Not a goal?

[oceanst41]

It is unfortunate, but I heard the whistle in the arena as well. It was pretty clear from the reactions of all on the ice that nobody had any clue where the puck was, and it was as the players began to let up that the ref came out blowing the whistle and pointing up, assuming the puck must have ended up in the net. You could also see the surprise as the puck then ended up in the net, which prompted the review. My first thought was that they were checking to see if it hit the netting, and once the replay flashed on the MSG monitor I realized it was more likely going to come down to when the play was dead. Again unfortunate, but correct call by the books.

More importantly for me, it was my first chance to see the team live a couple years. This version can certainly skate, and at worst appeared even with BU. BU blocked a ton of shots, some were due to a slow release, but many others were excellent defensive plays. It was nice to see the creativity on the rush (not just by forwards either, Ryan had a great rush down the left side of the BU zone at one point). Ferlin, for a big kid, can really handle the puck, and his curl and drag on the 1 on 1 early in the game was a good example. This team left me feeling that they can make something out of nothing, and don't have to rely on odd man rushes, PPGs and wearing teams down to capitalize late in games.

Probably fitting the game went to OT. BU first goal was a blocked shot on a 5 on 3 that caromed right to a wide open wing and Cornell's goal was another favorable bounce.

[ajh258]

It was nice to see the creativity on the rush (not just by forwards either, Ryan had a great rush down the left side of the BU zone at one point). Ferlin, for a big kid, can really handle the puck, and his curl and drag on the 1 on 1 early in the game was a good example.

They can rush but they can't pass or get juicy rebounds... Still not good enough for the big times.

[Al DeFlorio]

It was nice to see the creativity on the rush (not just by forwards either, Ryan had a great rush down the left side of the BU zone at one point). Ferlin, for a big kid, can really handle the puck, and his curl and drag on the 1 on 1 early in the game was a good example.

They can rush but they can't pass or get juicy rebounds... Still not good enough for the big times.

Did you really just write that Ferlin "can`t pass?" Are you serious?

[ajh258]

It was nice to see the creativity on the rush (not just by forwards either, Ryan had a great rush down the left side of the BU zone at one point). Ferlin, for a big kid, can really handle the puck, and his curl and drag on the 1 on 1 early in the game was a good example.

They can rush but they can't pass or get juicy rebounds... Still not good enough for the big times.

Did you really just write that Ferlin "can`t pass?" Are you serious?

He can't pass or somebody else doesn't know how to receive them... more likely the latter.

[Chris '03]

It was nice to see the creativity on the rush (not just by forwards either, Ryan had a great rush down the left side of the BU zone at one point). Ferlin, for a big kid, can really handle the puck, and his curl and drag on the 1 on 1 early in the game was a good example.

They can rush but they can't pass or get juicy rebounds... Still not good enough for the big times.

I get that you have a NCAA title or bust mentality but the expectation that a team that suits a ton of underclassmen is going to do everything right is ridiculous. They didn't hand 5 on BU. So what? I appreciate that for once Cornell has players (and freshmen no less) who can generate off the rush and I think that's what oceanst was getting at. Ten years ago, Cornell could dominate teams for 60 minutes and play a 1-1 tie because they had no elite playmakers, would go 1-8 on the PP, and need shutouts to win.

The '02, '03, and '05 teams arguably had no one as impressive as Ferlin and Ryan (including passing skills...) on the ice as far as offensive potential (I don't recall Moulson, Greening, or Murray looking nearly this good in their first semesters). Those less talented teams of slow clutch and grabbers came a goal away from beating the #1 seed, a "high stick" and/or facemask away from the title game, and an overtime loss on the road away from the FF respectively, which I think is "big time" by any standard that isn't NCAA title or failure. They also won two ECAC titles and three Ivy titles.

It shouldn't be sky is falling time around here after an overtime loss to BU in November. Does it hurt Cornell's PWR come March? Sure. But  had Cornell won on a cheap ricochet, it wouldn't be time to punch FF tickets either. In the long run getting a taste of defeat in a game where they kept with a very solid team but didn't execute very well and were outhustled throughout will make for good teaching moments for a (very) young team.  Hopefully the memory of the disappointment sticks when the postseason comes around.

It will be interesting to see how the team comes out Friday night.  It will also be fun to watch this team gel in the second half as they get more games under their belt and get more comfortable in the system. Plenty to look forward to.

