Cornell-RPI Postgame (Game 1) 3/13/09

[scoop85]

So, we are squarely against the wall, playing a team that was dead all year -- dead! -- but is riding the proverbial hot goalie and is playing with house money.  Our late season problems are apparently carrying over to the post-season, sad to say.

While it's always key to get the lead, I think it's essential tomorrow, and the earlier the better.  If the game stays scoreless too long -- or worse, if RPI scores first -- we're going to be gripping the sticks extra tight, and York will be seeing the puck like it's a beachball.

Well, nothing worthwhile ever comes too easily, so hopefully we have a mulligan in our pocket and can put this one behind us.

[ebilmes]

The team lost because the pep band played Paradise City during the second intermission.

It's time to put Nash and Greening back together.

[RichH]

What I learned about this team this year is that it's easy to see us beating any team in the nation, but it's just as easy to see us losing to any team in the nation.  In past years, the malady was "playing up" or "playing down" to the level of our competition.  This year is a little different, as we look really good in most of our losses.  

Tonight, we outshot 'em 32-14, which included several stretches where there was a string of "ooohhhhhhhh" inducing chances (from audio of RedCast.) York's name was called tons of times by Jason, and maybe those who saw it can comment if it was a great performance by a goaltender, or another game where we lacked the finishing touch, or both.  This was our first look at York.    

Bad news: we lost to a sub-.300 winning % team tonight.
Good news: we get to play a sub-.300 winning % team tomorrow.

I'd rather be in this position vs. RPI than vs. Dartmouth or Quinnipiac, for example.

It was a classic "steal" win by RPI.  Hats off.  See you Saturday.

[ebilmes]

Definitely a case of lacking the finishing touch. We missed some nice open nets. York didn't play badly, but c'mon...

[oceanst41]

It is difficult to beat a team four times in one year, let alone doing it in four straight games. That being said, at this point I'll happily take 4-1 vs. RPI this year. ;-)

[semsox]

It was a combination of both really.  York made some OUTSTANDING saves when he needed to, and we also missed the net a few times.  The frustrating thing is that there was not a single thing that RPI did better than us tonight.  The puck was in their zone for about 3/4 of the game (not even exaggerating), we won just about every battle in the corner.  We outplayed them the entire game but just couldn't bang one home.  If we play like we did tonight Tomorrow and Sunday, no doubt we're taking this series.

[Robin]

I feel like this is becoming a theme.  Multiple games in which we outshoot our competition by a significant amount, yet still lose or come close to losing(Brown), and the opposing goalie looks like he had a good game.  We get a lot of shots on goal, yet can't get them in....

[PAthologicalLynah]

As everyone else is already pointing out, its difficult to beat a team every single time you play them, and we played pretty hard tonight, etc. etc.

  But honestly, I think Scrivens fell asleep on that goal, and in a 0-0 game it is just inexcusable to lose focus with ~3 minutes left and let in an off angle shot like that.

  I don't mean to start a flame war but I think there is a huge discrepancy between his numbers (which are very good) and his skills.  At least to me, I can clearly see it deflate the team to play such a hard fought game and then to have him give up a goal like that.

  Hopefully we will score 4-5 tomorrow night and all will be well

[lynah80]

Cornell is a much better team than RPI and controlled the puck for much of the game.  Shots were 32-14, Big Red.  I don't know what faceoffs were (box scores are not available yet).  RPI compensated for Cornell's skill with a lot of hustle, and relatively clean pushing and shoving.  Players on both sides were hitting the ice a lot it seemed.  Some of those events looked like possible tripping penalties but it's hard to say when watching over the internet.  

If this kid York is really hot, put Greening, Nash and Barlow back together again.  If Barlow isn't feeling 100% back to normal, let Gallagher skate on the first line.  RPI's margin of victory tonight was ultra slim.  They scored what looked like a lucky goal on a forced turnover.  Cornell can beat them, but they are going to have to really take it to them tomorrow night.  RPI thinks that they are hot right now and like any other sport, a lot of hockey is between the ears.

------------
Edit:

Faceoffs:
Cornell: 34
RPI: 23

[ithacat]

York was very solid in net. He's big and doesn't appear to make stupid decisions. That being said, I thought the team needed to get more bodies in front of him and get him moving side to side more than they did. Most of his saves were on shots right into his chest or his pads. The few times Cornell seemed to have him screened, RPI did a nice job of blocking shots. Cornell must have missed 4-5 open nets, and I think they hit a couple of pipes.

[Scersk '97]

[quote RichH]
Bad news: we lost to a sub-.300 winning % team tonight.
Good news: we get to play a sub-.300 winning % team tomorrow.

I'd rather be in this position vs. RPI than vs. Dartmouth or Quinnipiac, for example.

It was a classic "steal" win by RPI.  Hats off.  See you Saturday.[/quote]

KRACH says we should win about 80% of our games vs. RPI.  4-1 on the season will be fine.

And tomorrow, I would think, we're going to be crashing the net very, very hard.  Not a bad thing to remind the team to do.

[billhoward]

Cornell 32 shots on goal, RPI 14. Final RPI, Cornell 0. We've heard this song before. Disappointing. I still assume we'll advance -- we will, won't we? -- but the wear and tear of a three-game series won't help us in Albany.

[Roy 82]

[quote oceanst41]It is difficult to beat a team four times in one year, let alone doing it in four straight games. That being said, at this point I'll happily take 4-1 vs. RPI this year. ;-)[/quote]

It is also difficult to flip a coin and have it turn up heads four times in a row. But if you have already done it two times in a row then the odds are still 50/50 that it will do it the third time.

Are you saying that there is an intangible, like a letdown, factor affecting the outcome?

I would like to see that stats on which team wins a third or fourth game after a 2-0 series lead. I'll bet the odds favor the 2-0 team. (I'll also bet that someone here will have some data).

[Jim Hyla]

[quote lynah80] They scored what looked like a lucky goal on a forced turnover.[/quote]Disagree, that was a goal scorers goal. Cullen is one of their top goal scorers and put it top shelf, over Scrivens' shoulder. A good goal. RPI will be a good team in years to come; if they continue to mature that is. One problem they've had, over the years, is underclassmen not continuing to improve. But they have good underclassmen and unfortunately if they get great goaltending, like they did tonight, they will be tough.


That said, I'd not change anything for us, but of course I'm not as smart as Coach is. All 4 lines looked goods. I was especially impressed by Punches, Scali, and Nicholls. Also Krueger continues to impress me. He carries the puck well and he and Devin do well moving in on the offense. Unfortunately there were a couple of times that a forward didn't notice it and drop back. However it never hurt us. Except for his terrible attempt at a clear which almost gave up a goal, Scrivens looked good, the goal wasn't his fault,

Let's hope coach can tweak things and they can come out with the same intensity tomorrow. If the game plays like tonight and we lose, well there's nothing we can do if no goals on >30 SOG.

[lynah80]

Comments from Brendon Thomas' blog:

Third period:

13:58 to go:

"with Morissette on the forecheck, Scrivens put the puck right on the tape of Rabbani high along the right boards. Rabbani's shot clanked off the outside of the vacated net to the near post..."

11:49 to go:  
"another York save through traffic.  This kid looks unflappable"

9:15 to go:
"it's starting to take on that playoff feel where bloody murder is the only way a penalty will be called..."

about 6+ to go:
"it's a tight game, but remember that RPI is a team that tends to wilt in the third period"

2:30+ to go
RPI goal: "just a harmless-looking wrister from the top of the left circle that sailed through traffic and over Scrivens' left shoulder before he could pick it up"

http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20090313/BLOGS05/90313005?GID=0