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.
Lawyers say Egyptians cleared in Greece over migrant shipwreck remain unfairly detained
Guangdong sink Beijing in OT, end losing skid
Godzilla teams up with Kong for new colossal fight
Rihanna looks thinner than ever in a figure
Guangdong sink Beijing in OT, end losing skid
Heavy rainfall, floods cause significant property damage in Australia's NSW
World Asia Esports Championship scheduled for September in China
Antiques from Napoleon's palaces exhibited in Beijing