2/3/12_Cornell_RPI_2-2 tie

[Towerroad]

I know we scored twice on power plays, and a goal is a goal, but our power play looks like a mess to me. We dont seem to be able to move the puck effectively around the perimiter and struggle with the forecheck.

[billhoward]

Disappointing. We could have done better, say play a third period as good as the first two. Shots 19-10 Cornell in the first two periods, then 12-4 RPI in the third. Nice to know our power play, not matter how it looks, can score (both goals); not so nice to know we can't put one even strength goal past RPI. Really need to beat Union tonight to have a solid chance to end the RS as No. 1 in the standings and the better seedings that affords.

[Dafatone]

It's not time to give up yet.  We hadn't lost back to back games until last weekend, and this is a team that's too young to not have a bad stretch.

That being said, we need to figure out what's wrong in the third.  Maybe it's conditioning?  We really did look pretty dead out there (being down a dman doesn't help.)  Furthermore, we had no answer for RPI's forecheck whatsoever.

Also would have been nice if the refs remembered they had whistles towards the end of the game.  Ferlin's OT breakaway was a clear trip.  There were a few other chances where Cornell had RPI's defense beat and they went to the desperation hook/trip.

But still, bottom line is we need to find a better way to break out of our zone.  WAY too many defensive zone turnovers.

[ebilmes]

Cornell under Schafer, when leading after two periods:

Before this season: 140-7-9
This season: 8-3-2

[Trotsky]

Cornell under Schafer, when leading after two periods:

Before this season: 140-7-9
This season: 8-3-2

If you took 2+ goals leads I'll bet the results are much scarier.

Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, three times is enemy action.  There's definitely a problem.  No idea what it is, but we haven't just blown leads, we've been completely dominated while it was happening.  I am hesitant to bandy about mystical, unquantifiable terms like "leadership," but the demoralization of the squad during these breakdowns is abnormal.  I have seen a few Cornell teams who quit when they were two goals down.  Never seen one that did it when they were two goals up.  ::screwy::

A win tonight would atone for A LOT of sins and as we've seen, when these guys play well they are scary good.

In the end the soundest advice is Schafer's: bury those chances during the fat times.  Build enough of a lead to survive the lean times.

[Jim Hyla]

So I just watched some of the replays. The hit on Birch looked legal. It looks like the damage occurred when his head hit the glass. The announcers looked correct in saying the elbows were down and he didn't leave his feet to make the check.

The third period goals to tie the game were defensive mental mistakes, not physical tiredness. On the first one, D'Agostino points to Mowrey to cover the RPI scorer, who is alone above the face-off circle. D'Agostino goes to cover in front of the goal, but Mowery does not pick up his man and he skates in alone to take the pass and shoot into an open goal.

On the second goal, RPI has a 2-1 break, soon to be 3-2. Both of our D-men go to the 2 RPI players around the puck near the boards. Our forward is too far behind the third RPI player. Whitney is left at the boards and Ryan overplays the puck carrier too much and can't stop the easy pass over to the open RPI player. Iles was correctly playing the puck carrier and is left out to dry on the scorer.

Both of these could easily have been stopped. On the first D'Agostino clearly tells Mowrey what to do, and on the second, Ryan should not have pushed too close to the puck handler. You'd hope that Mowery would have known what to do, and that Ryan will learn and never do it again.

The breakaway by Ferlin was clearly a trip. The defender was behind and slid forward, swinging his stick to trip Ferlin as he was making his move. It could have been a penalty shot.

[RichH]

Cornell under Schafer, when leading after two periods:

Before this season: 140-7-9
This season: 8-3-2

If you took 2+ goals leads I'll bet the results are much scarier.

Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, three times is enemy action.  There's definitely a problem.  No idea what it is, but we haven't just blown leads, we've been completely dominated while it was happening.  I am hesitant to bandy about mystical, unquantifiable terms like "leadership," but the demoralization of the squad during these breakdowns is abnormal.  I have seen a few Cornell teams who got down and quit when they were two goals down.  Never seen one that did it when they were two goals up.  ::screwy::

A win tonight would make up for A LOT or mistakes and as we've seen, when these guys play well they are scary good.

