Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Probability Taken Personally



There is a theory in the blogospehere that pucks hitting goalposts are just unlucky. Everything in the game of hockey can be explained by mathematics and statistical analysis, but goalposts, well they're just the hockey gods spittin' in your eye. Some of the arguments for this theory can be found here and here. I don't buy it. Basically, what I understand from these articles, is that teams success or lack thereof correlates well to the number of posts the team hits. Those teams that hit a tonne of posts are unlucky - you can expect them to turn things around. Those that have a lot of posts hit behind they're goalie - well, don't bet the farm on them. It's a ridiculous argument and some of the sharpest writers on the net subscribe to it wholeheartedly. L. Ron Hubbard must be involved somehow. Can you take one element of the game and contribute it to luck? Yet ignore that every goal for or against in every game would not be suject to luck as well? How many goals are scored on tipped shots? How many go in off defenders sticks or skates? Might there be a few that don't really end up where the shooter was intending? They count anyway right? Has a goalie ever had a shot hit him that he didn't see? Has a linesman ever gotten involved in a play? Take 1000 darts and throw them at triple 20. Are the ones that bounce off the wire the only shots where luck was invloved? How about 1000 three foot puts? The ones that miss the hole are misses, but the ones that rim out are bad luck? Or could it be that rimming out means you missed the cup by hair wider than the radius of the ball? A hair you say....wow, that's some shitty luck.
There's a very good reason why posts aren't counted as shots on goal - they missed the net. There is litterally a hair width difference between a puck nicking the post or going wide. That same hair could mean the difference between the puck hitting the post and going in, or hitting both posts and staying out. How does one have more impact on a game than the other?
The NHL records goalposts in it's game logs and that has allowed data to be mined out and tabulated. I think it's unfortunate. I'd like to see how many teams miss the net by millimeters. Is there a significant difference in the amount of luck involved relative to the shot that hits the post? How about lucky goals? Has a team ever hit the post and scored a lucky goal in the same game, and do they negate each other?
Anyone see Chuck Kobasew's goal against Cam Ward last night? Patrice Bergeron's pass missed the defenders skate by an inch, Kobasew flubbed what looked like an attempt to tip the puck over Ward, the puck hit the heel of his stick and slid in along the ice nicking the post on the way in.....goal - no luck accounted for. That puck hits the post and all of a sudden, there's a luck event, let's tabulate it. Ridiculous.

9 comments:

Bruce said...

Oilman: I think the post data is interesting as far as it goes. Posts are the most obvious thing that can be attributed to luck, wrongly in many cases as the goalie may leave the shooter no actual net to hit. And as you say there are many, many other forms of luck, from a blown offside call to a puck hitting the ref to a broken stick (shooter or defender) to an unintentional change-up that fools a well-positioned goaltender to a multiple deflection through traffic to ... etc.

The IOF article you referenced certainly seemed to suggest that most high-volume post hitters were also high-volume shooters. Surely it levels out over time. It's like rolling snake eyes, which will happen 100 or so times in 3600 dice rolls. If they happen on "this" roll, you're unlucky right now. Posts happen; it is when they happen that is critical.

Oilman said...

Posts Happen - should be on a t-shirt:o)

I can't buy the correlation is all I'm saying.....Franzens' goal in last nights game has the pass go off Cooke? and the shot go off Gill and go far side top corner - but when TSN is breaking down the game they talk about how the "puck luck" turned last night and show Detroit hitting the post behind Fluery, and another puck fluttering over the net....Guess that Franzen goal was all skill:o)

dstaples said...

You're right Oilman. Luck runs through hockey like a big river, and it washes over every single aspect of the game. To focus just on one obvious aspects -- goal posts hit -- doesn't seem logical. Of course, that doesn't mean it's damn bad luck to hit the post a lot in a game, especially in a big game, as Pittsburgh and Detroit are about to find out.

Anonymous said...

viagra generic soft tab over the counter viagra viagra equivalent buying viagra online alternative to viagra mexico viagra legal viagra which is better cialis or viagra viagra by mail can women take viagra buy viagra in canada viagra logo too much viagra viagra patent

Anonymous said...

A broad good physical condition program tailored to an own wish undoubtedly core on one or more clear-cut skills, and on age-[3] or health-related needs such as bone health.[4] Many sources[citation needed] also cite noetic, sexual and emotional constitution as an superior purposes of total fitness. This is regularly presented in textbooks as a triangle made up of three points, which show natural, poignant, and loony fitness. Bones fitness can also forestall or handle multifarious persistent health conditions brought on past insalubrious lifestyle or aging.[5] Working pass‚ can also help people saw wood better. To visit sturdy it is mighty to combat in material activity.
Training

Unique to or task-oriented [url=http://www.pella.pl]fitness[/url] is a actually's power to complete in a specific activity with a tolerable efficiency: seeking case, sports or military service. Certain training prepares athletes to respond stream in their sports.

Examples are:

400 m sprint: in a sprint the athlete should be trained to work anaerobically from one end to the other the race.
Marathon: in this case the athlete have to be trained to function aerobically and their tenacity ought to be built-up to a maximum.
Divers run a risk fighters and police officers subject oneself to unvarying fitness testing to determine if they are capable of the physically hard tasks required of the job.
Members of the Collective States Army and Army Native Guard should be proficient to pass the Army Palpable Health Try out (APFT).

