Maybe without quite so much drama this time?
But fuck it, I'll take any win.
Faceoff tracker-
Castagna went 11/7 last night, dropped a smidge down to 63.7%. Walsh went 9/5, up a smidge to 55.3%.
Major took 10 faceoffs for some reason while on the Walsh line, went 3/7. Not sure why? Possibly easing Walsh back after the Spengler? But Major was listed as the center on that line.
DiGiulian went 7/6, Catalano 6/1, for the curious.
Also, Castagna and Long were +3 on the night. Veilleux and Stanley, -2.
Keopple first on the ice for warmies. Hope that doesn't mean he's starting.
Quote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 06:26:26 PMKeopple first on the ice for warmies. Hope that doesn't mean he's starting.
Usually does.
How badly did Cournoyer play last night? Could Casey be sitting him because of performance?
Quote from: Jeff Hopkins '82 on January 03, 2026, 06:30:37 PMQuote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 06:26:26 PMKeopple first on the ice for warmies. Hope that doesn't mean he's starting.
Usually does.
How badly did Cournoyer play last night? Could Casey be sitting him because of performance?
He didn't seem to play badly, in my opinion, but he didn't play well, either.
We gave up a few really bad chances and he didn't make great saves on them. There are worse things than giving Keopple a start here and there (and I'm kinda down on Keopple).
Quote from: Dafatone on January 03, 2026, 06:39:28 PMQuote from: Jeff Hopkins '82 on January 03, 2026, 06:30:37 PMQuote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 06:26:26 PMKeopple first on the ice for warmies. Hope that doesn't mean he's starting.
Usually does.
How badly did Cournoyer play last night? Could Casey be sitting him because of performance?
He didn't seem to play badly, in my opinion, but he didn't play well, either.
We gave up a few really bad chances and he didn't make great saves on them. There are worse things than giving Keopple a start here and there (and I'm kinda down on Keopple).
Yeah, no goals against that were like "that was Courns's fault", but also 4 GA. So. We'll see. I'm not a huge fan of Keopple either but we'll see.
good evening hockey fans
Kid just crumpled. Yikes. 18 for them.
Note to cameraperson. I don't really need to see that much of Luke Ashton's ass. This isn't Heated Rivalry.
WHOSE COCK?
Jason apparently does not know Castagna was retroactively awarded a 2nd assist last night.
I gotta say, like last night, UNO's defense is miserable. I hope we don't think this is normal.
LONGERRRR
LONG coming right down the slot
Quote from: Trotsky on January 03, 2026, 07:12:58 PMI gotta say, like last night, UNO's defense is miserable. I hope we don;t think this is normal.
Outside of the Canadian exhibitions, it's about as bad as we see. Even the ECAC teams at the bottom of the standings play tighter D.
2-1. McCrady for holding and bam
Well that wasn't pretty.
McCrady.
(https://static0.moviewebimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/rj-macready-in-the-thing.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=1.5)
Quote from: scoop85 on January 03, 2026, 07:23:07 PMQuote from: Trotsky on January 03, 2026, 07:12:58 PMI gotta say, like last night, UNO's defense is miserable. I hope we don;t think this is normal.
Outside of the Canadian exhibitions, it's about as bad as we see. Even the ECAC teams at the bottom of the standings play tighter D.
With that said UNO has some scorers, so it would behoove us to stay out of the box.
Speaking of staying in the box, Arsenault continuing the tradition of crimebaggery.
Geez
The penalty box curse
Nice effort by Major.
So I have this feeling UNO sucks and we should beat them. They have scoring but they have terrible defense.
Quote from: Trotsky on January 03, 2026, 07:34:05 PMSo I have this feeling UNO sucks and we should beat them. They have scoring but they have terrible defense.
They've had some wins against good teams (I think they've played the toughest schedule in the country), but their record is what it is.
Get out this period with the lead.
UNO is like Q with less talent. They sell out every shift, generate action, but it is chaos.
Quote from: scoop85 on January 03, 2026, 07:35:38 PMQuote from: Trotsky on January 03, 2026, 07:34:05 PMSo I have this feeling UNO sucks and we should beat them. They have scoring but they have terrible defense.
They've had some wins against good teams (I think they've played the toughest schedule in the country), but their record is what it is.
Yeah, I think they're a little better than the record suggests. But also woof.
