Wayne State Postgame (Sunday)

[calgARI '07]

[quote imafrshmn]ANyone know why Mugford and Barlow were out, if it's something specific?[/quote]

The team sucked last night and Schafer was trying to send a message.  I guess he was surprised that Mugford didn't do well on the top line.  Thought Barlow was actually OK last night.

[Trotsky]

[quote mttgrmm]Davenport looked confident but had 2 VERY close calls that both caught the post  (one in 2nd, one in 3rd) that could have very easily gone the other way.[/quote]

These were both captured by the video feed, and my heart was leaping out of my mouth.  Troy has the "put the stick down parallel with the ice and sweep" move perfected, and it's effective clearing loose chaff from the crease, but it leaves him naked above the waist.  We had enough bodies interposed between the shooters and him tonight that all the WSU shots went wide or deflected off legs, butts, etc.  It is still a scary way to live, and IMHO a true sharpshooter would eat him alive.  I guess we'll see in Estero.

[Avash]

[quote MB]

On the game: Scali made two really nice plays on the, what it seemed, two times he was on the ice. [/quote]

Scali actually appeared to be on the ice a lot, taking regular shifts. And I'm pretty sure he was out there for every penalty kill.

[ftyuv]

Actually I thought Davenport would start in net.  I'm not an expert, and I certainly don't have as honed an analysis of our team as most people on this board; but it seems to me that while Schafer is willing to bench a goalie when he's having an off night, it's also his style to put him back on the next day to push him to get his confidence back.  Kinda like "last night happened, it's over -- put it behind you, cause you're back out tonight."  As I said, I wouldn't be surprised if wiser Faithful than I will pick a million holes in that theory, but anyway the bottom line of my prediction was right.  

McCutcheon definitely had a fire under his ass today, it was good to see.  This was the first time I've seen the frosh live, and I think the one I most noticed was Nash.

[scoop85]

[quote redhair34][quote imafrshmn]ANyone know why Mugford and Barlow were out, if it's something specific?[/quote]

They were benched for taking unwise penalties.[/quote]

I had anticipated that Mugford would be benched in favor of Scali because Mugford has taken too many penalties throughout the season and Schafer was at the end of his rope.  I didn't anticipate Barlow would sit.

Interesting that Kindret got the nod over Fontas.

[billhoward]

Didn't Chris Fontas say he came to Cornell from UMass-Lowell because he wanted a better academic environment, also? So he's getting half a loaf if not much (any) playing time. Has he dressed for a game?

Somehow I had thought he was a scoring stud for UMass, maybe because last spring before knowing a lot about the strength of the incoming freshmen we were counting (hoping) on his clout, but his stats say he was 3-6--9 in 68 games. http://cornellbigred.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/mtt/fontas_chris00.html

[redhair34]

[quote billhoward]Didn't Chris Fontas say he came to Cornell from UMass-Lowell because he wanted a better academic environment, also? So he's getting half a loaf if not much (any) playing time. Has he dressed for a game?

Somehow I had thought he was a scoring stud for UMass, maybe because last spring before knowing a lot about the strength of the incoming freshmen we were counting (hoping) on his clout, but his stats say he was 3-6--9 in 68 games. http://cornellbigred.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/mtt/fontas_chris00.html[/quote]

He hasn't dressed a game.  Someone (I think Ari) mentioned he is/has been injured.

[Beeeej]

[quote bandrews37][quote MB]Anyway, (fire) Andy has slowly drained the fun out of being in the crowd.  It's fair that we're not allowed to make racial slurs, or swearing, that's understandable.  But being loud and creative?  C'mon![/quote]

I'm going to politely disagree. Our crowd isn't particularly creative - every chant/cheer is a derivative of "you suck" and frankly, I find it boring and have tuned out most of what the student sections are yelling. And most of the chants/cheers are the same or variations of things done at other schools (the newspapers before the game? sending an opponent to the penalty box? seen that at close to two dozen rinks around the country). And while Lynah may or may not have been where those things started, they're not exactly creative or innovative. With things like that going on elsewhere, they're not special or unique here, thus losing any effect they might have.

You can be loud and into the game and affect the other team without being idiots about it. That's apparently a foreign concept to many people here.[/quote]

I had the impression that this is exactly the sort of thing MB and mttgrmm were talking about - being loud and affecting the other team without being idiots about it, and without relying on the word "sucks."  I gather they make serious individual efforts to be creative and yell things at the opposing goalies on their own - a fine, long-standing, and genuinely creative tradition in Sections A and B.

So what is it you're politely disagreeing with?

[plrd78]

Mugford takes so many stupid penalties and with the PK being so poor to date I would sit him too. Scali was great.. New life to the PK, yes Wayne state is not the best  team but it proves the kid deserves to be there!!!
Barlow, all of us like just takes too may chances, scary at times, Mike S. will  be less gray if they stay out of the line up.

Overall Sunday was a relief. Any thoughts of the 1st and 2nd PP. Looks like the kids do a better job.. The Vets can not figure out how to score...perimeter play only..The kids are fun to watch and their chances are far better and things will drop in the net, once they are given the ice time...Greening and Ramano are the real deal!!!!

[redhair34]

I'm shocked by how willing folks are to throw Mugford under the bus.  He is a tough, gritty player who is in the lineup because of his scrappiness and work ethic.  Yes, his hit from behind was a stupid penalty.  And yes, he does take the occasional undisciplined penalty.  But he also draws a ton of penalties from jawing with the other team and working hard along the boards.  The last thing this team needs is its grittiest player watching the game in a suit for an extended period of time.  I'd like to see Mugford and Scali in the lineup with Milo/Barlow as the 13th forward.

[Dafatone]

Mugford's been very good, but he does take far too many penalties.  And I feel both he and Sawada have been a bit weak lately.  I do like Barlow, so I wasn't all that happy to see him sitting.

Scali needs to stay in the lineup.  Gallagher's been alright, and very good on faceoffs.  I'd personally not dress Milo, but he hasn't been bad.

[Beeeej]

[quote Dafatone]Mugford's been very good, but he does take far too many penalties.  And I feel both he and Sawada have been a bit weak lately.[/quote]

Sawada threw some monster hits and took some great shots yesterday afternoon - and was one of the few players who really seemed to be making an effort on Saturday night.

[ebilmes]

No one's mentioning Kindret! Ryan certainly seemed to relish his playing time and was all over the ice. I'd like to see more Kindret.

[Karlmoose]

I didn't think that Mugford's penalty was bad. I thought it was one of the few times during the weekend in which a Cornell player showed emotion and stuck up for his teammates. I agree with redhair--Mugford is gritty and sticks his nose where no one else wants to. I was very surprised that he was scratched, mostly because this team needed a shot of energy after Saturday.

Regarding the ushers, and with apologies for obvious repetition, I think the point has been missed. People in the student sections are scared to be creative. It's gotten to a point where if one person starts a funny cheer (with or without "sucks"), he or she might get thrown out. Reason #1 for the lack of good cheers, and reason #1 for not losing my voice at any home game this season.

[Dafatone]

Personally, I wasn't very impressed with Kindret.  He has good speed, and hustles, but seems to get beaten fighting for the puck every time he gets tied up with someone against the boards.