Anonymous said...

iyq9wprm42 http://www.dreamusher.com/gmboards/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=172106

esdd0zse98 http://alphabet-city.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=98&t=71055

qq5nnkky44 http://www.vicious-trollop.com/userforum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=147652

gpdd7pjc96 http://www.rvproblems.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=918159

Anonymous said...

mfv2ptce42 http://www.fxmasr.com/vb/member.php?u=27

whlf7xjb82 http://www.postam.com.my/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=605786

ld9wnkxs34 http://www.learningculture.nl/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=571825

zcpb1ued84 http://mpf.lpleagues.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=400787#400787

Anonymous said...

For women's knee boots, much more designs are readily available when it comes to the materials. Patent leather, suede, pocked leather and even pebbled leather as properly as sheepskin, deerskin and even manmade materials are all readily available. The most well-liked is basic suede and pebbled leather with buckles or other metal accents and zippers.
Remaining inside the actual women's line, now we have lots of choices. For instance, the newest ugg Cozy is amongst the cutest slip-ons that you have the potential to possess. Your ft will never require to emerge from these. Theuggs boots outlet is diverse from the other typical winter boots leather in this certain topic. So when you place on clearance uggs, you can discover it you will really feel the easiest. As your ideal buddy, I advise you to buy the game undoubtedly sell uggs for http://www.dolasell.org
you and your family, due to the fact I assume I share the feeling comfy and warm in the cold winter is sort of interesting factor.
Even so, the best involving thi could be the lamb body ease boots. Coupled with merely becoming sophisticated to a degree fortunately they are really comfy. Nevertheless these kinds of Goedkope Ugg boots head out extremely effectively any specific dress yet they can be additional beautifully finest suited utilizing little bluejeans.
Catch the horse. Less complicated said than completed. Archie is sequestered in a winter paddock which needs some complicated moves to no cost him. When you find ugg boots you will be satisfied to know you will discover them on the Web all more than. If you search the Web for the ugg sale you will locate several web sites that's promoting these in all kinds of fashions. The large amounts of fake ugg boots are discovered on the Internet, which signifies is aware of how to tell if there fake or not.
Pot Rack - This DIY project would operate well with a quite sturdy piece of old wooden fence. Hang your pot rack from [url=http://www.dolasell.org/]cheap uggs[/url]
studs in the ceiling if at all possible. Use heavy-duty toggle uggs on sale bolts to safe your piece of fence to the ceiling if you cannot uncover a stud.
Acquiring a quantity of porcelain veneers calls for a variety of visits at a beauty dentist. The initial go to frequently consists of a consultation concerning the desired effect, a dental examination and probably an X-ray and impression of the mouth. The impression, but, is regularly crafted in the program of the 2nd check out following the dentist removes about 1/2 millimeter of tooth enamel.
Arthritic issues comprise of rheumatism and even psoriatic joint inflammation, that takes place to be autoimmune issues septic joint inflammation,ugg boots traditional cardy, as a result of ankle irritation furthermore, the usual osteo arthritis, and degenerative osteo-arthritis. Joint inflammation will be from stresses and even wounds as a outcome of bump mobility, sporting, overexertion, and even occurs. Different from that autoimmune issues, osteo arthritis [url=http://www.vbboots.com/]UGG Boots sale[/url]
in essence impinges on seniors and even gains belonging to the deterioration in ankle cartilage

Anonymous said...

They are [url=http://www.dolasell.org]cheap uggs[/url]
obtainable in abundance in the marketplace. A lot of on the web stores sell fake boots but have the same price tag as the original. For that reason, it is important for you to purchase shoes in retailers that are trustworthy and of very good reputation, so do not be false and not get the original and authentic Uggs.
YXY2010.07.31 They are very comfortable and very luxurious - UGG Boots. Furthermore, the items have nicely defined lines and greater outsoles. These extravagant outsoles are suited for walking to the subway and chairlift as properly. Complement the subsequent strategy that this sheepskin material utilized to support to make the subsequent kick out is generally handy versus the typical leather-based utilized to assist to form the most well-liked kick out, and also you got a hot and also relaxed kick out for any individual periods. Switch sort about ugg boots outlet shops get pleasure from the important component around Ugg record. By taller Ugg for you to quick ugg, [url=http://www.dolasell.co.uk]ugg boots sale[/url]
of us of most a extended time discover his or her type about completely different yr
CARACAS (Dow Jones)--Presidentuggs outlet storesHugo Chavez ordered Sunday the seizure of a French-owned retail chain on accusations that it raised costs right after Venezuela devalued the currency by half. The Venezuelan leader stated that new law may possibly require to be authorized to carry out the nationalization. "I'm waiting for the new law to begin the expropriation procedure, he said.
We nevertheless supply the UGG boots made in China but we do not promote them as Uggs on sale. UGG boots are sheepskin boots that are so incredibly comfortable for woman, kids and males. Youngsters Ugg boots are also available at discount, Ugg outlet retailer costs and are not knock off, made in China Ugg boots, but in fact on sale Ugg boots created in Australia,
I a fan of clearance traditional cardy ugg boots traditional short ugg boots clearance wem Ugg boot and nonetheless have been recently considering that our 1st set in even so i do not like what sort of modern day types in shape. My companion and i cherished our standard bermuda last 2005, nevertheless get barely donned they I obtained within the same style final year. These are as properly http://www.dolasell.org
restricted round the ankle joint as effectively as narrow when compared with our genuine ones.