Anyways, my guy got an assist and THIS time it counts!
Scoresheet updated to give DiGuilian and Kraft assists on the first goal
Quote from: fastforward on January 03, 2026, 07:45:35 PMScoresheet updated to give DiGuilian and Kraft assists on the first goal
Woot!
It's way too quiet in here
Worst time to have the longest home stand :-[
Quote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 07:39:57 PMQuote from: scoop85 on January 03, 2026, 07:35:38 PMQuote from: Trotsky on January 03, 2026, 07:34:05 PMSo I have this feeling UNO sucks and we should beat them. They have scoring but they have terrible defense.
They've had some wins against good teams (I think they've played the toughest schedule in the country), but their record is what it is.
Yeah, I think they're a little better than the record suggests. But also woof.
Anyways, my guy got an assist and THIS time it counts!
Don't take this the wrong way, stereax, but when he plays us, your guy can eat infected ass.
So to speak.
Jason really needs to find a new expression to replace "through the screen," which as far as I can tell really just means "towards the net" regardless of whether there's a screen. He's been saying this expression many times a game for at least 15 years.
Loranger again. 2 all.
Quote from: Trotsky on January 03, 2026, 08:01:20 PMQuote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 07:39:57 PMQuote from: scoop85 on January 03, 2026, 07:35:38 PMQuote from: Trotsky on January 03, 2026, 07:34:05 PMSo I have this feeling UNO sucks and we should beat them. They have scoring but they have terrible defense.
They've had some wins against good teams (I think they've played the toughest schedule in the country), but their record is what it is.
Yeah, I think they're a little better than the record suggests. But also woof.
Anyways, my guy got an assist and THIS time it counts!
Don't take this the wrong way, stereax, but when he plays us, your guy can eat infected ass.
So to speak.
I don't. I'm just glad that if it IS an omaha goal...
Dammit, Devlin. Criming again.
STOP. COMMITTING. CRIMES.
"Free Hoyt Stanley" chants.
Jesus, my everything hurts.
Quote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 08:21:05 PMSTOP. COMMITTING. CRIMES.
Jason said stay out of the box
I can relate
Quote from: fastforward on January 03, 2026, 08:32:22 PMQuote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 08:21:05 PMSTOP. COMMITTING. CRIMES.
Jason said stay out of the box
I can relate
You'd think they're cats with how much they want to sit in a box that isn't meant for them.
QuoteTired of love uninspired
Let's face it, I'm pooped
Be better, Red.
CASTYYYYYYYY AND WE'RE UP 3-2
Quote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 08:51:34 PMCASTYYYYYYYY AND WE'RE UP 3-2
We get the lead despite some precarious play in our own end.
Were the numbers on the front of the whites too this year or just the reds?
Kraft continues the penalty box parade.
We showed some signs of life on that kill.
Quote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 08:57:36 PMKraft continues the penalty box parade.
Thankfully they killed it
Stop it NOW
"The best defense is a good offense."
-- some asshole
this holiday season, buy a rudsak for hiscock
I see no form from either side right now. Very nervous.
Quote from: ugarte on January 03, 2026, 09:04:19 PMthis holiday season, buy a rudsak for hiscock
what for?
106 seconds, let's just have some responsible defense and skate this off as a win please.
don't love an icing when they're waiting for a spot to pull the goalie tbh
wow I thought that was in wheeeeew
I swear that went in, but UNO isn't challenging, so...
lgr
Quote from: sah67 on January 03, 2026, 09:18:15 PMI swear that went in, but UNO isn't challenging, so...
Nope. Missed by a few inches on the TV replay.
Quote from: sah67 on January 03, 2026, 09:18:15 PMI swear that went in, but UNO isn't challenging, so...
very obviously went through the crease behind keopple but it didn't even clip the post
Quote from: sah67 on January 03, 2026, 09:18:15 PMI swear that went in, but UNO isn't challenging, so...
Great camera angle in the corner showed it was directed through the crease and didn't go in. Close call though.
Quote from: sah67 on January 03, 2026, 09:18:15 PMI swear that went in, but UNO isn't challenging, so...
Cross crease, but not in. Thankfully.
While I still think Cournoyer will be our main guy in net, nice to see Keopple play well and get the W.