[oceanst41]

I don't know, I guess I didn't mind the passes I saw. A lot creativity than past seasons, and a lot of nice, short passes in the neutral zone to keep players moving with speed. BU did a nice job on the forecheck, but the majority of breakouts were pretty clean because of the short passing. I noticed a lot less in the way of haphazard firing of the puck into the neutral zone or into marked skaters' feet.

As for the rebounds, some credit might have to go to BU for tying up loose (not lose) sticks in front of the net.

I just saw a lot of quality chances and quality movement from the team. I'm more encouraged than not coming out of that game.

[ajh258]

I just watched the highlights again. Millan had a great night, and a lot of credit goes to him for the outcome. Ferlin, Ryan and Lowry all had quality chances and shots, but they were mostly saved by the BU goaltender.

[css228]

I just watched the highlights again. Millan had a great night, and a lot of credit goes to him for the outcome. Ferlin, Ryan and Lowry all had quality chances and shots, but they were mostly saved by the BU goaltender.

Highlights for anyone who wishes to watch them. The one glove hand swat Millan makes on a Ferlin backhand is incredible. Also Ferlin has a sick deke and shot around the 1:20 mark of the highlight video. Can't imagine playing like that and only scoring one goal very often A lot of positives to take out of this, especially if we can get some good wins in Estero and Colorado.

[Swampy]

It was nice to see the creativity on the rush (not just by forwards either, Ryan had a great rush down the left side of the BU zone at one point). Ferlin, for a big kid, can really handle the puck, and his curl and drag on the 1 on 1 early in the game was a good example.

They can rush but they can't pass or get juicy rebounds... Still not good enough for the big times.

I get that you have a NCAA title or bust mentality but the expectation that a team that suits a ton of underclassmen is going to do everything right is ridiculous. They didn't hand 5 on BU. So what? I appreciate that for once Cornell has players (and freshmen no less) who can generate off the rush and I think that's what oceanst was getting at. Ten years ago, Cornell could dominate teams for 60 minutes and play a 1-1 tie because they had no elite playmakers, would go 1-8 on the PP, and need shutouts to win.

The '02, '03, and '05 teams arguably had no one as impressive as Ferlin and Ryan (including passing skills...) on the ice as far as offensive potential (I don't recall Moulson, Greening, or Murray looking nearly this good in their first semesters). Those less talented teams of slow clutch and grabbers came a goal away from beating the #1 seed, a "high stick" and/or facemask away from the title game, and an overtime loss on the road away from the FF respectively, which I think is "big time" by any standard that isn't NCAA title or failure. They also won two ECAC titles and three Ivy titles.

It shouldn't be sky is falling time around here after an overtime loss to BU in November. Does it hurt Cornell's PWR come March? Sure. But  had Cornell won on a cheap ricochet, it wouldn't be time to punch FF tickets either. In the long run getting a taste of defeat in a game where they kept with a very solid team but didn't execute very well and were outhustled throughout will make for good teaching moments for a (very) young team.  Hopefully the memory of the disappointment sticks when the postseason comes around.

It will be interesting to see how the team comes out Friday night.  It will also be fun to watch this team gel in the second half as they get more games under their belt and get more comfortable in the system. Plenty to look forward to.

I also noticed quite a few turnovers because the player on the receiving end of a pass didn't control the puck. I'm inclined to chalk this up to lack of time playing together. By the end of this season and in a year or two, we can reasonably expect to see many more sequences of made, almost instinctive passes.

[scoop85]

It was nice to see the creativity on the rush (not just by forwards either, Ryan had a great rush down the left side of the BU zone at one point). Ferlin, for a big kid, can really handle the puck, and his curl and drag on the 1 on 1 early in the game was a good example.

They can rush but they can't pass or get juicy rebounds... Still not good enough for the big times.

I get that you have a NCAA title or bust mentality but the expectation that a team that suits a ton of underclassmen is going to do everything right is ridiculous. They didn't hand 5 on BU. So what? I appreciate that for once Cornell has players (and freshmen no less) who can generate off the rush and I think that's what oceanst was getting at. Ten years ago, Cornell could dominate teams for 60 minutes and play a 1-1 tie because they had no elite playmakers, would go 1-8 on the PP, and need shutouts to win.

