Rinko Mixed Bag: PP Chances, Success & Refs?

So your fantasy hockey team is just a question of just taking a look at it everyday now.  That is how most fantasy playoff pools are constructed.  You pick your guys and just hope enough advance far into the playoffs to make your investment worthwhile.  If it is just a free league, then it really is just for pride.  Either way, the officiating has to drive people at least somewhat mad in this first round of the playoffs moreso than in recent history.  I have heard it from all sides and honestly it does have a fantasy impact.

There is the positive if you are a person who has a few Kings players.  They are 7 for 12 on the PP in the playoffs and then contrast that with the 5 for 23 from New Jersey or the same from Philadelphia.  Talk about just plain bizarre.  Contrast that with the 27 PP chances combined in the Colorado-San Jose series and yes there was 11 in Game 2 but most of that series the refs have let the players play.  Often those are the best series to watch and the easiest to gauge for solid fantasy opportunities.

The series where you do not know when the penalties are coming and for what are the most difficult.  Even the Pens-Sens series only has 35 combined power play chances but the PK's have been god awful on both sides so if you have guys like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, you are cleaning up in your playoff pool.  Even Detroit players are a good bet as Detroit and Phoenix have combined for 34 PP chances (8.5 per contest).

So is is time to do a quick breakdown of PP chances and % amongst series.  Sure why not.  Does anyone have a calculator handy because I do not?

Series	PP Chances	PP Success
PHI-NJ	46	21.7%
PIT-OTT	35	31.4%
BOS-BUF*	18	5.6%
MTL-WSH*	26	11.5%
SJ-COL	27	18.5%
CHI-NSH*	24	8.3%
VAN-LA	23	39.1%
DET-PHX	34	23.5%

So clearly the two most series that feature the most inept PP's are the Chicago-Nashville series and the Boston-Buffalo series.  The first one is surprising.  Even Montreal and Washington is a bit perplexing given the firepower that both teams do have on the man advantage.  The points you thought you were getting from these guys are not necessarily coming but like I said if you have Malkin and Crosby in your pools, you are still likely okay.  Translating this through each pool has some pretty universal results.

For example in Rinko leagues and what we will spotlight a bit today, the chances are actually hurting play in some series.  Take Philly and New Jersey where the flow has been completely sucked out of it.  There were 16 total PP chances last night.  Players and coaches on both sides have complained that no one knows how to play because they do not really know what is going to be a penalty and what is not.  It is extremely confusing to many owners of fantasy teams as well this year.

However it helps you in a series like Vancouver and LA where the officiating has been consistent but the PK's have been consistently bad, especially for Vancouver.  Who knew the loss of Willie Mitchell and some shaky goaltending from Roberto Luongo would have this much of an impact?  Throw out the outrage from that disallowed goal in Game 3, the bottom line is if you have some players from LA, you are cleaning up on Rinko points.  Drew Doughty had a goal and 2 assists on the PP alone in Game 3 for LA.  Clearly Los Angeles has an advantage they are exploiting but LA's PK has been a little suspect as well.  They just have not been scored on nearly as much.

Even Detroit has not been victimized like they were in Game 1 when they gave up 3 goals on the PK.  What these numbers show you is simple.  When the players are allowed to play, the 5 on 5 guys thrive.  When it becomes a specialty game, then guys like Doughty and Crosby can shine.  Sometimes they do not however and this is why it becomes such a crapshoot as far as Rinko points.  There are guys to look for when the PP chances go up and hopefully when you made your choices...Ovechkin, Crosby, and Malkin were high on your list but if you tossed in a Doughty, Smyth, Knuble, or even a Jeff Carter....you may just unexpectedly get rewarded in your Rinko league (at least in the first 2 rounds).  As the officials start to let them play more and it will happen as the playoffs progress, look at your 5 on 5 guys to lead your Rinko teams.  Good luck everyone.

The People Demand IT!

It has been brought to our attention that the masses are demanding standings and we understand that very much.  So in all fairness, it is time to list the tops first.

