Playoff Update: Home Ice Disadvantage

The playoffs are in full swing and the first round has brought many intense and exciting match ups. Of the 8 total series this round 6 of them will be going to 6 games or more. Detroit and Washington are the only teams that have punched their ticket to the next round. One of the more shocking statistics of the first round has been how many times the road team has won. Currently in round 1, the road team has won 21 of the 37 games played. That's a 57% winning percentage which goes against the cliche home ice advantage. The teams battle all season to earn a home ice advantage, but to see that advantage appear almost no existent this year is a surprise. For teams like Detroit and Buffalo, who played better on the road all season, this advantage is welcome news. But for teams like Vancouver and Tampa Bay, winning at home is important to achieve success. I've put together some theories on why teams are winning away from home and what home teams can do about it.

• Home teams are under more pressure to make big plays, for goals, hits and saves, to impress the home crowd while visiting teams just play a simple and effective style of game, which leads to victories.

• Since most teams can put out 3 or 4 strong lines, visiting coaches don't have to worry about match ups lost from the last change advantage.

• The fans in any city don't always cheer for the home team. Add the fans that travel with the visitors and there are quite a few fans cheering for the road team.

I am still surprised with how many road victories we have seen but it adds an exciting element to an already exciting playoff. The NHL just signed a big 10 year USA tv deal with NBC due to the NHL's young, smart and tech savvy fans so hopefully many Americans are watching to see how awesome hockey is. This is the perfect time to showcase the excitement of the league because with so much at stake, every team is playing their best.

Next weekend the second round of the playoffs will start. On Sunday I will give my picks for the round because I am going on vacation for a couple days. Right now I'm going back to the greatest hobby ever, watching playoff hockey.