Cornell 5 at UNH 2 (postgame)

[BigRedNH]

Watching it live and then watching again on the video makes me appreciate it even more.  The one thing lost is the fact that Cornell was into their third line change and the UNH guys had been out the whole time and were absolutely done.  In fact that line for UNH did not take another shift for about 2-3 minutes.  Umile had to double shift Butler's line because they were so tired.

[CowbellGuy]

The full game compression ran overnight but wasn't quite done when I left this morning. I'll put highlights together tonight or tomorrow and make the full thing available... somewhere.

[Al DeFlorio]

We often hear Schafer talk about the team "not moving their feet" when they're not playing well.  The impression I had watching this game and then replaying it is that, for nearly the whole game, the Cornell team never stopped "moving their feet."  Watch that clip and it's clear that no one ever stopped skating.  No one just stood there watching a teammate with the puck.  Riley Nash passed the puck from the left point to Kennedy who was to the right of the cage.  While Kennedy went into the corner to retrieve the puck and pass it out to Krueger at the right point, Nash cruised from the left point to just outside the crease where he was in perfect position to tip Krueger's shot.

Another thing that struck me was the comments by several UNH players about Cornell winning battles along the board and playing so tough in the offensive zone, and how UNH wasn't used to that kind of play in Hockey East.  What made Cornell so effective in controlling this game was the combination of that typical Cornell strength with the confident passing and motion in the offensive zone, the taking of the puck out of the corners to the net, the cross-crease passes to players rushing the net, all very typical of the Hockey East style of play.  The result was 43 shots on goal and, IIRC, 26(!) scoring chances.

[French Rage]

We often hear Schafer talk about the team "not moving their feet" when they're not playing well.  The impression I had watching this game and then replaying it is that, for nearly the whole game, the Cornell team never stopped "moving their feet."  Watch that clip and it's clear that no one ever stopped skating.  No one just stood there watching a teammate with the puck.  Riley Nash passed the puck from the left point to Kennedy who was to the right of the cage.  While Kennedy went into the corner to retrieve the puck and pass it out to Krueger at the right point, Nash cruised from the left point to just outside the crease where he was in perfect position to tip Krueger's shot.

In addition we seemed so much quicker and crisper heading down the ice.  I don't know if that was do to UNH's defending or if it was the larger ice, but it was noticable.

[andyw2100]

I noticed that UNH used the drop pass a lot. We didn't which is consistent with the fact that we rarely drop pass. Does drop passing work better on the bigger ice? I seem to recall UNH developing some pretty good chances from successful drop passes.

[Trotsky]

I noticed that UNH used the drop pass a lot. We didn't which is consistent with the fact that we rarely drop pass. Does drop passing work better on the bigger ice? I seem to recall UNH developing some pretty good chances from successful drop passes.

This (our side of it anyway) may reflect Schafer's guidance to the team to drive the net far more this year.  I've noticed our guys trying, mostly succeeding, to maintain control of the puck more, all season long.  The passes have been crisper and more sure, but IMHO there is much less overall passing than in prior years.  This is especially obvious on our powerplay, which used to look like Tempest (passing around the periphery, then one mad dash in trying not to get impaled on the opposing defensemen), but now has guys punching into the slot from everywhere, stressing the D until it snaps somewhere and then, bang, a short interior pass or a rebound off a quick wrister is instantly there and (sometimes) gets jammed in.

(Admission: I didn't have video for Florida, so those games -- which apparently ran contrary to everything the team has tried to do all year -- don't impact my pristine picture of their play.)

[Al DeFlorio]

We often hear Schafer talk about the team "not moving their feet" when they're not playing well. The impression I had watching this game and then replaying it is that, for nearly the whole game, the Cornell team never stopped "moving their feet."  Watch that clip and it's clear that no one ever stopped skating.  No one just stood there watching a teammate with the puck.  Riley Nash passed the puck from the left point to Kennedy who was to the right of the cage.  While Kennedy went into the corner to retrieve the puck and pass it out to Krueger at the right point, Nash cruised from the left point to just outside the crease where he was in perfect position to tip Krueger's shot.

In addition we seemed so much quicker and crisper heading down the ice.  I don't know if that was do to UNH's defending or if it was the larger ice, but it was noticable.

Agree.  Breakouts were much improved.  I'm sure UNH's layoff caused them to be out of kilter (a la Cornell in Estero), but I do think we liked playing on the big sheet, and learned to take advantage of it rather early on.  I guess 'confident' is the word I'd use to best describe our breakouts, whereas too often in the past I'd have used 'tentative.'

But my sense is, when watching WCHA games played on big ice, that seems to be the case generally.  Teams don't often get trapped in their own zone and there's lots of transition play back and forth. Probably a function of more open ice for forwards to get free for clearing passes to move the puck out of the defensive zone, through center ice, and into the offensive zone.

[ebilmes]

Ok, so who was this...

http://barmaidblog.livejournal.com/55792.html

The four guys in the corner wearing red and white break out in shouts and applause, and I don't have to turn around and look at the television to know something has happened that I won't like, but I do anyway. Sure enough, Cornell has taken a 3-2 lead against my beloved Wildcats, and I heave a sigh. One of the Cornell guys comes up to the bar shortly thereafter to order another pitcher, and points at the New Hampshire hockey jersey I'm wearing. To his credit, instead of needling me about the current score, he asks, "Hey, is that a game-worn?"

[Cactus12]

Thanks for posting... thing of beauty.

[CowbellGuy]

Here is the highlight video I promised. Took an extra day because the first try was just over 10 minutes and rejected, so I had to put it on a bit of a diet. It also includes The Shift. Enjoy.

[dag14]

Thanks for posting the highlight video -- I didn't see the game [had to rely on audio] so it was great to have a chance to get a flavor of what I missed.

[ebilmes]

Here are some pictures.

http://ingoalmag.com/photos/cornells-ben-scrivens-vs-unhs-brian-foster/

[JasonN95]

Great highlight reel. Thanks.

[lynah80]

Great video.  Thanks for putting it together.

[scoop85]

Ya gotta think the coaching staff is already using the clip of "the Shift" in their recruiting pitch :-D