Cornell looked really bad tonight but good to be 11 in the NPI. They seem positionally sound on offense and defense but on split second plays they either lack skill or get flustered, whether it be odd-man rushes (on which they almost never score) or breaking it out against the forecheck (so many failed clears and turnovers). I think the book on Cornell is to pressure them aggressively, they'll often turn the puck over and in the event they break the pressure they rarely score on the resulting odd-man chance. Cornell looked way better last night.
Cartagna had a rough season last year but that was probably due to bad luck more than anything. Last year his shooting % was a paltry 8.2, this year it is an astronomical 19.4 and he leads the team in goals with 7. As usual, the truth is somewhere in between.
Quote from: BearLover on January 03, 2026, 09:49:26 PMCartagna had a rough season last year but that was probably due to bad luck more than anything. Last year his shooting % was a paltry 8.2, this year it is an astronomical 19.4 and he leads the team in goals with 7. As usual, the truth is somewhere in between.
Weren't both his shoulders fucked?
Quote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 09:50:33 PMQuote from: BearLover on January 03, 2026, 09:49:26 PMCartagna had a rough season last year but that was probably due to bad luck more than anything. Last year his shooting % was a paltry 8.2, this year it is an astronomical 19.4 and he leads the team in goals with 7. As usual, the truth is somewhere in between.
Weren't both his shoulders fucked?
Not sure. Walsh's shoulder injury was documented, no idea about Castagna
Quote from: BearLover on January 03, 2026, 09:45:10 PMCornell looked really bad tonight but good to be 11 in the NPI. They seem positionally sound on offense and defense but on split second plays they either lack skill or get flustered, whether it be odd-man rushes (on which they almost never score) or breaking it out against the forecheck (so many failed clears and turnovers). I think the book on Cornell is to pressure them aggressively, they'll often turn the puck over and in the event they break the pressure they rarely score on the resulting odd-man chance. Cornell looked way better last night.
I will however give them credit for overcoming a 5-2 PP disadvantage.
Quote from: BearLover on January 03, 2026, 09:52:35 PMQuote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 09:50:33 PMQuote from: BearLover on January 03, 2026, 09:49:26 PMCartagna had a rough season last year but that was probably due to bad luck more than anything. Last year his shooting % was a paltry 8.2, this year it is an astronomical 19.4 and he leads the team in goals with 7. As usual, the truth is somewhere in between.
Weren't both his shoulders fucked?
Not sure. Walsh's shoulder injury was documented, no idea about Castagna
Pretty sure both Casty's shoulders were taped up by the end of the year, too.
Speaking of, 14-5 on faceoffs today. Up to 64.5 fo%.
Quote from: BearLover on January 03, 2026, 08:14:14 PMJason really needs to find a new expression to replace "through the screen," which as far as I can tell really just means "towards the net" regardless of whether there's a screen. He's been saying this expression many times a game for at least 15 years.
Jason did a great job interviewing the players (which aired during intermission).
Quote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 09:50:33 PMQuote from: BearLover on January 03, 2026, 09:49:26 PMCartagna had a rough season last year but that was probably due to bad luck more than anything. Last year his shooting % was a paltry 8.2, this year it is an astronomical 19.4 and he leads the team in goals with 7. As usual, the truth is somewhere in between.
Weren't both his shoulders fucked?
Yeah, he played through injury too.
Quote from: scoop85 on January 03, 2026, 10:00:22 PMQuote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 09:50:33 PMQuote from: BearLover on January 03, 2026, 09:49:26 PMCartagna had a rough season last year but that was probably due to bad luck more than anything. Last year his shooting % was a paltry 8.2, this year it is an astronomical 19.4 and he leads the team in goals with 7. As usual, the truth is somewhere in between.
Weren't both his shoulders fucked?
Yeah, he played through injury too.
Could be, idk. I usually prefer to have an actual source (which maybe you have) that this happened, otherwise I don't think speculating about injuries (his shoulders were taped etc.) is that helpful.
This sweep helps our at large chances a lot. I miss the band and other students. I love going to Cornell hockey games no matter what but they really aren't the same without them.
Quote from: BearLover on January 03, 2026, 10:05:13 PMQuote from: scoop85 on January 03, 2026, 10:00:22 PMQuote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 09:50:33 PMQuote from: BearLover on January 03, 2026, 09:49:26 PMCartagna had a rough season last year but that was probably due to bad luck more than anything. Last year his shooting % was a paltry 8.2, this year it is an astronomical 19.4 and he leads the team in goals with 7. As usual, the truth is somewhere in between.
