Fans say less doubt on Cornell-Vermont game (USCHO)

Current USCHO poll asks which college hockey game will be the closest this weekeknd ("most difficult to predict a winner". That's currenlty Minnesota-Colorado College. Cornell-Vermont is at the other end of the spectrum: Only 4% of respondents say that's going to be tough to pick, same response as for Michigan State-Omaha Nebraska, bested only by 2% saying Mercyhurst-Holy Cross will be competitive. (On this last one it may just be lack of response b/c the two teams have the nearly the same # of points in Atlantic Hockey). [www.uscho.com]

Players and fans better not get too cocky. Even though we're the favorite, Vermont could easily beat us if they're looking forward to the next game.

[Q]KenP Wrote:

Players and fans better not get too cocky. Even though we're the favorite, Vermont could easily beat us if they're looking forward to the next game.
[/q]
Surely agree.

If it's all USCHO-types voting, though, it's understandable that, seeing the big gap in rankings between Cornell and UVM, they might think it should be a relatively easy win for Cornell. Those of us who know the ECAC--and the two teams--better, realize that this is definitely not the case.

Does anyone know if Chris Abbott will be able to play Friday and Saturday? I don't think I heard what his injury was.

From Avash's recap on USCHO:

"Cornell junior Chris Abbott, the Big Red's most reliable faceoff man, did not play in the third period or overtime, due to an injury. However, he is expected back next weekend."

I was at all three of the UVM-Dartmouth games over the weekend and we definitely shouldn't overlook this game.

I've only seen 3 or 4 cornell games this year, but Dartmouth struck me as a very similar team to Cornell. They played big, hit hard and played defensively. I think it foreshadows our matchup with UVM. If Dartmouth had any offense or special teams going they would have won the games, because they physically dominated UVM. Jessiman looked awful-he is clearly not at 100%- and on the PP they slowly moved the puck around and when they finally took a shot it got blocked.

UVM on the other hand had the fast skill guys and Fallon looked awesome. His numbers in the last couple of months are almost McKee like. I saw a stat that said something like a 1.5 GAA in the last 8 games or so.

Albany's normal size sheet will help us too (Versus UVM's olympic ice I saw over the weekend).

Anyway, my take away from watching this UVM - Dartmouth series is that if we come out with intensity and stick to the plan, and work the PP, UVM will be pretty beat up and we should win a low-scoring game. But Mckee needs a great game too,, since Fallon isn't going to let in any gimme's, and a couple bad bounces could get buried easily on us by UVM's shooters.

My observational 2 cents.

Arik

[q]Albany's normal size sheet will help us too (Versus UVM's olympic ice I saw over the weekend).[/q]UVM's ice is 200x90, bigger than Lynah's North American standard 200x85 but smaller than the Olympic 200x100.

Vermont is planning (building?) a new rink. Anyone know what ice size they're looking at?

Fine, my bad. It's still a bigger sheet and they take advantage of it