Post Game!

[MB]

It was amazing, though it looked like it was a group of alums.  It was probably the group from the 80's (I think it was).  Respect for the alums coming back to A and cheering for us.  Hockey... it's what brings us all together.

[Townie]

[quote Trotsky][quote Townie]In my view, this was the key difference compared with most our play this season. Starting about midway through the second period, we were checking like we meant it and kept Colgate from generating offense.  We MUST continue to play tight physical hockey, keeping pressure on our opponent.[/quote]
I think it may have been a gift from 'Gate.  The Raiders completed a few great open ice checks in the middle period, and at a certain point Cornell appeared to say, "Oh, is that the way you want to play it?"  From then on, the guys were playing the body better than they have for 2-3 years.  It was a fine sight to behold.  Hopefully Mike will review the tape and say, "now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!"[/quote]

Maybe.  I can't remember a game in recent history where we were physically outplayed as consistently as we were on Thursday.

The stiff checking was certainly "a fine sight to behold", and will play heavily in any success from here on out.  Maybe the missing ingredient??

[David Harding]

From the box score http://cornellbigred.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/stats/2006-2007/cumih21.html

Colgate - Faceoffs

## Player                W  L
------------------------------
9  Burton, Tyler        11 16
11 Riley, Tom            6  7
14 Winchester, Jesse     4  4
26 McIntyre, David       3  8
12 Camper, Ben           0  1
   Totals.........      24 36

Cornell - Faceoffs

## Player                W  L
------------------------------
27 Gallagher, Blake      9  1
18 Kennedy, Michael      9 10
26 Scott, Topher         7  2
21 Mugford, Tyler        5  3
29 Bitz, Byron           5  6
14 Milo, Justin          1  0
19 Fontas, Chris         0  1
11 Carefoot, Mitch       0  1
   Totals.........      36 24

[Doug '08]

Great game great game.  Student section was amazing, great energy and intensity.  People were really jacked up for this game.  I don't know if it was because it was a TV game or what but phenomenal energy.    

I really liked the play of our defensemen tonight; I only counted 2 quality scoring opportunities for them.  Penalty kill was as aggressive as I've seen, very good.  I thought our first power play had great puck movement, and we were actually getting the puck down low and in front of the net for once and not settling for one timers from the blue line.  After that though I thought each power play got progressively worse except for the last one.  

That being said Scrivens didn't impress me and I'd prefer to see Davenport.  His positioning was unorthodox and at times he was just plain beaten, but that being said he made every save (but one, and yeah that goal was pretty bad) and results are what counts.  He can let in a soft goal here and there, as long as we WIN.  

Overall very encouraging, GREAT WIN.  For a while I thought we forgot how to win close games, I think this is exactly what we needed to get back on track.  Next weekend I think will determine our season; see how we stack up when the big boys come to town.  Biggest weekend of the season left if you ask me.

[MB]

That being said Scrivens didn't impress me and I'd prefer to see Davenport. His positioning was unorthodox and at times he was just plain beaten, but that being said he made every save (but one, and yeah that goal was pretty bad) and results are what counts. He can let in a soft goal here and there, as long as we WIN.

I respectfully disagree with you here.  Scrivens looked very solid in goal.  He made some really impressive saves, and has done so every time he's been put in goal.  I don't think you could hold that goal against him either, that was an impressive shot.

[ebilmes]

There's no doubt that Scrivens had a great game, and it would have been completely understandable if he gave up at least one more goal. However, I believe Ben is really inconsistent--this is the best we will see from him this season, but we have seen (and will see if he keeps playing) much worse. Good job Scrivens, but let's see Troy play some more. That said, Scrivens put us in a position to win tonight.

This turned into a very physical game. Colgate had good size (looking at their roster I see six guys 6'3" or taller) but our guys dished out the hits, too. Our checking reminded me of the dominating physical games we had the past few seasons.

Burton, Dekanich, and Winchester all struck me as very good players, and I'm surprised 'gate hasn't had more success this season. All three will (I assume) be back next year, so you figure they have the fixings to contend for the title.

As for the great crowd energy, I think it was a combination of a few things. This was the largest crowd we've had in a while: winter break and then rush activities hurt attendance the past few weeks. Also, there was no game last night, so people who might (sadly) only want to come to (or stay for the entirety of) one game could focus there efforts on tonight. Thirdly, the game was televised, so maybe that perked people up a little. (It seemed the band was reluctant to lead LGRs during TV timeouts.) Fourth, Colgate brought a lot of fans, including their band. At the start of warmups, there were more Colgate fans there than Cornell fans. Throughout the game, the Faithful seemed happy to vent their anger towards Section O. And, lastly, people got excited when the toothpaste went flying. That definitely set the tone for more high-intensity cheering.