Weren't both his shoulders fucked?
Yeah, he played through injury too.
Could be, idk. I usually prefer to have an actual source (which maybe you have) that this happened, otherwise I don't think speculating about injuries (his shoulders were taped etc.) is that helpful.
I understand your skepticism, but I do have a reliable source
Quote from: scoop85 on January 03, 2026, 11:33:53 PMQuote from: BearLover on January 03, 2026, 10:05:13 PMQuote from: scoop85 on January 03, 2026, 10:00:22 PMQuote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 09:50:33 PMQuote from: BearLover on January 03, 2026, 09:49:26 PMCartagna had a rough season last year but that was probably due to bad luck more than anything. Last year his shooting % was a paltry 8.2, this year it is an astronomical 19.4 and he leads the team in goals with 7. As usual, the truth is somewhere in between.
Weren't both his shoulders fucked?
Yeah, he played through injury too.
Could be, idk. I usually prefer to have an actual source (which maybe you have) that this happened, otherwise I don't think speculating about injuries (his shoulders were taped etc.) is that helpful.
I understand your skepticism, but I do have a reliable source
+1 here, outside of my own observations of him in the tunnel.
Quote from: chimpfood on January 03, 2026, 11:30:16 PMThis sweep helps our at large chances a lot. I miss the band and other students. I love going to Cornell hockey games no matter what but they really aren't the same without them.
The crowd was fine, I think, but missing the band is a big deal for the atmosphere. Especially because whoever is in charge of the music is downright bad at the timing. (Pretty sure half of our post-goal heckles were played over, for one.)
Quote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 06:26:26 PMKeopple first on the ice for warmies. Hope that doesn't mean he's starting.
He needs some game reps, and there is less tape on him. He's my go to if Corn gives up 4. The result was good. He's a solid dude, but not our number 1.
Quote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 09:54:14 PMSpeaking of [Castagna], 14-5 on faceoffs today. Up to 64.5 fo%.
Jason called the last faceoff as being won by Castagna, and I do think Castagna got the result he wanted, which was to fire the puck forward rather than try to draw it back. That however has me wondering what is the criteria for deciding who won/lost a faceoff. Did Castagna technically win that faceoff for statistical purposes even though he/his team did not come away with control of the puck? Perhaps the scorekeepers are given a lot of latitude to decide who exerted their will more.
Quote from: The Rancor on January 04, 2026, 10:30:36 AMQuote from: stereax on January 03, 2026, 06:26:26 PMKeopple first on the ice for warmies. Hope that doesn't mean he's starting.
He needs some game reps, and there is less tape on him. He's my go to if Corn gives up 4. The result was good. He's a solid dude, but not our number 1.
I mean, yeah, better than ice cold Roest or Katz (is he still alive?). I don't mind Keopple pinch hitting, but at the same time I'm hard pressed to say Courns had a
bad night on Friday despite giving up four. Feels like Keopple just doesn't see the puck all the well, to me.
Mostly I think Cournoyer has a tendency to calm down the net, at least to me? Versus Keopple where I'm watching cross crease passes with 15 seconds left.
At the end of the day though, results are results and Keopple gets the W, which is all that's
really important.
It seems to me that any skater in the lineup who doesn't add much offensively is a low-value lineup spot. There is the possible exception of stay-at-home D, but even that I'm not sure of—-Jacob Slavin, the best defensive defenseman in the NHL, still contributes around 35 points a year. You can be strong defensively and contribute offensively.
A sign of a great team is four lines that can score. Look at Cornell's 2019-20 team (#1 in the country when the season ended): four lines that all scored a lot, and the "physical" or "checking" forwards were players like Mullin, Malott, Betts, each of them strong offensive contributors.
When an opposing team doesn't have to worry about four lines or six D who are able to score, it makes their life a lot easier and we give up a large chunk of the 60 minutes when we could be threatening to score.
My point is: scoring depth makes a team great, and this year's team has a lot of room to improve in that regard. A "checking line" is a bug, not a feature. I count only 7 forwards on our current roster who are contributing offensively. Really need to get Devlin, Kraft, DeSantis going, but even that only gets us to three full lines who can score. Pirtle scored a lot in junior hockey, would be nice to see more of him.