OVERALL STANDINGS

Conference , User         , Points , Conf. Standings , Overall Standings
          1 , Mikearney25  ,  256.7 ,               1 ,                 1
          2 , rns012       ,  256.7 ,               1 ,                 1
          3 , Sweetcheesus ,  256.7 ,               1 ,                 1
          3 , thePiece     ,  255.5 ,               2 ,                 4
          3 , ladyjaye     ,  254.7 ,               3 ,                 5
          2 , 44FreeCandy  ,  254.5 ,               2 ,                 6
          2 , wtodds       ,  254.1 ,               3 ,                 7
          3 , Teacherboy4  ,  253.2 ,               4 ,                 8
          2 , wank2689     ,  252.4 ,               4 ,                 9
          3 , nac125       ,  251.8 ,               5 ,                10
          2 , emailmike94  ,  251.7 ,               5 ,                11
          3 , minimulisha  ,  251.2 ,               6 ,                12
          1 , pinerider    ,  248.8 ,               2 ,                13
          1 , jls8301      ,  248.5 ,               3 ,                14
          3 , irishpants   ,    248 ,               7 ,                15
          3 , brownldr     ,  247.8 ,               8 ,                16
          1 , jonupton     ,  247.2 ,               4 ,                17
          1 , edm000       ,  246.6 ,               5 ,                18
          1 , GodardofWar  ,  245.7 ,               6 ,                19
          3 , ssb1017      ,  245.7 ,               9 ,                19

Conference 1 Standings

Conference , User         , Points , Conf. Standings , Overall Standings
          1 , Mikearney25  ,  256.7 ,               1 ,                 1
          1 , pinerider    ,  248.8 ,               2 ,                13
          1 , jls8301      ,  248.5 ,               3 ,                14
          1 , jonupton     ,  247.2 ,               4 ,                17
          1 , edm000       ,  246.6 ,               5 ,                18
          1 , GodardofWar  ,  245.7 ,               6 ,                19
          1 , jort8474     ,  244.8 ,               7 ,                24
          1 , kschelling   ,  244.2 ,               8 ,                25
          1 , psampmail    ,  244.2 ,               8 ,                25
          1 , dingo66      ,  241.7 ,              10 ,                34
          1 , DUchemist    ,  240.8 ,              11 ,                36
          1 , PensRepeat   ,  240.2 ,              12 ,                37
          1 , CityofChamps ,  238.9 ,              13 ,                43
          1 , penguiner87  ,  238.8 ,              14 ,                44
          1 , prayformojo  ,    238 ,              15 ,                47



Conference 2 Standings

Conference , User         , Points , Conf. Standings , Overall Standings
          2 , rns012       ,  256.7 ,               1 ,                 1
          2 , 44FreeCandy  ,  254.5 ,               2 ,                 6
          2 , wtodds       ,  254.1 ,               3 ,                 7
          2 , wank2689     ,  252.4 ,               4 ,                 9
          2 , emailmike94  ,  251.7 ,               5 ,                11
          2 , Knapps       ,  245.5 ,               6 ,                21
          2 , mmenear      ,  245.3 ,               7 ,                22
          2 , darthbeesly  ,    245 ,               8 ,                23
          2 , jimpaekrules ,  242.5 ,               9 ,                30
          2 , sj_tuck      ,  241.3 ,              10 ,                35
          2 , mashbaugh67  ,  240.1 ,              11 ,                38
          2 , clbryan66    ,  239.5 ,              12 ,                41
          2 , Ruski_Rocket ,  239.5 ,              12 ,                41
          2 , Davie282282  ,  238.4 ,              14 ,                45
          2 , PlatypusPens ,    238 ,              15 ,                47



Conference 3 Standings

Conference , User         , Points , Conf. Standings , Overall Standings
          3 , Sweetcheesus ,  256.7 ,               1 ,                 1
          3 , thePiece     ,  255.5 ,               2 ,                 4
          3 , ladyjaye     ,  254.7 ,               3 ,                 5
          3 , Teacherboy4  ,  253.2 ,               4 ,                 8
          3 , nac125       ,  251.8 ,               5 ,                10
          3 , minimulisha  ,  251.2 ,               6 ,                12
          3 , irishpants   ,    248 ,               7 ,                15
          3 , brownldr     ,  247.8 ,               8 ,                16
          3 , ssb1017      ,  245.7 ,               9 ,                19
          3 , Romainiac66  ,  244.2 ,              10 ,                25
          3 , Cooney6687   ,  243.9 ,              11 ,                28
          3 , steve784     ,  243.4 ,              12 ,                29
          3 , koonrag      ,  242.5 ,              13 ,                30
          3 , Kingdave134  ,  242.2 ,              14 ,                32
          3 , bbqhappyfish ,    242 ,              15 ,                33


The leader board / watchlist will be available soon and the delay is due to the redesign we have to do to adopt multi-conferences.  The Rinko staff apologizes for any inconveniences and we promise to have this all done in a very timely manner so you can not only see how everyone is doing but so you can have the ability to accurately gloat about your team or lament about its poor early showing.

