Maybe it's a good offensive strategy. In last Saturday's Union/Brown game (Box Score (http://www.collegehockeystats.com/0203/boxes/mbrnuni1.n30)), there were three shorthanded goals, two even strength goals, and zero power play goals. It's not really related to Cornell, but I thought it was an interesting oddity.
I wonder if anyone can find the box of the legendary C. J. Young shorthanded hat trick. Knowing the Harvard teams of that period, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't even get a 4th shorthander in that game (against Dartmouth, if I recall).
A shorthanded hat trick? As in, all three goals were scored while the other team had the power play? Wow, that's impressive.
A shorthanded natural hat trick on the same kill.
"...C. J. Young, who scored three goals shorthanded in 49 seconds, but whose third goal came after a period break."
Source: http://www.harvard-magazine.com/on-line/03021.html
C.J. Young scored 5 goals in that game ... The three shorthanded goals in the same 2-minute penalty ranks as one of the most amazing things of all time, no matter who the opponent.