up to Brian Burke (no, not that Brian Burke), who is extending his football analysis into the other kind of football.

Hawks-Flyers Chances Game 2

2010-06-01T15:33:28Z

Hawks-Flyers Chances Game 2

Again, the best analysis you're going to find on the internet of game 2.

Japanese teenage knuckleball sensation makes her US pro debut

2010-05-30T16:26:12Z

Japanese teenage knuckleball sensation makes her US pro debut

This is seriously impressive. I think we should add a sixth tool to the five tools: craftiness!

"There’s going to be a draft here in a couple weeks and there’s probably only a handful of 18-year-old high school kids who are going to get drafted who could come here and play. Men," [Mike] Marshall said. "Look at the rosters. You have double-A, triple-A, big-league guys. This isn’t affiliated rookie ball; this isn’t affiliated A-ball. This is way up there. These are 25- to 35-year-old men she’s playing against."

From the Department of 'who could have known?' Yankees DFA Randy Winn

2010-05-28T22:53:40Z

From the Department of 'who could have known?' Yankees DFA Randy Winn

What do you know? A 35-year-old outfielder hits 2 home runs over 149 games...Then hits .213 to start the following season and gets cut. I bring it up only because he's a former Giant whose reputation for fielding only grew as his hitting failed.

Shot Quality vs. Quantity I - the winning formula(e)

2010-05-28T20:08:24Z

Shot Quality vs. Quantity I - the winning formula(e)

Interesting analysis of outscoring and outshooting dating back to the dawn of time (ie - 1983-84, when the NHL started recording shots against.)

Poutine-Eating Contest

2010-05-25T17:20:45Z

Poutine-Eating Contest

The horror! I am really glad they didn't have one of these when I was 19 because you know I would have entered it.

EJ Hradek thinks Sharks should sign Turco

2010-05-24T16:24:04Z

EJ Hradek thinks Sharks should sign Turco

EJ Hradek writes:

"Do you re-sign Nabokov, who's getting a little long on the tooth now, and hasn't done it for you in several years? ... If they decide to go elsewhere, whose out there? Is it Marty Turco as a free agent or do you trade for someone?"

Is that a joke? Seriously, WTF? Did EJ miss the memo on goaltending? You don't sign a goaltender just because you heard his name a lot five years ago. Nabokov and Turco have established that they are average and below-average (.910 and .906 save percentages since the lockout, respectively). There's no doubt that Thomas Greiss can replace that level of performance for way, way, way less coin.

Brian Burke goes after the IIHF

2010-05-23T17:11:18Z

Brian Burke goes after the IIHF

This is about right. The IIHF is by no means altruistic.

Gene Kiniski a proud Canadian fans loved to hate

2010-05-19T20:03:45Z

Gene Kiniski a proud Canadian fans loved to hate

"Mr. Kiniski finally retired from the ring at age 64 because he said no one wanted to see an old guy beat the crap out of a young guy."

Contrarian Goaltender on Streaks

2010-05-19T18:10:32Z

Contrarian Goaltender on Streaks

He sure is contrarian. Be sure to leave him some comments.