Again just keep an eye out for it and more new articles will be coming soon.

Rinko Turkeys

Good morning and greetings from the land of pollen, err New Jersey.  Rinko Turkeys will take the ugliness of nights by players and magnify them by 100x.  We are sorry if we offend anyone or their Rinko teams but this is just a way of spotlighting some of the guys that may have dropped your team like a lead weight.

Now we will be doing this more frequently during the week with a usual special Monday or Tuesday edition that spotlights the weekend.  There is one glaring candidate this morning and a few less obvious ones.  First it is time to welcome the turkeys!




Flying nuts abound!!!!

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Rinko Turkeys Issue 1

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Alexander Ovechkin (LW) -- Washington Capitals

We all know just about everyone has the x3 multiplier on him.  Well last night you hit a whammy of sorts with no shots on goal and no points.  Basically Ovechkin was a great pile of nothing last night with only three hits and little if anything else. When you get down to it...this is Alexander The Great and when you do not see at least some scoring, you worry.  About the only good thing was the fact that he was Even on the night but less than a point from Ovechkin in your Rinko league?  Ouch babe!  So Captain Ovechkin was a very rare super dud last night.

The Green Men -- Vancouver Canucks

This may not have necessary Rinko value but these guys are turkeys in the truest sense. They taunt the poor opponent in the penalty box and most times the opponent does not even look over.  But they did get Justin Williams of the Kings off his game after a third period penalty.  You could clearly see him not quite as present on the ice after that penalty.  Maybe those "green turkeys" around the penalty box really had something to do with it.  Vancouver eventually went on to win in overtime and some say it was because of these crazy "green turkeys".

Roberto Luongo -- Vancouver Canucks

This is going to sound crazy but hear me out.  He was not the better goalie and if not for a few breaks, the Kings take Game 1.  He did make 25 saves and give up 2 GA only.  But your best penalty killer is your netminder and if two goals go in on three chances, then that means something is a bit off.  I know it was Game 1 and maybe there was some rust but I can see why at least a few pundits think that maybe Jonathan Quick (Kings goaltender) may be the better guy between the pipes in this series.  Now for those scoring at home, Luongo did get you 7.1 points which is good quite honestly but the turkey is still lurking and maybe it comes in Game 2.  Stay tuned.  *** Also remember that Luongo is not a captain in Rinko.


Come Tuesday we will have more turkeys to choose from.  We will take a look at some by game and some overall.  It gives a unique comparison and a fun baseline to see which Rinko players are pulling their weight.

The "DO NOT" List

There is just about officially 24 hours left to join the Rinkotology pool.  So why haven't you done so yet?  Now we are not going to tell you how to construct your team.  This is just a mere friendly suggestion or 26.  Here are some of the things you should absolutely not do.  Keep in mind some of these are to lighten the mood.  Yes I acknowledge that this is a contest where you could make some pretty good coin for your investment but at the same time, it is not worth it to go cuckoo for cocoa puffs over.

Again, here are some of our suggestions.

Do not pick enforcers like P3L or Chris Neil.

Do not forget the multipliers for Captains and Alternates

Do not ignore our injury list on the blog page.

Do not pick the goalie with the checkered past.

Do not accidentally lock your roster and forgetfully choose the wrong player(s).

Do not second guess your picks.

Do not look at what your friends are doing.

Do not misplace your credit card or debit card to pay the $10 for 1 team or up to 3 for $24.

Do not make a video where you trash talk all the rest of the Rinkos.

Do not drink heavily while creating your team.

Do not pick all players from 1 or 2 teams please!!!

Do not trash talk without backing at least some of it up.

Do not have dreams of world domination while creating your team.

Do not conjure up spirits like Harry Potter.

Lastly do not make a movie like this for a preview....... 

Actually its not that bad at all....


On behalf of the bloggers from Rinkotology, we wish you the best of luck.  We will keep you updated with the latest, spot some trends, throw some cool numbers at you, and most importantly make this experience a fun and maybe profitable one for you, the player.