Toronto treads lightly, choosing 4th
Having the option of choosing their playoff opponent wasn’t taken lightly by the staff and players of the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Toronto franchise for clinching first-place in the standings.
So sensitive and in-depth were the discussions, coach Troy Ryan knew better on Monday night than to disclose the reasons behind Toronto’s decision to face fourth-place Minnesota over third-place Boston — two teams who finished with identical 12-9-3 records (including four OT/SO wins apiece), with Boston having the tiebreaking edge.
“To be honest, from a hockey perspective, I think it would be somewhat irresponsible to tip my hat to the exact details,” Ryan said. “So at this point, we’ll keep that within house.”
Of all the aspects taken into consideration, ranging from analytics, head-to-head records, travel and injuries, among the most important, perhaps, was the fear of providing their opponent any additional motivation entering the best-of-five semifinal series, which opens in Toronto on Wednesday. Montreal, which finished second, will face Boston in the other semifinal starting on Thursday.
Related articles
- This aerial photo taken on May 10, 2023 shows a winding mountain road just cleared of snow on the Du2024-05-08
Rescue underway after earthquake hits Syria
Rescuers work around a damaged building after a powerful earthquake in the al-Arbaeen neighborhood i2024-05-08Messi wins 2022 Best FIFA Men's Player Award
Argentina's Lionel Messi (L) greets FIFA President Gianni Infantino after receiving the Best FIFA Me2024-05-08270 killed as deadly military conflict in Sudan rages into 4th day
This photo taken on April 15, 2023 shows smoke rising in Khartoum, capital of Sudan. (Photo by Moham2024-05-08Xi's Article on New Development Pattern to Be Published
Contact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom2024-05-08French PM deploys constitutional power to force passage of pension reform bill
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne delivers a speech to announce the use of the article 49.3, a s2024-05-08
atest comment