Beyond our forwards, we need to get more offense out of our defensemen beyond Veilleux and Fegaras.
A realistic goal is getting up to 3 lines full of offensive threats by the end of the season. And maybe one of the four of Stanley, Fisher, Ashton, O'Brien can start chipping in offensively. Longer term, we need to find more offensive depth and recruit players who are dominating offensively at their current level, with the ultimate goal of rolling four lines who can score.
Quote from: BearLover on January 05, 2026, 10:57:06 AM... with the ultimate goal of rolling four lines who can score.
Realistically, does anyone, anywhere have this? Yes, better is better but it's also tautological.
Quote from: ugarte on January 05, 2026, 11:50:28 AMQuote from: BearLover on January 05, 2026, 10:57:06 AM... with the ultimate goal of rolling four lines who can score.
Realistically, does anyone, anywhere have this? Yes, better is better but it's also tautological.
I don't think even the heavyweight programs this year have four scoring lines. Besides, you do kinda want a shutdown/checking line, if only to match up against harder competition and give your other guys a break.
If you can have 7 or so forwards that are a scoring threat, and even 2 D, you're in a good spot. Part of the game involves not being scored on.
I'd be happy to have a Hornby\Abbott\Abbott fourth line anytime. Their mission was to shut down the opponent's top line...and they did. Knocked 'em around a bit while doing it, too.
Quote from: ugarte on January 05, 2026, 11:50:28 AMQuote from: BearLover on January 05, 2026, 10:57:06 AM... with the ultimate goal of rolling four lines who can score.
Realistically, does anyone, anywhere have this? Yes, better is better but it's also tautological.
I'm not familiar enough with other teams to say. But Cornell itself had this in 2019-20 as noted above.
Quote from: stereax on January 05, 2026, 12:03:29 PMQuote from: ugarte on January 05, 2026, 11:50:28 AMQuote from: BearLover on January 05, 2026, 10:57:06 AM... with the ultimate goal of rolling four lines who can score.
Realistically, does anyone, anywhere have this? Yes, better is better but it's also tautological.
I don't think even the heavyweight programs this year have four scoring lines. Besides, you do kinda want a shutdown/checking line, if only to match up against harder competition and give your other guys a break.
If you can have 7 or so forwards that are a scoring threat, and even 2 D, you're in a good spot. Part of the game involves not being scored on.
7 and 2 is much too low IMO. Really need at least 9 and 3, and that's not even counting guys out to injury (of which we currently have none). That way, we can roll 3 full lines that can score and 3 D pairings with one major threat to score. We can also have one checking line and complement each offensive D with a defensive D.
The best way to not be scored on is to possess the puck in the other team's offensive zone.
Quote from: BearLover on January 05, 2026, 01:09:12 PMQuote from: ugarte on January 05, 2026, 11:50:28 AMQuote from: BearLover on January 05, 2026, 10:57:06 AM... with the ultimate goal of rolling four lines who can score.
Realistically, does anyone, anywhere have this? Yes, better is better but it's also tautological.
I'm not familiar enough with other teams to say. But Cornell itself had this in 2019-20 as noted above.
again, somewhat tautological that the #1 team in the country will have outlier features. I agree that Cornell should take your advice to "be great".
Quote from: ugarte on January 05, 2026, 01:21:42 PMQuote from: BearLover on January 05, 2026, 01:09:12 PMQuote from: ugarte on January 05, 2026, 11:50:28 AMQuote from: BearLover on January 05, 2026, 10:57:06 AM... with the ultimate goal of rolling four lines who can score.
Realistically, does anyone, anywhere have this? Yes, better is better but it's also tautological.
I'm not familiar enough with other teams to say. But Cornell itself had this in 2019-20 as noted above.
again, somewhat tautological that the #1 team in the country will have outlier features. I agree that Cornell should take your advice to "be great".
I'm viewing 4 lines of scoring threats as an aspirational goal and 3 lines as a realistic goal. I'd say
4 lines=national champion caliber
3 lines=NCAA tournament caliber
Also I see the biggest weakness of the current team as its lack of scoring threats. It is where we have the most room for improvement.
My point is: scoring depth makes a team great, and this year's team has a lot of room to improve in that regard. A "checking line" is a bug, not a feature. I count only 7 forwards on our current roster who are contributing offensively. Really need to get Devlin, Kraft, DeSantis going, but even that only gets us to three full lines who can score. Pirtle scored a lot in junior hockey, would be nice to see more of him.
