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. |
Beijing Prepares for National College Entrance ExamChina's Higher Education Enrollment Rate Reaches 57.8 PctInt'l Children's Day Celebrated Across ChinaFarmers Reap Winter Wheat in Gaomiaoli Village, East China's ShandongChina Focus: ShenzhouBalanced Development of Education Benefits Students of All Ethnic Groups in XinjiangNew Media Helps Promote Rural Revitalization Projects in GuizhouHong Kong, China hold Turkmenistan in FIFA World Cup qualifierChildren Attend Event as 'Little Architects' Ahead of Int'l Children's Day in Xi'anRecord 12 Mln Sit for China's Annual College Entrance Exam