Four Wins Do Not Buy a Pennant
Cleveland has supplied two weekly winners in succession, and I can already hear the charge that this newspaper keeps its compass pointed towards our own rink. The remedy is simple: count the goals. Last week Semmes supplied five. This week Morrow supplies four, more than any other XHL player in the seven-day book. A hometown preference is no substitute for arithmetic, though I am pleased when they arrive together.
Morrow does not stand alone atop the points column. Seven men finish the week on five. That makes the distinction a judgment, not a discovery hidden in a sum. Four goals, a closing hat trick and two Cleveland victories make the best case to this desk. The next correspondent is welcome to disagree, provided he brings a ledger rather than a grievance.
Nor will I call four victories a championship. Indianapolis and Milwaukee have four as well; Kansas City is unbeaten with three. The gentlemen selling predictions may wish to leave room upon their signs for an amendment.
Houston’s eight against Southern California will travel farther than a sober explanation of weighted goals. Let us supply the explanation anyway: seven pucks entered the net, and one of them counted twice upon the scoreboard. Concannon assisted the Undertow’s lone reply. A difficult night is still a played night; an honest newspaper records the losing side’s contribution.
New York’s football men survived by two points on Sunday. Chicago’s hockey men lost by one. If the fortnight has taught us anything, it is that a comfortable forecast is often merely a close contest waiting to happen.