Cornell-Yale Postgame

[Ken70]

I had the same thought during one of our PPs: no one is creating any space. We pass the puck around but there is rarely anyone in a dangerous (to Yale) position.  Maybe Mike should have the guys watch a few EPL games.

First goal was huge mistake by Scrivens. First there was no good reason to come out, and second when you're trying to clear don't do it straight into an attacking player.

[abmarks]

[quote Ken70]I had the same thought during one of our PPs: no one is creating any space. We pass the puck around but there is rarely anyone in a dangerous (to Yale) position.  Maybe Mike should have the guys watch a few EPL games.
[/quote]

Or just pop in Michigan ir Minnesota tapes.  Had both their games on tonight on the tube... they ar eboth things of beauty.  On Michigans PP the puck almost never stops moving in the zone and doesn't move around the circle, but criss-crossing at all angles, really keeping the opposition off balance.    And they dont take time to think- they just react and pass/shoot.  Our guys eem to be thinking a lot.

[lynah80]

High quality video of all the Yale goals is available here:

http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-hockey/recaps/022709aaa.html

On the first goal, it looks like Gallagher could have beaten Backman to the puck, but it's hard to say.  Backman slowed down a little when he saw Scrivens charging out of the net.  Scrivens was well ahead of Backman in getting to the puck, so in that regard, his gut instinct was good.  However, the biggest mistake that he made, as many have pointed out, is that he directed the puck right back toward center ice and hit Backman or Gallagher's skate.  He should have sent the puck to the boards.

Perhaps the most important thing to observe about the goal is the way it started. After Arcobello blocked a one timer from B. Nash near the top of the circles, Backman took off in anticipation of a center ice pass.  This is not the type of thing that a defensively minded team would do.  Yale is now #5 in the nation in short handed goals with 8, Mankato is #1 with 10.  To force the Yale defense to stay lower in their own zone, opponents will need to keep the puck lower during power plays and not shoot a lot from near the blue line.