ECAC Round 1: Post-series Thread

[RichH]

Better a post-series thread than a season postmortem.

5 games vs. Dartmouth, Cornell goes 4-1.  Three blowouts, 1 close win, 1 loss.  Not bad against an opponent that has had our number over the past 10 years, but not really at the expectation level for playing a last-place team.  Certainly a sweep would've given a lot of us more confidence.

So far Brown, Dartmouth, and Niagara are the only teams Cornell has beaten by more than 2 goals.

It took 3, but we're headed to Schenectady.  Union has never advanced in the playoffs.  What better team to try to do so than CU...our fandom's psyche is already at cliffs-edge about Union since they joined the league in '91.

We tied Union in the standings, but everyone knows our 0-8 record vs. teams seeded above us.

LGR!!

[marty]

I bought my Onion playoff tickets last week by phone.  They mailed them at $25 per three ticket session (upper level bleachers).  I am not sure why but they didn't charge me the handling fee that they normally do.

So for those who don't buy at the CU ticket office, the number is either

518-388-6134
518-388-6020

I think the second number listed is the direct line (no menu navigation needed).

[LaJollaRed]

Fantastic game. Great crowd energy, great team energy. In section A we noticed Topher look into the stands and smile - I believe it's the first time in 4 years he looked up during the game. What dedication - that kid's amazing.

Mike Devine was a fantastic good sport. His stick salute as he exited the ice was a class act, and he should be commended. For it. If you can't have fun losing, quit.

The refs decided not to call icing for much of the first period, and let a few hits go by in the second that might have been whistle-worthy...The game reached that wonderful point where it's *about* to get out of hand physically, but stayed at that peak for a wonderfuly intense third period.

Now back to the thesis and the prelim I've put off, chewing my nails all day in anticipation of the game.

I hate to even bring it up, but I think I should, lest a new bovine-ringing device go to someone's head: if you don't like a cheer, (say, perhaps off the top of my head, a soccer-style chant) just don't participate. There's no need to override the efforts of your now-alumni Lynah faithful.

An amazing game, and - despite much agony - a thrilling season. Scrivens is going to be a beast next year...I can't wait to check in.

[Doug '08]

I expected the third game to a blowout- I just didn't know which way, what a great way to win an up and down series.  Mike Devine was the best player of the series and stood on his head to keep his team in it.  My hat is certainly off to him.  Dartmouth is a better team than I gave them credit for, they outworked, out-coached, and just flat out-played us for a good portion of the series.  

I thought the Mugford checking line really proved to be the difference in this series (they certainly got enough ice time).  Shut down their top scoring line which had me worried coming in. Sawada seems to have awakened the slumbering beast from within, what a series for that guy.  Colin Greening, Riley Nash, also spectacular.  Doug Krantz was definitely the goat, however.  I thought goaltending was the difference in the second game, that being said Scrivens had a solid series and a great game tonight, even though he wasn't tested.

I haven't had that much fun at home games since my freshman year, thanks to all of the Lynah and eLynah Faithful for the amazing memories over 4 great years.  I will never forget you guys and will remember my times in Lynah Rink as the best of Cornell.  As I said last night, I couldn't think of a finer group of people to spend my Friday and Saturday nights with.  On the road, at Lynah, you guys are awesome and make Cornell hockey and the Lynah experience what it is.  Tonight's atmosphere was electric, reminded me of the double OT game vs. Clarkson two years ago.  I better end this post before I get too nostalgic... looking forward to the Union series, can't wait to see you guys there.  

LGR!

[polar]

Can anybody explain to me why that hit in the second period didn't earn at least a 10 minute misconduct? I was under the impression that contact to the head hits in ECAC which cause injury are supposed to automatically be one...

[Jim Hyla]

[quote Doug '08]I thought the Mugford checking line really proved to be the difference in this series (they certainly got enough ice time).  Shut down their top scoring line which had me worried coming in. Sawada seems to have awakened the slumbering beast from within, what a series for that guy.[/quote]

Sorry, I actually posted similar ideas on the game thread. Later than you of course.::doh::

[BMac]

Despite the dangerous hits, despite the dumb antics that LaJollaRed mentioned from some of the faithful, this was one of the most fun games I've been to. Probably because it's the last home game of my class (2008)'s undergrad career.

If there's two images burned into my mind from the last four years of watching this team, it'll be the ridiculous grin and three-foot jump from Topher when he scored the GWG against Clarkson in 2005 and the last faceoff of this game.