I agree to a point on this - IMO, Kraft's contribution to the team goes well beyond scoring and is often underrated due to the lack of scoring. He does the dirty work, battles for the puck and sets up plays. Feisty bugger
Devlin has greatly improved, especially since he hadn't played last year but hasn't scored much, I agree
DeSantis has ups and downs and is due for a scoring run, hopefully sooner rather than later
Quote from: fastforward on January 05, 2026, 03:14:50 PMMy point is: scoring depth makes a team great, and this year's team has a lot of room to improve in that regard. A "checking line" is a bug, not a feature. I count only 7 forwards on our current roster who are contributing offensively. Really need to get Devlin, Kraft, DeSantis going, but even that only gets us to three full lines who can score. Pirtle scored a lot in junior hockey, would be nice to see more of him.
I agree to a point on this - IMO, Kraft's contribution to the team goes well beyond scoring and is often underrated due to the lack of scoring. He does the dirty work, battles for the puck and sets up plays. Feisty bugger
Devlin has greatly improved, especially since he hadn't played last year but hasn't scored much, I agree
DeSantis has ups and downs and is due for a scoring run, hopefully sooner rather than later
Kraft does a lot that doesn't show up on the scoresheet. Devlin too, to a degree. I think especially for Kraft the points WILL come.
DeSantis is streaky. When good, you get him at PPG, other times he can't hit the broad side of a barn...
Pirtle has scored pretty consistently when he's been in the lineup. I think 5 points in 7 games?
That's the thing about scoring. If it was so easy, everyone would do it .
As it stands, after 13 games, only 4 skaters have zero points, three of them have skated one game only. We don't have a blue chip super star, and the scoring is pretty spread around.
Ryan Walsh has nearly an identical stat line as Gavin McKenna, who's going number 1 in the draft (maybe). If I told you that at the beginning of the season, you wouldn't put a dime on that bet. I'll take my chances with Walsh and his extra inch and 25 pounds of grit.
Quote from: The Rancor on January 05, 2026, 04:19:32 PMRyan Walsh has nearly an identical stat line as Gavin McKenna, who's going number 1 in the draft (maybe). If I told you that at the beginning of the season, you wouldn't put a dime on that bet. I'll take my chances with Walsh and his extra inch and 25 pounds of grit.
in college? sure, i can see it. but in the draft!?
Quote from: ugarte on January 05, 2026, 01:21:42 PMQuote from: BearLover on January 05, 2026, 01:09:12 PMQuote from: ugarte on January 05, 2026, 11:50:28 AMQuote from: BearLover on January 05, 2026, 10:57:06 AM... with the ultimate goal of rolling four lines who can score.
Realistically, does anyone, anywhere have this? Yes, better is better but it's also tautological.
I'm not familiar enough with other teams to say. But Cornell itself had this in 2019-20 as noted above.
again, somewhat tautological that the #1 team in the country will have outlier features. I agree that Cornell should take your advice to "be great".
I hope Casey reads this. I'm sure he never thought about getting production from everyone in the lineup. ::)
Quote from: marty on January 05, 2026, 05:06:06 PMQuote from: ugarte on January 05, 2026, 01:21:42 PMQuote from: BearLover on January 05, 2026, 01:09:12 PMQuote from: ugarte on January 05, 2026, 11:50:28 AMQuote from: BearLover on January 05, 2026, 10:57:06 AM... with the ultimate goal of rolling four lines who can score.
Realistically, does anyone, anywhere have this? Yes, better is better but it's also tautological.
I'm not familiar enough with other teams to say. But Cornell itself had this in 2019-20 as noted above.
again, somewhat tautological that the #1 team in the country will have outlier features. I agree that Cornell should take your advice to "be great".
I hope Casey reads this. I'm sure he never thought about getting production from everyone in the lineup. ::)
You have major reading comprehension issues and it's kind of weird that you log on to this forum and do nothing except try to crap on my posts
Quote from: BearLover on January 05, 2026, 05:37:27 PMQuote from: marty on January 05, 2026, 05:06:06 PMQuote from: ugarte on January 05, 2026, 01:21:42 PMQuote from: BearLover on January 05, 2026, 01:09:12 PMQuote from: ugarte on January 05, 2026, 11:50:28 AMQuote from: BearLover on January 05, 2026, 10:57:06 AM... with the ultimate goal of rolling four lines who can score.
