It's actually goal differential. Basically they look at the following factors in priority order:
1) Records 2) If Records are tied, if one team has beaten the other in round robin play 3) If not, then goal differential (goals for - goals against) 4) If that's tied, goals for 5) If that's tied, then a one game playoff
Basically it determines home ice advantage in the medal round games (read: the final against the US). That's kind of a misnomer since all the games are happening in Italy, but even in the NHL home ice means more than just getting to play in your own rink.
The "home team" in the games gets two big advantages that I can think of off the top of my head. During play stoppages, they get to change after the visiting team, so they can see what the visiting team has put out before making their own change, and also their centre on the faceoffs gets to wait for the other centre to set up before he/she has to.
Those are the two I can think of off the top of my head. I think they get to choose either Jersey colour or dressing room as well, but I'm not 100% positive about that.
1) Records
2) If Records are tied, if one team has beaten the other in round robin play
3) If not, then goal differential (goals for - goals against)
4) If that's tied, goals for
5) If that's tied, then a one game playoff
Basically it determines home ice advantage in the medal round games (read: the final against the US). That's kind of a misnomer since all the games are happening in Italy, but even in the NHL home ice means more than just getting to play in your own rink.
The "home team" in the games gets two big advantages that I can think of off the top of my head. During play stoppages, they get to change after the visiting team, so they can see what the visiting team has put out before making their own change, and also their centre on the faceoffs gets to wait for the other centre to set up before he/she has to.
Those are the two I can think of off the top of my head. I think they get to choose either Jersey colour or dressing room as well, but I'm not 100% positive about that.
Reply
Leave a comment