Union & RPI Weekend News

[RichH]

And I hope we can win in LP, as I'm losing enthusiasm about our chances in the NCAAs.

Yes, we could win it all, if we were to put together multipe games where we played for a full 60 min.

But they just don't give me confidence. Shouldn't have to have nail biters against teams down in the rankings.

On the drive home Saturday evening, it was the first time all season, I said to my wife:  "We're not going to win the Nat'l Championship this year.  Because we can't put away these lousy teams.  What are we going to do with the North Dakota's, Minnesota State's of the world, when we get to the NCAA's?"  Until that moment in time, I've been predicting a NC, ALL YEAR for us!!!   I've been that confident, until now.

The state of my confidence as a fan about this men's team always relates back to the feeling I had about the 2003 team. As soon as they hit the ice after warmups every game, I felt like saying "they're going to absolutely murder the other team." I don't have that feeling this year. This is the deepest Cornell team I've ever watched, and there are times where they can overwhelm opponents with strong possessions lasting the better part of some periods. But then they allow a goal on the opponent's 5th shot in the 2nd period, and my knuckles whiten and my jaw tightens. They can't seem to put home that demoralizing extra goal to put it away early.

I actually feel that "they're going to murder them" way at this point about the women's team.

[upprdeck]

The good news is that the bad play , really is just even play, after we have taken the lead.. The issue is that the shots/chances being even we are under performing to goals scored.  Maybe this team just needs the high volume chances to score which will be tough against the better teams.

the flip side is very few here have seen much of any of the other top teams play.  we are 7th in GPG and 3rd in GAPG that should mean something. Minn St/ N. Dak are right there too.

What its mean that a team like Minn Duluth is p 4 PWR but is less than a goal difference.  are they over playing the stats with results? the other top 3 are almost sitting on 2+ goal differential.

[scoop85]

And I hope we can win in LP, as I'm losing enthusiasm about our chances in the NCAAs.

Yes, we could win it all, if we were to put together multipe games where we played for a full 60 min.

But they just don't give me confidence. Shouldn't have to have nail biters against teams down in the rankings.

On the drive home Saturday evening, it was the first time all season, I said to my wife:  "We're not going to win the Nat'l Championship this year.  Because we can't put away these lousy teams.  What are we going to do with the North Dakota's, Minnesota State's of the world, when we get to the NCAA's?"  Until that moment in time, I've been predicting a NC, ALL YEAR for us!!!   I've been that confident, until now.

The state of my confidence as a fan about this men's team always relates back to the feeling I had about the 2003 team. As soon as they hit the ice after warmups every game, I felt like saying "they're going to absolutely murder the other team." I don't have that feeling this year. This is the deepest Cornell team I've ever watched, and there are times where they can overwhelm opponents with strong possessions lasting the better part of some periods. But then they allow a goal on the opponent's 5th shot in the 2nd period, and my knuckles whiten and my jaw tightens. They can't seem to put home that demoralizing extra goal to put it away early.

I actually feel that "they're going to murder them" way at this point about the women's team.

Very much my feeling too. In 2003 if we had a 3-0 lead, the opponent wouldn't have a sniff of a comeback, as we would grind them to a pulp. This team, as good as it is, seems to stray a bit from its structure when getting a lead, and Galajda has been giving up a few softies of late. The good news is that we have enough skill and depth to beat the teams we should beat.  The bad news is when we see Clarkson and then move into the playoffs, a continuation of what we've seen lately will bite us in the rear end.

[upprdeck]

i think the fact we are so young catches up with us in some of these games.. great when we are on the attack, a bit flawed when on the defense.

[Trotsky]

In 2003 if we had a 1-0 lead, the opponent wouldn't have a sniff of a comeback, as we would grind them to a pulp.

Fixed your post.

[Jim Hyla]

The good news is that the bad play , really is just even play, after we have taken the lead.. The issue is that the shots/chances being even we are under performing to goals scored.  Maybe this team just needs the high volume chances to score which will be tough against the better teams.

the flip side is very few here have seen much of any of the other top teams play.  we are 7th in GPG and 3rd in GAPG that should mean something. Minn St/ N. Dak are right there too.

What its mean that a team like Minn Duluth is p 4 PWR but is less than a goal difference.  are they over playing the stats with results? the other top 3 are almost sitting on 2+ goal differential.

I'm not trying to be overly critical and I think I understand what you mean, but I think if you proofread your posts, you could make it a lot easier on the rest of us. There seem to be many typos, etc. and I end up partially guessing on what you mean.

[adamw]

What its mean that a team like Minn Duluth is p 4 PWR but is less than a goal difference.  are they over playing the stats with results? the other top 3 are almost sitting on 2+ goal differential.

Duluth has been that way its entire run. Always winning close games. They had a streak at one point where they won 11 straight postseason games by 1 goal - or something.