Realistically, does anyone, anywhere have this? Yes, better is better but it's also tautological.
I'm not familiar enough with other teams to say. But Cornell itself had this in 2019-20 as noted above.
again, somewhat tautological that the #1 team in the country will have outlier features. I agree that Cornell should take your advice to "be great".
I hope Casey reads this. I'm sure he never thought about getting production from everyone in the lineup. ::)
You have major reading comprehension issues and it's kind of weird that you log on to this forum and do nothing except try to crap on my posts
I'll try to do better coach.
Quote from: stereax on January 05, 2026, 03:21:35 PMDeSantis is streaky. When good, you get him at PPG, other times he can't hit the broad side of a barn...
It's possible DeSantis seems more streaky and volatile because his plays tend to be "hero plays." If they work out, amazing, but if not there's not another guy there for the drop pass or the rebound.
I don't know if that's true, but there have been guys in the past it seemed to be the case with.
I will take the team we have right now for a good balance of skill, style, grit, perseverance, strength, and ice vision. Feels kinda like the most successful teams are the ones with the "best weakest" score among those, because a good opponent and good coach will find that weakness and bore into it.
Quote from: marty on January 05, 2026, 09:17:49 PMI'll try to do better coach.
Forget it, Jake. It's BLtown.
Quote from: BearLover on January 05, 2026, 01:15:06 PMQuote from: stereax on January 05, 2026, 12:03:29 PMQuote from: ugarte on January 05, 2026, 11:50:28 AMQuote from: BearLover on January 05, 2026, 10:57:06 AM... with the ultimate goal of rolling four lines who can score.
Realistically, does anyone, anywhere have this? Yes, better is better but it's also tautological.
I don't think even the heavyweight programs this year have four scoring lines. Besides, you do kinda want a shutdown/checking line, if only to match up against harder competition and give your other guys a break.
If you can have 7 or so forwards that are a scoring threat, and even 2 D, you're in a good spot. Part of the game involves not being scored on.
7 and 2 is much too low IMO. Really need at least 9 and 3, and that's not even counting guys out to injury (of which we currently have none). That way, we can roll 3 full lines that can score and 3 D pairings with one major threat to score. We can also have one checking line and complement each offensive D with a defensive D.
The best way to not be scored on is to possess the puck in the other team's offensive zone.
I'm not a huge NHL analytics knower, but as I understand it, one attempt at coming up with a WAR for NHL measures offense, defense, and finishing.
I like this distinction between offense and finishing. All four of our lines seem pretty good at "offense": getting the puck into the offensive zone and generating chances. It's the finishing, as in turning those chances into goals, where we don't quite have the results through all four lines.
That being said, we just scored 9 goals this past weekend (admittedly against a team that wasn't exactly playing defense), so we are scoring.
Quote from: ugarte on January 05, 2026, 05:00:43 PMQuote from: The Rancor on January 05, 2026, 04:19:32 PMRyan Walsh has nearly an identical stat line as Gavin McKenna, who's going number 1 in the draft (maybe). If I told you that at the beginning of the season, you wouldn't put a dime on that bet. I'll take my chances with Walsh and his extra inch and 25 pounds of grit.
in college? sure, i can see it. but in the draft!?
Well, yes. College, probably not the draft.
Quote from: marty on January 06, 2026, 08:53:08 AMQuote from: marty on January 06, 2026, 06:59:13 AMQuote from: Trotsky on January 05, 2026, 09:56:36 PMQuote from: marty on January 05, 2026, 09:17:49 PMI'll try to do better coach.
Forget it, Jake. It's BLClown.
Exactly.
FMP
Your posts are written in the style of a fifth grader who sneaks onto his parents' desktop computer while they're out of the house and starts harassing some random guy on an Internet forum (almost all of your prior 50 posts on ELynah are ten words or less and half of them are harassing me).
I don't know how old you are but your posting style is really cute, it's a lot like mine in the early days of the internet before I graduated elementary school.