After the 1st RPI goal last night, I started wondering why opposing fans show up before the 3rd period against CU.  It has to be in our heads now.  I will say that I felt we had a lot more chances in the 3rd than we did late vs. Harvard or Colgate. We clanged the crossbar during the 1st RPI goal PA announcement, about 10 seconds after the faceoff, and I'd give a lot to see Ferlin get another chance at finishing that breakaway.  After the game was tied, CU seemed to play with a bit more desperation, even going into a more end-to-end style with RPI. I'd even go so far to say we had the better scoring attempt in OT.

But man, this is frustrating.

[LaJollaRed]

http://static3.depositphotos.com/1007113/223/i/450/dep_2235855-Industrial-Panic-button.jpg

[Scersk '97]

On the second goal, RPI has a 2-1 break, soon to be 3-2. Both of our D-men go to the 2 RPI players around the puck near the boards. Our forward is too far behind the third RPI player. Whitney is left at the boards and Ryan overplays the puck carrier too much and can't stop the easy pass over to the open RPI player. Iles was correctly playing the puck carrier and is left out to dry on the scorer.

The forward was Dias, and it looked to me that he was dogging it on his backcheck.  We all know that guy has the speed to keep up with anyone he chooses to.  Great backchecking has always been a Cornell hallmark.  I am sure Schafer will properly instruct him as to the relationship between backchecking effort and playing time.

We don't seem to have a problem with conditioning, given the flying, controlling play in overtime; we seem to have a problem with concentration.  This is a very young team.  Colgate is not, and look what they did protecting a lead at Lynah.

And, to be honest, they have better seniors.  Ross I have no problems with, but then there are the others: Whitney is not the guy I expect to show enough concentration to control a third period, or any puck wrapping around the boards, for that matter; Jillson has always been a bit fragile, like Roeszler without an upside; and Collins, unfortunately, has never developed past the Tony Bergin stage on breakaways.  Was there any guy we needed more to have that big senior year than Collins?  Looking specifically at this last game, Collins had a great chance, where he had dropped his shoulder heading to the net and all he had to do was draw the puck across and get hauled down or pop it in.  Both defender and goalie were severely compromised.  What did he do?  Flick it backhand uselessly.

(Seriously, remember Bergin?  Has there ever been a player who so much looked the part but couldn't put a puck in the net to save his life?  Rich and I used to groan every time Bergin got a breakaway, because you knew the puck wasn't going in the net.  Again.)

So, my prescription?  Birch and Espo need to get healthy.  The freshmen need to bear down NOW.  The seniors need to start playing like seniors.

[css228]

http://static3.depositphotos.com/1007113/223/i/450/dep_2235855-Industrial-Panic-button.jpg

I prefer the Hitchhiker's Guide personally.

[TimV]

Anybody who gets the text updates from Cornell Athletics received this gem shortly before 11:00 Eastern time last night:

"Men's Hockey salvages hard-earned 2-2 tie at Rensselaer..."

Salvages?   Salvages??  Hard-earned??? ::wtf:: Yo Sidearm- the third period started with the score Cornell 2 RPI 0!::doh::

[Trotsky]

(Seriously, remember Bergin?  Has there ever been a player who so much looked the part but couldn't put a puck in the net to save his life?

Shane Hynes.

I thought Collins looked good until the third, when nobody looked good.

They did pick it up for the last 5 of regulation and the overtime, so perhaps that is a good sign.

[dbilmes]

The breakaway by Ferlin was clearly a trip. The defender was behind and slid forward, swinging his stick to trip Ferlin as he was making his move. It could have been a penalty shot.

Schafer was mouthing at the officials after the game. I'm sure he was probably complaining, among other things, about the no-call on Ferlin's breakaway.

[ithacat]

http://static3.depositphotos.com/1007113/223/i/450/dep_2235855-Industrial-Panic-button.jpg

I prefer the Hitchhiker's Guide personally.

Must remember to bring a towel this weekend.

[jtn27]

With tonights's tie against Union, we haven't scored a 3rd period goal since January 13 at Quinnipiac (we did get an OT goal against Dartmouth on the 20th). That's 7 games without a 3rd period goal.