This game will hopefully set the tone for a more cheerful eLynah week and I'd be surprised if the momentum from this one doesn't help us out next weekend when we take revenge on the North Country teams.

[Doug '08]

[quote MB]

That being said Scrivens didn't impress me and I'd prefer to see Davenport. His positioning was unorthodox and at times he was just plain beaten, but that being said he made every save (but one, and yeah that goal was pretty bad) and results are what counts. He can let in a soft goal here and there, as long as we WIN.

I respectfully disagree with you here.  Scrivens looked very solid in goal.  He made some really impressive saves, and has done so every time he's been put in goal.  I don't think you could hold that goal against him either, that was an impressive shot.[/quote]

Point taken.  My main gripe was that he is slow to react at times.  While I agree the shot was impressive, I think it was certainly a savable opportunity as all Burton really did was go near post and slide it between the post and his skate.  I guess I've been biased against him ever since the St. Lawrence game, where he let up one of the softest goals I've ever seen, it was really just a dump from a little past the blue line that caught Scrivens off guard and bounced off his glove and into the net.  I thought that after that game the "controversy" would be put to rest, and Davenport would emerge as a true #1, although all of us that were at Colgate on Thursday were shocked when he got the hook.  

Regardless though, I agree there is no reason to hold tonight's goal against him.  He did his job and then some, we got the win and that's all that matters.

[billhoward]

Nice game by Scrivens in goal. Wonder how messed up Davenport's head must be. Davenport's still more likely the No. 1 goalie. But will he start next weekend? Or does Schafer go with the goalie who got January's only win and then quick-yank him next weekend when Cornell goes down 2-1 early?

[Omie]

Seriously! Scrivens was amazing tonight and was pretty solid on Thursday. He has had only two starts at Lynah both of them wins. The guy has proven himself several times and you are all stuck on the other goalie who has been pulled more times in this season than Mckee in his career. Schafer said in the pregame that they made the decision to rotate the goalies which seems to be a good thing. Instead of taking away from his performance give some credit where it is due, Scrivens kept us in the game and I am not sure Davenport could have done that.

All that said, this is the best game I think Cornell has played all year; lots of offense, physical play and a very stingy defense. The special teams looked great, too. Plus we have to keep in mind Dekanich is a ridiculously tough goalie, so this amount of offense would generate more goals against other teams. Let's hope the guys have started a winning streak.

Let's Go Red!!!

[Omie]

Not all of us were shocked Davenport got pulled on Thursday, allowing 2 goals on 6 shots, cm'on! I was glad Scrivens started and he played a great game, I just watched the replay and Scrivens positioned himself correctly for the Burton goal. It was bad luck.

I'll accept I am biased against Davenport but he put us in positions to loose to Dartmouth, Harvard, Wayne State gm.1, RPI, at Quinnipiac, and at Colgate. Of those we got a not so deserved win against Harvard, a tie against RPI, and lost but after comebacks against Wayne State and Colgate with Scrivens in relief.

[Omie]

Schafer said he plans on rotating the goalies until a clear #1 emerges, I think it is best.

[BMac]

Did anybody else think Ray Sawada was playing real well? Not anything super-awesome, but solid hits and very few mistakes?

And who missed that goal opportunity in the second period, when he skated right in front of an empty net? (From Section A, it looked wiiiiide open, like he only needed to twitch the stick to his left.. I'm sure it was just our perspective, though. I think it was Taylor Davenport- did anybody get a good look at that?)

We really gave it to "Dexsuck."

[Trotsky]

[quote BMac]Did anybody else think Ray Sawada was playing real well? Not anything super-awesome, but solid hits and very few mistakes?[/quote]

Oh, yeah. Sawada, Carefoot, McCutcheon and Milo were the players of the game, IMHO.  Seminoff and Nash played really well, too.

[Omie]

Seminoff is by far our best defenseman. It was nice seeing Glover getting back into the game more, he was pretty solid.

[dietlbomb]

my 3 stars:

1.  Mugford:  he never stopped playing physically at all.  If the puck was near his check, his check was made to fear him.

2.  Carefoot:  total hustle.

3.  Scrivens:  maybe he was out of position sometimes, but he made at least 2 improbable saves.  That was the difference.