PU @ CU

[Scersk '97]

The refs completely screwed us at the end.  Hilbrich had his hands down and didn't even get half of the guy on the "boarding," and Axell's trip was after he had been tripped himself.  Idiocy.

Can it be that ever ref in every venue has a secret vendetta against us or is our approach to the game 20 years old. The Nile is a river in Egypt as well.

Did that knee hit you in the face when it jerked?  Did you even watch the game?

The refs screwed us at the end of what was otherwise a frustrating but entertaining game, played mostly in Princeton's end.  Numerous odd-man rushes just didn't go our way.  Condon played very well, saving Princeton's bacon.  Take a look at the box.  Those 39 weren't bombers from the outside.

[Trotsky]

We dominated.  I have no idea how we failed to score 4 or 5, let alone the 2 that were needed.

This weekend was not the self-sabotage of the prior weekend, nor the apathy of the Brown loss.  Obviously with time slipping away the situation is terrible, but this weekend at least the effort and execution were not -- only the finishing.

I think it's 60/40 that this squad can get its act together in time to be a real pain in somebody's ass in the tournament.  If we really are heading for a 9-12 finish, as the cold equations are starting to indicate, perhaps we can make some history as an underdog.

Two things did worry me this weekend.  (1) Ferlin has lost speed and agility.  He's still strong, but the parallels wtih Vinnie Auger are ominous.  (2) What is wrong with Axell?  Tonight in particular he played like a guy with food poisoning, the flu, and a urinary tract infection.  He was awful, and I am used to him being splendid.  If he had a history of being a headcase I would worry he had checked out.  But he doesn't, and I worry there is something physically wrong.

[ithacat]

The refs completely screwed us at the end.  Hilbrich had his hands down and didn't even get half of the guy on the "boarding," and Axell's trip was after he had been tripped himself.  Idiocy.

I saw it the same way on each penalty. However, in 2013 the team is 0-4 at Lynah, with an aggregate score of 3-11. In the past 206:10 at home they've scored one goal from 98 shots on goal, giving opposing goalies in that stretch a save % of 98.98. Cornell's problems have nothing to do with the refs.

What's happened to students chanting "townies up" at the end of games? Has it been banned?

[Trotsky]

What's happened to students chanting "townies up" at the end of games? Has it been banned?

I heard it each night.

The boarding call was legit.  The other, well, I didn't see it that way through Carnelian hued spectacles.

[sah67]

(2) What is wrong with Axell?  Tonight in particular he played like a guy with food poisoning, the flu, and a urinary tract infection.  He was awful, and I am used to him being splendid.

Not to mention the coaching decision to play him on the point on the PP (and tonight wasn't the first time) when he has neither the big, powerful shot to be effective from there nor the playmaking ability to set things up.

Speaking of the powerplay, it seems like we're lacking so many of the weapons that used to make us so deadly on the man-advantage, like the aforementioned big blast from the point (ala Doug Murray, Mike Devin or Brendon Nash), or a big body in front of the net creating havoc with deflections and rebound goals (Greening, Sawada, Baby). It also seems like we're setting up guys like McCarron for one-timers from the faceoff dots despite the fact that they miss the net over and over, whereas guys like Barlow, Gallagher, and Joe Devin had much better accuracy and would score repeatedly and far more often from that same position.

[Trotsky]

or a big body in front of the net creating havoc with deflections and rebound goals (Greening, Sawada, Baby)

Hillbrich is the guy they used for that tonight, and I liked what I saw.  Very rough, but he crashed the net when he had the puck and he did raise a ruckus ("a ruckus, sir?"  "Could you describe the ruckus?" ) when he was out front.  He isn't a complete player and there are things he does that are painful to watch, but I think he could be an effective guy both for screens and rebounds.  As he becomes more comfortable he'll be tough to muscle out from the front.

[Jim Hyla]

(2) What is wrong with Axell?  Tonight in particular he played like a guy with food poisoning, the flu, and a urinary tract infection.  He was awful, and I am used to him being splendid.

Not to mention the coaching decision to play him on the point on the PP (and tonight wasn't the first time) when he has neither the big, powerful shot to be effective from there nor the playmaking ability to set things up.

Speaking of the powerplay, it seems like we're lacking so many of the weapons that used to make us so deadly on the man-advantage, like the aforementioned big blast from the point (ala Doug Murray, Mike Devin or Brendon Nash), or a big body in front of the net creating havoc with deflections and rebound goals (Greening, Sawada, Baby). It also seems like we're setting up guys like McCarron for one-timers from the faceoff dots despite the fact that they miss the net over and over, whereas guys like Barlow, Gallagher, and Joe Devin had much better accuracy and would score repeatedly and far more often from that same position.

