Cornell - Ferris St. Pregame

[KenP]

(reposted from the other thread)

If we play well, get some scoring and hold on, I think we can have a lead heading into the 3rd period.  If that happens, I'll bet the farm that the blow the lead, and it'll come down to a crapshoot for who moves on.

Quite a predicton, it turns out.

If only I could call the stock market that well...

I'll settle for a prediction for tonight's game.

Ferris State was the CCHA regular season champion, then got embarrasingly dumped out of the conference tourney.  Good defense, and they know what's at stake.

My biggest concern is Cornell's inconsistency.  If last night's team shows up tonight I'd say we have a chance.  Just as easily I could see the rails fall off, i.e. a repeat of the Harvard game, or a repeat of the start of last night's game.  Will they be too tired to play with the same intensity?  Will Ferris be more effective at capitalizing on the abundance of chances we know Cornell is going to offer?

If they can make it through the first 10 minutes of the game without being down more than 2 goals, I give them a chance.

[RatushnyFan]

Announcers last night said that Cornell was 11-2-2 on Friday nights (now 12-2-2).  I didn't check for accuracy.  Have we generally had tougher opponents Friday nights or is it possible that we have conditioning issues?

[ajh258]

Here's the regional preview from USCHO, which I think sums up their team pretty well.

We need to hunker down on defense, be patient with the puck in the offensive zone, and play all 60 minutes in order to win today. It's not going to be easy, but after last night, anything seems possible.

[css228]

Announcers last night said that Cornell was 11-2-2 on Friday nights (now 12-2-2).  I didn't check for accuracy.  Have we generally had tougher opponents Friday nights or is it possible that we have conditioning issues?

Probably has more to do with the fact that like 90% of college programs, we use the entire week to prepare for Friday's opponent and don't worry about Saturday until Friday is done.

[Trotsky]

Announcers last night said that Cornell was 11-2-2 on Friday nights (now 12-2-2).  I didn't check for accuracy.  Have we generally had tougher opponents Friday nights or is it possible that we have conditioning issues?

Probably has more to do with the fact that like 90% of college programs, we use the entire week to prepare for Friday's opponent and don't worry about Saturday until Friday is done.

Why wouldn't that affect our Saturday opponent as well?

[adamw]

Some other Ferris reading material ... copied from Michigan post-game thread...


http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2012/03/23_mw_dogged_determination.php

http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2012/03/23_mw_whoa_nelly.php

http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2012/03/23_mw_midwest_regional_preview.php

http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2012/02/15_team_of_the_week_ferris_state.php

[css228]

Announcers last night said that Cornell was 11-2-2 on Friday nights (now 12-2-2).  I didn't check for accuracy.  Have we generally had tougher opponents Friday nights or is it possible that we have conditioning issues?

Probably has more to do with the fact that like 90% of college programs, we use the entire week to prepare for Friday's opponent and don't worry about Saturday until Friday is done.

Why wouldn't that affect our Saturday opponent as well?

Sure it does, but if anything itd just make the Saturday games more of a crapshoot.

[releck97]

Is DeSwardt eligible for tonight?

[RichH]

Is DeSwardt eligible for tonight?

Yes. It was a Game Misconduct, not a Game Disqualification.  A DQ gets you at least a game suspension.  He can play tonight.

[releck97]

Is DeSwardt eligible for tonight?

Yes. It was a Game Misconduct, not a Game Disqualification.  A DQ gets you at least a game suspension.  He can play tonight.

Thanks.  That is what I thought.  What made me question myself was a statement on the chat last night by someone who was quite sure we would see Dias instead of Armand.  IMHO, we need DeSwardt to have a chance tonight.

[Dafatone]

Here's the regional preview from USCHO, which I think sums up their team pretty well.

We need to hunker down on defense, be patient with the puck in the offensive zone, and play all 60 minutes in order to win today. It's not going to be easy, but after last night, anything seems possible.

Sounds right.  I thought we played pretty much amazing last night.  My only critique was that while I understand the defensive play in the 3rd, it seems that trying to keep possession in the offensive zone is also sound defense.

[css228]

Is DeSwardt eligible for tonight?

Yes. It was a Game Misconduct, not a Game Disqualification.  A DQ gets you at least a game suspension.  He can play tonight.

Thanks.  That is what I thought.  What made me question myself was a statement on the chat last night by someone who was quite sure we would see Dias instead of Armand.  IMHO, we need DeSwardt to have a chance tonight.

Yeah that was me. I personally think after 2 misconducts in his last 3 games Schafer is going to hesitate to play DeSwardt. Could be wrong though.

[adamw]

Yeah that was me. I personally think after 2 misconducts in his last 3 games Schafer is going to hesitate to play DeSwardt. Could be wrong though.

Actually, 2 in 2 games - because he was benched for the ECAC consolation game after taking the penalty against Harvard.

[jtn27]

Is DeSwardt eligible for tonight?

Yes. It was a Game Misconduct, not a Game Disqualification.  A DQ gets you at least a game suspension.  He can play tonight.

Thanks.  That is what I thought.  What made me question myself was a statement on the chat last night by someone who was quite sure we would see Dias instead of Armand.  IMHO, we need DeSwardt to have a chance tonight.

Yeah that was me. I personally think after 2 misconducts in his last 3 games Schafer is going to hesitate to play DeSwardt. Could be wrong though.

Has Schafer said anything about DeSwardt playing or not playing tonight?

[css228]

Is DeSwardt eligible for tonight?

Yes. It was a Game Misconduct, not a Game Disqualification.  A DQ gets you at least a game suspension.  He can play tonight.

Thanks.  That is what I thought.  What made me question myself was a statement on the chat last night by someone who was quite sure we would see Dias instead of Armand.  IMHO, we need DeSwardt to have a chance tonight.

Yeah that was me. I personally think after 2 misconducts in his last 3 games Schafer is going to hesitate to play DeSwardt. Could be wrong though.

Has Schafer said anything about DeSwardt playing or not playing tonight?

No, but as Adam said above, there is precedent for him benching DeSwardt after a misconduct.