As mentioned, Topher looked up at the crowd about twice in his career. In 2005 after that goal and 10-odd seconds from the end tonight, when Schafer put out all the seniors and they had a faceoff in front of section A. He looked at Ray, then the crowd, and both of them had ear to ear grins. We were chanting "thank you seniors" and it was an incredible Lynah moment.

Thanks for the memories.

[calgARI '07]

They got better each game this weekend and it came together nicely tonight.  That late goal in the first period may prove to be the most important of the season.  After killing that 5-on-3 and weathering quite a bit of Dartmouth momentum during the second half of the first period that was a key cash-in for a team that does not always see the results of strong play on the scoreboard.

It was key for some guys to get some confidence tonight particularly from an offensive standpoint.  If this team will have any more success this season they are going to need more contributions from the Barlow-Gallagher-Devin line.  All three had their best games of the series tonight so that will be something to build on.

I haven't seen a lot of games this year but I'm guessing Sawada is playing his best hockey of the season.  I have been critical of him for not playing enough to his strengths (consistent physical presence) but he became more of a the dominating physical presence the last two games that we saw earlier in his career.  I think he has felt a lot of pressure to contribute offensively this year and it has hurt what he does well.  Earlier in his career, any offense he provided was a bonus.  He was expected to go out and set a physical tone every shift.  He did that this weekend and that is the biggest reason for his offensive explosion.

Quietly, I felt Krueger was Cornell's best player this weekend.  He was particularly good tonight.  Kind of a sleeper of his recruiting class, Krueger has developed very nicely in two years.  Will be interesting to see how much better he gets.

Devine still made a few outstanding saves but he wasn't as sharp as he was last night.  I felt like Cornell got about the same amount of good scoring chances tonight as they did last night yet they scored twice as many goals.  

Cornell's third goal was a tough sequence for Dartmouth.  Barlow blatantly tripped the Dartmouth defenseman which led to the turnover and the goal.  That one really stung the Dartmouth bench and they never recovered.  

Busch league cheapshot by Gaudet on Davenport.  He played very well this weekend so hopefully he will be okay to play against Union.

No question these guys can beat Union.  It is very clear that this is a totally different team when they have the lead and the records certainly indicate that.  Tonight more than any of the games I saw this year, Cornell had 19 guys all contributing.  That must happen if they are even to win one more game this season.  That to me is why that Gallagher line will be so key next weekend because they have contributed very little this season and certainly have the potential to be factors.

[ugarte]

[quote calgARI '07]
Busch league cheapshot [/quote]
This metaphor did not come from NASCAR.

Thanks for the weekend analysis, though.

[Trotsky]

Last weekend Greening was the monster, this weekend it was Sawada, and the guy who was most consistently great over both weekends was Topher.  Textbook leading by doing.

Next weekend will be trench warfare.  Union isn't going to give up all those odd mans rushes and let us beat them to the puck in their end.  Much, much tougher series coming up.  "There will be blood." ::panic::

[calgARI '07]

[quote ugarte][quote calgARI '07]
Busch league cheapshot [/quote]
This metaphor did not come from NASCAR.

Thanks for the weekend analysis, though.[/quote]

The term came from the baseball busch leagues of the 1920's I believe which spells b-u-s-c-h.

[KeithK]

[quote calgARI '07][quote ugarte][quote calgARI '07]
Busch league cheapshot [/quote]
This metaphor did not come from NASCAR.

Thanks for the weekend analysis, though.[/quote]

The term came from the baseball busch leagues of the 1920's I believe which spells b-u-s-c-h.[/quote]
Source?  You might be right, but I've never heard that story and never seen it spelled that way.  Wouldn't be the first time the true origins of something were lost.

[ebilmes]

Wikipedia!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_league

Bush league is a general term used to describe an action or thing as being amateur, inferior or crude. In a literal sense, it refers to a low quality minor-league in baseball not associated with any of the major league teams. The term originated from the state of minor-league fields that often were ringed with shrubs and bushes.

The phrase sounds similar to the NASCAR Busch Series (name changed to Nationwide Series as of 2008 season), sometimes known as the "Busch League", since it is essentially NASCAR's minor league circuit. However, popular usage far predates the creation of this organization.

Not to lose sight of the original point...I can't see how Gaudet didn't get 5 for that hit.

[ansky629]

Only one place to go for the answer to this epic quandry...Wikipedia.  They say it's bush league.

Wikipedia: Bush League

[calgARI '07]

My source is a very reliable sports historian so I'll hunt him down and get back to you.