The '02, '03, and '05 teams arguably had no one as impressive as Ferlin and Ryan (including passing skills...) on the ice as far as offensive potential (I don't recall Moulson, Greening, or Murray looking nearly this good in their first semesters). Those less talented teams of slow clutch and grabbers came a goal away from beating the #1 seed, a "high stick" and/or facemask away from the title game, and an overtime loss on the road away from the FF respectively, which I think is "big time" by any standard that isn't NCAA title or failure. They also won two ECAC titles and three Ivy titles.

It shouldn't be sky is falling time around here after an overtime loss to BU in November. Does it hurt Cornell's PWR come March? Sure. But  had Cornell won on a cheap ricochet, it wouldn't be time to punch FF tickets either. In the long run getting a taste of defeat in a game where they kept with a very solid team but didn't execute very well and were outhustled throughout will make for good teaching moments for a (very) young team.  Hopefully the memory of the disappointment sticks when the postseason comes around.

It will be interesting to see how the team comes out Friday night.  It will also be fun to watch this team gel in the second half as they get more games under their belt and get more comfortable in the system. Plenty to look forward to.

I also noticed quite a few turnovers because the player on the receiving end of a pass didn't control the puck. I'm inclined to chalk this up to lack of time playing together. By the end of this season and in a year or two, we can reasonably expect to see many more sequences of made, almost instinctive passes.

I think a lot of that due was to the poor condition of the ice, which is always a problem at MSG. As a Rangers fan, I've been observing that problem forever.

[redice]

I think a lot of that due was to the poor condition of the ice, which is always a problem at MSG. As a Rangers fan, I've been observing that problem forever.

It sure looked that way to me, as well.    I didn't realize it was a persistent problem at MSG.

[Rosey]

I think a lot of that due was to the poor condition of the ice, which is always a problem at MSG. As a Rangers fan, I've been observing that problem forever.

Then Agganis must have bad ice, too, because BU wasn't having nearly as much of a problem. (IMO, complaining about something that impacts both teams equally is the sort of thing the winners roll their eyes at. If the entire Cornell team had the flu OTOH you would have a legitimate argument.)

[ugarte]

I think a lot of that due was to the poor condition of the ice, which is always a problem at MSG. As a Rangers fan, I've been observing that problem forever.

Then Agganis must have bad ice, too, because BU wasn't having nearly as much of a problem. (IMO, complaining about something that impacts both teams equally is the sort of thing the winners roll their eyes at. If the entire Cornell team had the flu OTOH you would have a legitimate argument.)

This. If we keep agreeing with each other we're going to end up hugging without the support structure of the Hadron Collider to protect the rest of the universe.

The complaint about Cornell's poor job receiving passes was made by a brilliant analyst in the Screw BU thread.

[css228]

I think a lot of that due was to the poor condition of the ice, which is always a problem at MSG. As a Rangers fan, I've been observing that problem forever.

Then Agganis must have bad ice, too, because BU wasn't having nearly as much of a problem. (IMO, complaining about something that impacts both teams equally is the sort of thing the winners roll their eyes at. If the entire Cornell team had the flu OTOH you would have a legitimate argument.)

This. If we keep agreeing with each other we're going to end up hugging without the support structure of the Hadron Collider to protect the rest of the universe.

The complaint about Cornell's poor job receiving passes was made by a brilliant analyst in the Screw BU thread.

The ice is a legitimate point, because while BU was better, I still wouldn't call their passing good. The point being, if the ice was bad enough to get mentioned in the Flyers-Rangers broadcast, then there's no doubt that it was even more of an issue during the second game of the day.Two high scoring teams combined for 3 goals, in part because of great goaltending, but also in part due to missed opportunities, poor passing, and weirdly bouncing pucks. That said, bad ice or not, obviously we all want to see improved passing.

[Rosey]

The ice is a legitimate point, because while BU was better—

Full stop. Unless you're arguing that the ice was crappier in one direction than the other, and that this crappiness magically reversed for the second period, my point was that both teams had to deal with the same conditions. BU handled the level playing field better. As a result, I think any bitching and moaning about it amounts to making excuses for Cornell not playing as well as BU.

What is so difficult to admit about this? BU played better. Period. Learn from it, practice more effectively, and get better. That's what I hope the coaching staff is doing, rather than complaining about the uphill ice, the unseasonably warm weather wreaking havoc with players' psyches, or invisible vampires with a love of Canadian blood.