Postgame - Cornell 2 @ RPI 1

[imafrshmn]

RPI is an improved team from last year, no doubt.  They have lots of speedy guys and some playmakers.  Obviously, I'm happy with the win, but I'm not so impressed with the way they got it.  We have the personnel to play a more physical, puck possession-oriented style like the successful Cornell teams in the earlier part of the decade, but have a hard time making it happen against speedy teams.  19 Shots on goal against RPI?  17 Against BU?  It's not going to cut it in the long run if we can't generate more offense off the forecheck.  Any predictions for the Union game?

[lynah80]

On paper, Union is a tougher opponent than RPI.  

http://www.ecachockey.com/men/members/Union/schedule

They've tied Yale and St. Cloud.  
---------------------------------

With Gallagher in the line up, I think Cornell should win.  But he got a little banged up against RPI:

http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20091204/SPORTS03/912040393/Gallagher-leads-Cornell-past-Rensselaer-in-men-s-hockey

[Oat]

What is the deal with B Nash again?

[lynah80]

I doubt he will be benched for the Union game.

[RichH]

What is the deal with B Nash again?

From the aforementioned IJ report:

Before the game, Schafer decided to bench senior defenseman Brendon Nash, who had played in each of the team's nine previous games. Schafer said it was because of a late penalty Nash took against Boston University on Saturday.

"It hurts and it was a tough decision but we need to become more disciplined as a hockey team," Schafer said.

[RichH]

RPI is an improved team from last year, no doubt.  They have lots of speedy guys and some playmakers.  Obviously, I'm happy with the win, but I'm not so impressed with the way they got it.  We have the personnel to play a more physical, puck possession-oriented style like the successful Cornell teams in the earlier part of the decade, but have a hard time making it happen against speedy teams.  19 Shots on goal against RPI?  17 Against BU?  It's not going to cut it in the long run if we can't generate more offense off the forecheck.  Any predictions for the Union game?

I don't know if it's the building, or the opponent, or the team, or what, but the last 3 games (at least) at Houston Field House have been flat, sloppy affairs for Cornell, and generally completely boring games.  About the only excitement I can remember was the melee at the buzzer last season following a dirty hit in the last few seconds by Burgdoerfer (leading to the abandonment of the handshakes).  Anyway, another flat, sloppy performance at Houston.  I'd say CU was in control most of this game, but the inability to provide a cushion led me to think that RPI could've gotten lucky and stolen a point late.  Glad it didn't happen.

Most of RPI's offensive game-plan was to gain the blue line and immediately fire the puck in.  I'm actually surprised the shot totals were as low as they were for both teams.  Usually the Houston scorekeeping is notorious for inflating shot totals.  I would say that Scrivens made about 3-5 quality saves, including some dangerous scrums right in front of him.  The RPI goal was scored on a very pretty passing play that set up a nice shot from the slot.  There was a similar play that developed later in the 2nd and he made the adjustment to get the leg-pad out in time to stop that one.  Greening's goal was a rocket to the far top corner on a developing 2-on-1...a real goal-scorer's goal.  Gallagher's was a real odd one to me; it didn't even look like it hit anything.  I want to say that it crossed the line and York reached into the net and grabbed it out of mid-air, only the ref happened to be positioned along the goal-line to see that it had crossed the plane.  The red light never even went on, but the ref immediately signaled "goal."  My version is only from my mind-replay, so that might be completely wrong.

One thing about the Scali line.  If this is indeed our "checking line," they certainly are a little timid about throwing their weight around.  They seemed to see a lot of ice-time, and I think they generated a lot of valuable "corner-mucking" time to run down the clock in the 3rd, but there just doesn't seem to be that Hornby-level of intimidation out there.  Riley...I just don't know.  Cornell needs more out of him.  He just seems a step behind on a lot of the play (from where he should be, based on his excellent play last year) at this point.  I expected him to be near the nation's leaders in assists.  As far as hits go, Joe Devin had a couple monster ones.  Cornell HAS to get more scoring from the other lines.

