UMass postgame

[dbilmes]

I'm surprised no one has started this yet, so I may as well since I just got home from the game.
This was a solid effort, despite a few shaky defensive giveaways in the first period and a second period which saw us dominated by UMass. Scrivens would like to have that second goal back, but if you're going to give up a soft goal, there are worst times to do so than when you're up by three goals in the third period. The key thing was that me made a number of excellent saves during the first two periods when the outcome was very much in doubt.
Roeszler was all over the ice, making the best of being back in the lineup. Scali also had an excellent game, especially on the PK. It was nice to see Gallagher and Barlow both get a goal, since they work so hard all the time. And in general our defense was solid, doing a good job, in particular, of clearing away rebounds.
It was nice to see us play well on a large ice surface, since we may have to play on an ice surface that size again in the postseason.
As for the arena itself, it's a nice place with wide concourses, and most of the people working there are friendly, with the exception of the female ushers who had the police officer stationed near the Cornell fans threaten to confiscate the cowbell if Elie played it one more time. Fortunately, that didn't happen until after he had played it midway through the third period. Otherwise, the UMass fans (what few there were at the game) seemed bemused by actually having a large and noisy contingent of opposing fans present, since we were told that usually isn't the case during their Hockey East home games.

[marty]

I agree that the UMass fans seemed interested in our crowd.  I was  behind the LL contingent from Cornell.  One of the UMass fans to my right took a picture of the Faithful with his cell phone.

The ice sure seemed to tilt toward the LL side of the rink.  The positive was that we saw most of the action.  But the second period was horrendous.  I was beginning to wonder if the team was sick/hung over/or had spent too much time at the Clover Club during the past week.

The third period proved my fears were somewhat unfounded, but my feeling in the second period, was that the Big Red of '03 had donned the Minutemen uniforms to play a cruel trick on us.  We were that hemmed in by their D.

[sah67]

Despite another solid performance from Scrivens, Q's Nick Pisellini moves just ahead of him to lead the nation in both GAA and SV%:

Nick Pisellini: .948 SV%, 1.3817 GAA
Ben Scrivens: .947 SV%, 1.3830 GAA

[dbilmes]

[quote sah67]Despite another solid performance from Scrivens, Q's Nick Pisellini moves just ahead of him to lead the nation in both GAA and SV%:

Nick Pisellini: .948 SV%, 1.3817 GAA
Ben Scrivens: .947 SV%, 1.3830 GAA[/quote]

Given these statistics, it's not a surprise that the first game between these two teams was a scoreless tie!

[CUDrew0105]

Just back from the game as well...here are my two cents on my first viewing of this years version of the Big Red.

Breakout continues to be the bane of any Cornell team that I have watched over the last few years.  The are slow and often fumble the puck (especially B. Nash who had a couple of terrible turnovers).  The two saves that Scrivens made in the first were certainly huge, but were certainly helped by the minutemen player shooting directly into his letters.

Both my wife and I thought that the team looked a little winded with about 7 minutes to go in the third until the final horn.  I suspect that this is due to the wider sheet, but could pose a problem if we encounter a big rink again later this year.  

The freshman look pretty good, especially Jillson who seems to have the ability to weaver efforlessly through the D.  I thought that Scali was the best player on the ice tonight for the players that have been there more than 1 year.

The rink was great (the pizza...not so much), we were in the midst of lots of UMass alums who loved the number of Cornell fans.  The fellow in front of us said that there were more CU fans there than BU fans when BU comes to play.  I said that is typical since BU sucks:)

[lynah80]

Pisellini is currently not playing with the team:  

Release: 12/11/2008

Freshman Goaltender Nick Pisellini Takes Leave Of Absence From Men's Ice Hockey Team For Personal Reasons
Written by: QuinnipiacBobcats.com

HAMDEN, Conn. – Quinnipiac University Men's Ice Hockey Head Coach Rand Pecknold today announced that freshman goaltender Nick Pisellini has taken a temporary leave of absence from the team for personal reasons. Pisellini cited a family matter for his leave and has not yet made a decision regarding a return to the Bobcats.

"Nick is going to take some needed time off," Pecknold said. "We don't know when he'll return to the team – it could be next semester or possibly next fall. It is a family matter and we will respect his privacy. We wish nothing but the best for Nick and his family during this time."

In his first year with Quinnipiac, Pisellini has started in nine of the 11 games he has appeared in, posting an impressive 6-2-1 mark. Pisellini is ranked third in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey in goals-against average (1.38) and save percentage (.948).

[Beeeej]

[quote lynah80]Pisellini is currently not playing with the team[/quote]

...which means that Ben will have to have more great games to move ahead of him again, since Pisellini won't be having any bad ones.

Go Ben!

[sah67]

[quote lynah80]Pisellini is currently not playing with the team:  

[/quote]

Touche.  In that case, I'll say that Scrivens has now dropped below Pisellini's benchmark, instead of Pisellini jumping ahead of Scrivens

[TimV]

What was the basis for the confiscation threat?  

Heck, they even played the "More Cowbell" clip from SNL on the notsojumbotron.  

And the great Slapshot clips.

[Jim Hyla]

[quote Beeeej][quote lynah80]Pisellini is currently not playing with the team[/quote]

...which means that Ben will have to have more great games to move ahead of him again, since Pisellini won't be having any bad ones.

Go Ben![/quote]

I don't know the official rules, but I doubt that a player in 11 games who left the team, would be considered in any post-season awards or final stats. Last year's USCHO stats required goalies to have been in 33% of games. Since Q has 34 + postseason, he'd be out of that.

[ebilmes]

[quote TimV]What was the basis for the confiscation threat?[/quote]

It didn't matter. By that point I was done playing for the game so they could yell at me all they wanted. My understanding is that it's permissible to play artificial noisemakers (i.e. pep bands, cowbells) during stoppages in play, so I don't think I was doing anything wrong.

[andyw2100]

[quote TimV]What was the basis for the confiscation threat?  

Heck, they even played the "More Cowbell" clip from SNL on the notsojumbotron.  

And the great Slapshot clips.[/quote]

We saw those on the CSTV video broadcast as well, so I guess CSTV was shooting the "notsojumbotron."

[TimV]

You're right... So what was Ms. Gestapo's beef?  What would she have said if the Pep Band showed up with three huge tubas and everything?

[Jim Hyla]

[quote ebilmes][quote TimV]What was the basis for the confiscation threat?[/quote]

It didn't matter. By that point I was done playing for the game so they could yell at me all they wanted. My understanding is that it's permissible to play artificial noisemakers (i.e. pep bands, cowbells) during stoppages in play, so I don't think I was doing anything wrong.[/quote]

This has come up before and I think the rule is no artificial noisemakers, aside from the band. Huge issues when we had the NCAA at Minny; do an eLynah search if you want. I think it also pertains to regular season games, but I'm not as sure of that.

[Trotsky]

In any case, they don't need a reason.  "Because" is sufficient.  It's a private facility, not a public space.  Their roof, their rules.