(Image permission: Duncan Speirs)
BILLINGHAM, UK – Billingham Stars and Solway Sharks were the two main movers in the Moralee D1 statistics tables this week after facing lowly Nottingham Lions.
However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Midlands outfit as they gave a good account of themselves in both games, with Ruskin Hughes bagging five goals over the weekend.
While they still remain bottom in most categories, they improved in almost all statistical areas.
Special Teams
A far cry from the 16 powerplay goals over last weekend’s four fixtures, there were only seven scored with the man advantage in four games this weekend.
There were also three short-handed goals, two of which were scored by Billingham’s Canadian import Kevin Boyd.
Solway’s powerplay number jumped from 31.58% to 37.04% with four PP goals from eight attempts on Sunday in Nottingham.
The Lions, along with Sheffield Steeldogs and Blackburn Hawks, were unable to make their mark with the extra skater, scoring no powerplay goals between them.
| Powerplay % | Penalty Kill % | Special Teams | |||||
| Hull | 38.46% | Hull | 95.83% | Hull | 134.29 | ||
| Solway | 37.04% | Blackburn | 84.85% | Sheffield | 119.4 | ||
| Sheffield | 34.78% | Sheffield | 84.62% | Solway | 112.04 | ||
| Telford | 23.81% | Telford | 82.61% | Telford | 106.42 | ||
| Billingham | 23.33% | Sutton | 79.41% | Blackburn | 103.37 | ||
| Solihull | 21.05% | Whitley | 77.78% | Sutton | 100 | ||
| Sutton | 20.59% | Solway | 75.00% | Billingham | 95.21 | ||
| Blackburn | 18.52% | Billingham | 71.88% | Whitley | 94.85 | ||
| Whitley | 17.07% | Solihull | 71.88% | Solihull | 92.93 | ||
| Nottingham | 7.32% | Nottingham | 62.75% | Nottingham | 70.07 |
Shot Statistics
Nottingham saw a statistical improvement across all shooting areas including shot percentage which rose from seven to nine percent with seven goals scored this weekend.
They improved on both shots for and against, which in turn led to an improved shot differential.
Their two percent gain in shooting percentage also saw them leapfrog Sutton Sting who now sit bottom of the pile in this department.
Billingham saw their shot differential move into the positive after a 28 shot difference between themselves and the Lions on Saturday.
| Shots For Per Game | Shots Against Per Game | Shooting % | |||||
| Hull | 58.6 | Sheffield | 24.6 | Telford | 20.34% | ||
| Solway | 56.2 | Solway | 27.4 | Hull | 15.02% | ||
| Solihull | 47.29 | Hull | 27.6 | Solihull | 14.20% | ||
| Sheffield | 45.8 | Telford | 30.5 | Solway | 13.17% | ||
| Telford | 44.25 | Solihull | 35.57 | Sheffield | 13.10% | ||
| Billingham | 40.8 | Billingham | 37.4 | Billingham | 12.25% | ||
| Sutton | 37.5 | Blackburn | 39 | Whitley | 9.96% | ||
| Blackburn | 33.4 | Sutton | 42.67 | Blackburn | 9.58% | ||
| Whitley | 31.22 | Whitley | 43.33 | Nottingham | 9.00% | ||
| Nottingham | 22.22 | Nottingham | 64.56 | Sutton | 7.56% |
Even Strength
Despite their gains in the powerplay department, Solway actually saw a drop in their even strength statistics.
At even strength the Lions levelled off. They tied both games this weekend in even strength scoring – four apiece with Billingham and two apiece with Solway, which is a massive improvement and something to build on next weekend when they travel to Blackburn.
Most of the scoring in the game between Blackburn and Whitley was at even strength. With Whitley scoring three and Blackburn two, the Hawks stayed exactly as they were. The Warriors, however, were able to improve on both aspects.
| Even Strength For Per Game | Even Strength Against Per Game | Even Strength Diff Per Game | |||||
| Telford | 7 | Hull | 1 | Hull | 5.4 | ||
| Hull | 6.4 | Sheffield | 1 | Telford | 4.75 | ||
| Solihull | 5.14 | Solway | 1.8 | Solway | 3.2 | ||
| Solway | 5 | Billingham | 2 | Sheffield | 2.6 | ||
| Sheffield | 3.6 | Telford | 2.25 | Solihull | 2.28 | ||
| Billingham | 3.2 | Solihull | 2.86 | Billingham | 1.2 | ||
| Whitley | 2.22 | Blackburn | 3 | Blackburn | -1 | ||
| Blackburn | 2 | Sutton | 3.5 | Sutton | -2 | ||
| Sutton | 1.5 | Whitley | 4.78 | Whitley | -2.56 | ||
| Nottingham | 1.44 | Nottingham | 7.78 | Nottingham | -6.33 |
What does it mean for this weekend?
With nine teams in league action this weekend (Sheffield have a cup double-header) there is plenty to look forward to. Blackburn, Solihull Barons and Solway are the teams who double up this weekend.
The Hawks face the improving Lions on home ice on Sunday hoping not to be the first team to have points taken off them by the Midlands side. They are also in action at Solihull the previous day having already lost against them this season.
Solihull’s second game of the weekend sees them make the journey to league leaders Hull Pirates who have been impressive at both ends of the ice at the start of the season.
The last of the double-headers sees Solway taking on Sting at home on Saturday, before an away game in Billingham the following day.
This pits them against a team who have had their number so far this season, with the Teessiders sitting 2-0 over their rivals from north of the border.
The remaining game this weekend sees the battle of the new arrivals as Whitley host Telford Tigers.
Canadian imports Phil Edgar and Doug Clarkson make their second debuts in D1, with the Tigers expected to win. However, anything is possible at the unique rink that is Hillheads.
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