Edit: oh, the crowd.  We CU fans had a pretty good time in our corner.  There seemed to be more undergrads that there have been traveling, but still, not nearly as many who used to travel for shortish roadtrips.  It was "Friday White-Out" for RPI, which has been a thing for the Cornell game the last few years...I guess in an attempt to encourage their fans to make noise when the CU fans come in?  Or to stress the fact that we're the team named "Red" so doing a "Let's Go Red" only encourages us?  Probably neither.  They were giving away towels, and every damn seat in the house had a single white thunderstick on it.  (No ads on the stick as there has been in the past).  OH, DO THEY LOVE THEIR THUNDERSTIX at RPI.  2002 called, and it says your lame-ass noisemaker is stupid and for lazy fans who can't seem to yell for themselves.  Funny how the "RPI rule" only applies to teams not RPI.  One good cheer they had was a single person yelling "GO RED!" and a section replying back "GO WHITE!" and repeating, which lasted for quite a while.  Our response was a version which changed both to "GO RED!"  Otherwise, a typical game at the Houston Morgue.

[imafrshmn]

The difference makers in this game were Ben Scrivens, who came up with the saves he needed to make, and Colin Greening, whose play led to both Cornell goals.  RPI could have, and probably should have, tied the game when Pirri had open net to shoot at.  Riley Nash's line continues its futility, given the talent.  You have to wonder a bit what's going on behind the scenes when our most gifted player, who's wearing an "A" no less, has not lived up to the leadership role thus far.  They only managed a few real chances in this game.  I wonder what line combinations could serve this team better.  Perhaps Sean Collins could skate with Riley on the left wing.

[jtwcornell91]

I don't know if it's the building, or the opponent, or the team, or what, but the last 3 games (at least) at Houston Field House have been flat, sloppy affairs for Cornell, and generally completely boring games.

It wasn't so long ago that the first weekend in December, the last hockey weekend of the semester, usually against RPI and Union, was a nightmare weekend for Cornell, where we seemed lucky to escape with one point.

One good cheer they had was a single person yelling "GO RED!" and a section replying back "GO WHITE!" and repeating, which lasted for quite a while.  Our response was a version which changed both to "GO RED!"

I was waiting for the "GO TEAM!" "FIGHT FIGHT!"

[Johnny 5]

God forbid anything should happen to Greening or Gallagher.

And, Rippee seemed to pick up a trick from the BU game. They didn't allow us to set up the breakout behind our goal.
That seems to give us fits.

::whistle::

[amerks127]

Gallagher's was a real odd one to me; it didn't even look like it hit anything.  I want to say that it crossed the line and York reached into the net and grabbed it out of mid-air, only the ref happened to be positioned along the goal-line to see that it had crossed the plane.  The red light never even went on, but the ref immediately signaled "goal."  My version is only from my mind-replay, so that might be completely wrong.

Gallagher's shot hit that bar which goes down the middle back of the goal and immediately bounced out, which would explain why the goal judge couldn't see it well.  Perhaps those ridiculous metal poles at Houston impaired his vision as well.

[redice]

The RPI goal judges have been known to have problems seeing Cornell shot in the net.   I recall one from several years ago when it went into the net and hit right behind the post & bounced out.   No goal.   That judge had to be escorted away after the game.

[CowbellGuy]

...our most gifted player, who's wearing an "A" ...

I think you mean "C".

[Rosey]

...our most gifted player, who's wearing an "A" ...

I think you mean "C".

No, he means "A", but it's the "A" whose last name starts with "G", not "N".

[imafrshmn]

...our most gifted player, who's wearing an "A" ...

I think you mean "C".

No, that's what YOU mean.

No, he means "A", but it's the "A" whose last name starts with "G", not "N".

No, that's what YOU mean.

::woot::

[ebilmes]

Cornell powerplay this year: 17/53  .321
RPI powerplay last year:     17/195 .087