[SBRforum Staff]

NHL Playoffs – The Defense Rests

By: L.T. Profit Sports Group
http://www.sportsbookreview.com/
4/10/2007 6:35:33 PM

As the 2007 NHL Playoff field proves, you could never underestimate the importance of goals against in hockey, as the 16 playoff teams include the 15 best defensive teams in the league!

We have always said that goals against is the single most important statistic when analyzing NHL games, so imagine our delight when we saw the field for the NHL Playoffs this season. That is because the 16 playoff participants include the 15 best teams in the league in terms of goals against!

In case you were wondering, the lone exception is the Tampa Bay Lighting, who made the post season despite ranking 23rd in the league in goals allowed.

Here are the top 15 goals against teams in order:

1 Minnesota 2.24
2 Detroit 2.33
3 Dallas 2.35
3 New Jersey 2.35
5 San Jose 2.40
5 Vancouver 2.40
7 Anaheim 2.41
8 Nashville 2.52
9 New York Rangers 2.57
10 Ottawa 2.63
11 Calgary 2.70
12 New York Islanders 2.87
13 Buffalo 2.90
14 Pittsburgh 2.93
15 Atlanta 2.94

Now we feel that the Detroit Red Wings have the most balanced team in hockey in terms of offense and defense, so it is no surprise that they are currently 3-1 favorites to win the Western Conference and reach the Stanley Cup Finals. If you are looking for some value in the West however, look no further than the team that allowed the fewest goals in the league, the Minnesota Wild at 10-1. This team incredibly allowed less then two goals per game at home, so if it could win one road game in each series, you will get some bang for the buck at this price.

We feel that the ultimate Stanley Cup winner however will be the New Jersey Devils out of the Eastern Conference. The Devils are currently 5-1 to win the East and a juicy 11-1 to win the Cup, which we feel is nice value on both counts. Besides the fact that the Devils allowed the fewest goals in the Eastern Conference, they also have one of the best clutch-game goaltenders in history in Martin Brodeur, and they also have more post season experience than the other leading Cup contenders.

Finally, if you are looking for first round upsets, take a long look at the Rangers over Atlanta in the East, and at Dallas over Vancouver, San Jose over Nashville, and obviously Minnesota over Anaheim in the West.

[bigboydan]

Thanks for posting this list LT.