There's no doubt the 2003 team was a machine in terms of shutting down the opposition. The third periods were usually their most dominant defensively - often barely allowing a shot. Whereas right now, things are great in the first period, but the third periods are scary. Some of that may have to do with there being more parity these days - both in the league, and nationally.

[scoop85]

What its mean that a team like Minn Duluth is p 4 PWR but is less than a goal difference.  are they over playing the stats with results? the other top 3 are almost sitting on 2+ goal differential.

Duluth has been that way its entire run. Always winning close games. They had a streak at one point where they won 11 straight postseason games by 1 goal - or something.

There's no doubt the 2003 team was a machine in terms of shutting down the opposition. The third periods were usually their most dominant defensively - often barely allowing a shot. Whereas right now, things are great in the first period, but the third periods are scary. Some of that may have to do with there being more parity these days - both in the league, and nationally.

I do think the gap in 2003 between Cormell and the avg to below avg ECAC teams was a little bigger than today.

[Trotsky]

What its mean that a team like Minn Duluth is p 4 PWR but is less than a goal difference.  are they over playing the stats with results? the other top 3 are almost sitting on 2+ goal differential.

Duluth has been that way its entire run. Always winning close games. They had a streak at one point where they won 11 straight postseason games by 1 goal - or something.

There's no doubt the 2003 team was a machine in terms of shutting down the opposition. The third periods were usually their most dominant defensively - often barely allowing a shot. Whereas right now, things are great in the first period, but the third periods are scary. Some of that may have to do with there being more parity these days - both in the league, and nationally.

I do think the gap in 2003 between Cormell and the avg to below avg ECAC teams was a little bigger than today.

Sure feels like it, although SLU has so far been a historically terrible team.

[JasonN95]

In 2003 if we had a 1-0 lead, the opponent wouldn't have a sniff of a comeback, as we would grind them to a pulp.

Fixed your post.

The way the game is refereed today vs 2003 I think makes it much harder to do this. And the team is (wisely) no longer built for that.

[Trotsky]

In 2003 if we had a 1-0 lead, the opponent wouldn't have a sniff of a comeback, as we would grind them to a pulp.

Fixed your post.

The way the game is refereed today vs 2003 I think makes it much harder to do this. And the team is (wisely) no longer built for that.

Agreed completely.  As with the NFL now, you can't sit on a lead.

[upprdeck]

It could also be argued that if the PK was working as we hoped it would most of the late game issues would be gone as the games would never get closer than 2-3. Young team taking late game offensive zone penalties is something to be expected.

[abmarks]

And I hope we can win in LP, as I'm losing enthusiasm about our chances in the NCAAs.

Yes, we could win it all, if we were to put together multipe games where we played for a full 60 min.

But they just don't give me confidence. Shouldn't have to have nail biters against teams down in the rankings.

On the drive home Saturday evening, it was the first time all season, I said to my wife:  "We're not going to win the Nat'l Championship this year.  Because we can't put away these lousy teams.  What are we going to do with the North Dakota's, Minnesota State's of the world, when we get to the NCAA's?"  Until that moment in time, I've been predicting a NC, ALL YEAR for us!!!   I've been that confident, until now.

The state of my confidence as a fan about this men's team always relates back to the feeling I had about the 2003 team. As soon as they hit the ice after warmups every game, I felt like saying "they're going to absolutely murder the other team." I don't have that feeling this year. This is the deepest Cornell team I've ever watched, and there are times where they can overwhelm opponents with strong possessions lasting the better part of some periods. But then they allow a goal on the opponent's 5th shot in the 2nd period, and my knuckles whiten and my jaw tightens. They can't seem to put home that demoralizing extra goal to put it away early.

I actually feel that "they're going to murder them" way at this point about the women's team.

I agree on all points.  While I'd rather have the confidence and fan-joy Knowing we were going to crush the opposition every night, we added uncertainty this team gives us will make each big win in a way, that much more exciting.

That said, given the demographics of this forum, we might want a cardiologist on retainer!

[abmarks]

The good news is that the bad play , really is just even play, after we have taken the lead.. The issue is that the shots/chances being even we are under performing to goals scored.  Maybe this team just needs the high volume chances to score which will be tough against the better teams.

the flip side is very few here have seen much of any of the other top teams play.  we are 7th in GPG and 3rd in GAPG that should mean something. Minn St/ N. Dak are right there too.

What its mean that a team like Minn Duluth is p 4 PWR but is less than a goal difference.  are they over playing the stats with results? the other top 3 are almost sitting on 2+ goal differential.

I'm not trying to be overly critical and I think I understand what you mean, but I think if you proofread your posts, you could make it a lot easier on the rest of us. There seem to be many typos, etc. and I end up partially guessing on what you mean.

As always, Jim is eloquent and to the point. This is what I was trying to relate in the past, albeit snarkily.