Numbers: Road is kind to Rangers
New York Rangers right wing Ryan Callahan (24) celebrates his goal with Michael Del Zotto (4) and Brad Richards (19) during the second period against the Washington Capitals in Game 3. (May 2, 2012) Credit: AP
Some iPod playlist suggestions for the Rangers as they recover from their 2-1 triple overtime win against the Washington Capitals: “On the Road Again,” “Hit the Road, Jack,” “Road Trippin'.”
Forget “New York, New York.” This postseason is all about the road. The Rangers' win at Verizon Center was just the latest example of the trend in these 2012 NHL playoffs: There's no place like away.
The Rangers' heart-stopping, fist-pounding, hair-pulling affair on Wednesday was the most dramatic illustration of the futility of home teams this season only because of the Rangers' own past futility at Verizon Center.
Before Wednesday -- ahem, early Thursday morning -- the Rangers hadn't won a playoff game at Verizon Center since April 18, 2009 – a span of five games. And despite whatever talent the Rangers possessed during those games, the end result really wasn't all that surprising given the statistical advantage home teams benefitted from.
From 2007-2011 home teams were 241-189 in the playoffs, winning 56.04 percent of the time. In 2009, when the Rangers started their losing streak at Verizon Center, home teams won 59.7 percent of the time. Home teams won 53.9 percent of the time in 2011, when the Rangers fell to the Caps in five games.
But this postseason, teams with home ice advantage are on thin ice.
Home teams are just 23-35 so far in 2012, winning just 39.6 percent of the time. The Rangers are 3-1 on the road.
Meanwhile, another bad trend for home teams continues.
The home team is just 11-13 when playing a Game 7 since the 2007 postseason. They're 1-2 so far this season -- that one win being the Rangers' defeat of Ottawa.
And that's not the only way the Rangers have come out on top this season.
Yes, most home teams are flailing at home. But somehow the Rangers have managed to benefit from this statistical head-scratcher (beating the Capitals) while not succumbing to it. They are 3-3 at home in 2012 (.500), keeping up with their pedigree of holding their own at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers are 11-9 at home since 2007.
Home might be where the heart is, but the road is where the wins are this year.
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