Dartmouth @ Cornell -Post Game Comments 11/11/06

[Josh '99]

[quote Chris '03]It seems the general consensus is that the team played well on Saturday but couldn't get any breaks. Am I the only one who disagrees?

Sure they outshot DC, but it's not like the Green were playing particularly well. The second half of the game was sloppy on all sides. Devine made a couple of good saves to hold the lead, but it's not as if he stood on his head.

I came away thinking Cornell was spent after Friday, Dartmouth was beatable and both teams played sloppy hockey.

The three Red players who impresed me most were Nash, Krueger, and Scott. They play Nash made on the two on one was amazing.[/quote]Agreed in general, except that Devine made two great glove saves right in front of us (including on the penalty shot) and I think he deserves some credit for that.

[KeithK]

[quote jtwcornell91]That's brilliant.  Maybe if Gaudet is so concerned about sportsmanship, he should try teaching his players to salute their OWN fans after a big win on the road, instead of taunting the other team's.[/quote]Considering that we (fans) make a point of taunting our opponents we really shouldn't get too upset if they taunt us back. Maybe you should hold the players to a higher standard, but then these kids are college students too. Yes it sucks when another team has the chance to taunt us, but just remember that if they're bothering to taunt the fans then the fans have succeeded in getting into their heads.

[oceanst41]

Without that chance for players to taunt back with a lead we would never have had that wonderful experience with Boucher :-D

[calgARI '07]

Remember that time Dartmouth lost 10-1 in the ECACHL semifinals?

[oceanst41]

[quote calgARI '07]Remember that time Dartmouth lost 10-1 in the ECACHL semifinals?[/quote]

So no moral victory for DC for outshooting Sucks I guess

I almost felt bad for them, but then I realized I was being ridiculus and should just enjoy the moment. ::popcorn::

[Jim Hyla]

[quote KeithK][quote jtwcornell91]That's brilliant.  Maybe if Gaudet is so concerned about sportsmanship, he should try teaching his players to salute their OWN fans after a big win on the road, instead of taunting the other team's.[/quote]Considering that we (fans) make a point of taunting our opponents we really shouldn't get too upset if they taunt us back. Maybe you should hold the players to a higher standard, but then these kids are college students too. Yes it sucks when another team has the chance to taunt us, but just remember that if they're bothering to taunt the fans then the fans have succeeded in getting into their heads.[/quote]Maybe yes, but there is a time and place for everything. Taunting after you have won is usually considered poor form, whether you are a fan or a player. I certainly don't mind opponent fans taunting us back during a game. Heavens, that's part of the reason for doing it in the first place. But once the game is over, all negativity toward one another should cease.

[ugarte]

[quote Jim Hyla]But once the game is over, all negativity toward one another should cease.[/quote]I don't know, Jim. I think there is a reasonable post-game gloating period. It shouldn't include, say, needling on the handshake line or jumping on the other team's logo at center ice but an ironic salute to the crowd that has been riding you all game seems appropriate (if not ideal) to me.

[nr53]

[quote ugarte][quote Jim Hyla]But once the game is over, all negativity toward one another should cease.[/quote]I don't know, Jim. I think there is a reasonable post-game gloating period. It shouldn't include, say, needling on the handshake line or jumping on the other team's logo at center ice but an ironic salute to the crowd that has been riding you all game seems appropriate (if not ideal) to me.[/quote]

I thought it was a slight moral victory, second only to the guy who got tossed flipping us all off as he went into the locker room.

[Rosey]

[quote ugarte]I think there is a reasonable post-game gloating period. It shouldn't include, say, needling on the handshake line or jumping on the other team's logo at center ice but an ironic salute to the crowd that has been riding you all game seems appropriate (if not ideal) to me.[/quote]
I agree.  "Which team is the winning team?" comes to mind.  I'm man enough to take it when Cornell loses, because I want to be able to dish it out when Cornell wins without being a hypocrite.

Kyle

[Rosey]

[quote nr53]I thought it was a slight moral victory, second only to the guy who got tossed flipping us all off as he went into the locker room.[/quote]
Sorry, I must have missed this all the way out in Dryden... I mean, section G.  What happened?

Kyle

[RichH]

[quote calgARI '07]
Nash has struggled badly on the defensive side of things and has been decent offensively.  His skating and quickness need a lot of work as he was getting caught way too much.  Krueger has improved but has not seen the ice a whole lot.  Scott was possibly their best player this weekend.[/quote]

I've actually agreed with most of your player assessments this season, Ari, but I've got to disagree with your opinion of Nash.  His on-ice presence is very striking to me, and I've rarely seen him make a mistake.  His positioning and control are both outstanding.  In fact, in trying to come up with reasons of why I'm so excited about him, all I can spew is a list of what sound like cliched adjectives:  smooth, calm, composed, balanced, deliberate, and confident.  His passes are crisp and strong, and he's got tremendous hands...the puck just sticks to his tape.  I would normally peg a player like him as the perfect stay-at-home d-man, but he jumps into the play very well, and when he does he doesn't leave his linemate out to dry.  He's a very smart 2-way defenseman, who doesn't need speed to be effective.  Obviously, he's still a freshman and there are some mistakes and things he needs to improve on (shies away from the body checks), but so far, he's a very strong player to have on the blueline.  I can see a pairing with Davenport or Seminoff to be very successful.

Two plays in particular stand out from Saturday night...the 2-on-1 defense that Chris '03 referenced.  He sprawled perfectly to take away the pass, and when the shooter adjusted to step around to get to the slot, Nash swung his arm along the ice and poked the puck to the corner.  The 2nd thing I remember was when he was carrying the puck through the neutral zone while the forwards were on a change.  He weaved through 3 defenders and came right into the o-zone without getting touched.

And that's where I'll make this comparison.  He's a very similar player to the '04-'05 version of Pokulok.

I've seen the last 4 games in person, and my favorite players to watch right now are Nash and Scott.  Topher is just playing incredible hockey so far.

[jtwcornell91]

[quote ugarte]I think there is a reasonable post-game gloating period. It shouldn't include, say, needling on the handshake line or jumping on the other team's logo at center ice but an ironic salute to the crowd that has been riding you all game seems appropriate (if not ideal) to me.[/quote]

I think it's inappropriate for two reasons:
1) Standards of behavior are different for players and fans.
2) It's an insult to your own fans who travelled to see you (e.g., the guy with the upside-down D) not to salute them instead.

[ugarte]

[quote jtwcornell91]
I think it's inappropriate for two reasons:
1) Standards of behavior are different for players and fans.[/quote]

Even if were to accept this (which ... not really; they might be easier to discipline but that has nothing to do with whether they should be subject to more discipline), that doesn't mean that the players have to be as pure as Caesar's wife.

[Beeeej]

Gotta go with Rich on this one.  Robb can testify, I was telling him during Hahvahd warmups that after Brown & Yale (though esp. Yale), I thought Nash was one of the most natural looking skaters out there, freshman or no, and I expect he'll only get better.  He works awfully hard, too.

[Robb]

Sing it, Brotha'!  I testify!

(I also thought Nash looked great, without even considering that they were his 5th and 6th games.  The sweep poke-check on the 2-on-1 defense that RichH referred to was fabulous.)