In an extension of Mike Schafer's three decades of strategy, Cornell in Casey Jones' first dozen games is also winning by not letting the opponent score enough to win. Of all RS games through Nebraska-Omaha, for Cornell:
2 goals enough to win 5 games of the 13 we played
3 goals enough to win 3 more games
4 goals needed to win no games
5 goals needed to win 1 more game
In the losses we would have needed to score 5 (Clarkson), 3 (UMass), 3 (Dartmouth) and 3 (BU). And we have reasons excuses: @Clarkson was Casey's return to the school he left, @UMass was Cornell's first RS game and UMass eighth game, and BU was a good, so was Dartmouth good and also we in recent years have underperformed in Hanover.
Who wouldn't want four very good scoring lines? "Checking line" may be a euphemism for players who can't score but it may also be a sound strategy for players who can disrupt an opponent's great scoring line and the opponent has no second/third line that approaches the first line, the checking line is use to not tire out our first line.
See the ECAC standings: Princeton (OMG, in first place, run by Ben Syer after 13 years at Cornell), Dartmouth and Cornell, then Quinnipiac are at 19-18-18-17 points and Harvard 2 points back, nobody else above 12. This is a very good start for a team with so many freshmen.
Quote from: BearLover on January 06, 2026, 10:20:09 AMQuote from: marty on January 06, 2026, 08:53:08 AMQuote from: marty on January 06, 2026, 06:59:13 AMQuote from: Trotsky on January 05, 2026, 09:56:36 PMQuote from: marty on January 05, 2026, 09:17:49 PMI'll try to do better coach.
Forget it, Jake. It's BLClown.
Exactly.
FMP
Your posts are written in the style of a fifth grader who sneaks onto his parents' desktop computer while they're out of the house and starts harassing some random guy on an Internet forum (almost all of your prior 50 posts on ELynah are ten words or less and half of them are harassing me).
I don't know how old you are but your posting style is really cute, it's a lot like mine in the early days of the internet before I graduated elementary school.
Thank you!
I believe there is a misconception in this thread. The checking lines, the third (DiGiulian) or fourth (Catalano) lines, are not usually matching up against the opposing team's top line. (I haven't watched every game this season so someone correct me if I'm wrong.) Rather, Casey usually sends out the first (Walsh) or second (Castagna) line to combat the other team's top line. The third and fourth lines actually get easier matchups. Therein lies the issue: we are squandering precious opportunity to possess the puck and score when we do not roll three or four offensively capable lines.
That's why a key for this team is to get more depth scoring. As mentioned earlier, I think 9 forwards and 3 defensemen contributing offensively is a realistic goal. But the true ideal is to have four lines that can score like the 2020 team.
We have scoring coming from all lines.
Line matching you really want to have best on best. Top lines not only have scoring chances because of puck possession, but prevent scoring chances defensively because they are controlling the puck. You're always at all levels going to have stronger and weaker lines/players and coaches are trying to find the best chemistry between all of them. It is a little less science than it is jazz.
Quote from: The Rancor on January 07, 2026, 02:33:40 PMWe have scoring coming from all lines.
Line matching you really want to have best on best. Top lines not only have scoring chances because of puck possession, but prevent scoring chances defensively because they are controlling the puck. You're always at all levels going to have stronger and weaker lines/players and coaches are trying to find the best chemistry between all of them. It is a little less science than it is jazz.
getting a little tired of the goals we don't score
Quote from: ugarte on January 07, 2026, 03:34:24 PMQuote from: The Rancor on January 07, 2026, 02:33:40 PMWe have scoring coming from all lines.
Line matching you really want to have best on best. Top lines not only have scoring chances because of puck possession, but prevent scoring chances defensively because they are controlling the puck. You're always at all levels going to have stronger and weaker lines/players and coaches are trying to find the best chemistry between all of them. It is a little less science than it is jazz.
getting a little tired of the goals we don't score
Hockey jazz?
Quote from: Weder on January 07, 2026, 04:44:31 PMQuote from: ugarte on January 07, 2026, 03:34:24 PMQuote from: The Rancor on January 07, 2026, 02:33:40 PMWe have scoring coming from all lines.
Line matching you really want to have best on best. Top lines not only have scoring chances because of puck possession, but prevent scoring chances defensively because they are controlling the puck. You're always at all levels going to have stronger and weaker lines/players and coaches are trying to find the best chemistry between all of them. It is a little less science than it is jazz.
getting a little tired of the goals we don't score
Hockey jazz?
I said it.