I have to completely disagree with both of you on Axell. I thought his game was OK, and the PP was one of the best this season. We had great control, with a lot of chances. I suspect we'll see more of him on the PP. We don't have great shooters, but we hit, what 2, or according to the post-game, 3 irons. They scored on an unbelieveable shot. If we had a couple of our irons go in and their's go out, we'd all be celebrating. I can't imagine what the lockerroom must have been like after the game. I hope like hell they can find a way to keep up this kind of play. If so, we still have some fun ahead.

is our approach to the game 20 years old.

I can't believe it would be said that we're playing like 20 years ago. My god, after this game it's said? Oh well, last week it was Iles, yesterday Dags, so I guess today it had to be something.

[Trotsky]

and the PP was one of the best this season. We had great control, with a lot of chances. I suspect we'll see more of him on the PP. We don't have great shooters, but we hit, what 2, or according to the post-game, 3 irons. They scored on an unbelieveable shot. If we had a couple of our irons go in and their's go out, we'd all be celebrating. I can't imagine what the lockerroom must have been like after the game. I hope like hell they can find a way to keep up this kind of play. If so, we still have some fun ahead.

I agree with you completely on the overall pp.  This was the pp we have been missing for the last 2 years -- it was extremely effective and produced a ridiculous number of great chances.

[Scersk '97]

Speaking of the powerplay, it seems like we're lacking so many of the weapons that used to make us so deadly on the man-advantage, like the aforementioned big blast from the point (ala Doug Murray, Mike Devin or Brendon Nash), or a big body in front of the net creating havoc with deflections and rebound goals (Greening, Sawada, Baby).

Wherefore art thou, second coming of Paolini?

What I wouldn't give for a great garbageman; indeed, with all the constant hand wringing over lacking snipers, I think we've had more snipers than garbagemen.  To my mind, no point in the big slappah when there's no one there to pick up the rebound.

Along those lines, why isn't McCarron planted in the crease, never to leave?  He seems to have the correct attitude and the appropriate nasty streak. Tosses in wristers, sometimes on the backhand.  I don't get it.  We seemed to be working on a more "below-the-dots," low triangle type power play earlier in the season--actually, saw quite a bit of it in person at the first Princeton game--but that's disappeared in favor of the ol' Umbrella, which seems to put a lot of pressure on our already suspect points.  The decline of the power play is my one bugaboo with regard to coaching in the last few years, i.e., definitely after Brekke left and even a bit after Russell left.

Yet, looking ahead into positivity and the future, I've also started to note how quick Hilbrich is with his stick.  When he's deep forechecking, I've seen him screw up many a pass with a wrap-around swipe.  Seems to be able to make up for a slight lack of foot speed.  (A la... Paolini.)  Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps he'll develop into what we've needed.

[scoop85]

I was annoyed after the Brown loss.  Tonight just frustrated.

[Scersk '97]

The boarding call was legit.  The other, well, I didn't see it that way through Carnelian hued spectacles.

Because I like to torture myself, I went back and looked at the "tape."

Hilbrich's Board:  Ennnnnnnhhhh...  maybe. He did go in a bit out-of-control; after the check, he's on one skate.  Made a huge smacking sound, but I think that was a stick.  I hate the new glass.  (I know, it's old by now, but it's still "new" to me.)

Axell's Trip:  He was reaching for the puck and tripped a guy he couldn't have known was there, considering that he was already on his way down.  It didn't take away a scoring opportunity from Princeton.  Would've been the right time of the game not to call anything, given that no one was maimed.

(BTW, Mihalek nearly got his head taken off after taking a shot on a play right before that.  Where's the call there?  Definitely CTH-elbowing. And then Lowry was completely tripped/interfered with on D'Agostino's last rush, ending up in the net and taking away a great scoring chance.)

Mowrey in the 1st:  Complete phantom call from the Redcast camera angle.  Mowrey looks completely surprised that it was him rather than someone else.

So, can you complain about reffing in a game where you have a two more power plays than the other guy?  Yeah.  Or at least I can.  But I suppose I'm a whiner.

[dag14]

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the guys have been playing with or through illness the last two weekends.  Students have been missing a lot of class, but I don't have any hockey players in my classes this spring to confirm that the hockey team has fallen victim.

[scoop85]

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the guys have been playing with or through illness the last two weekends.  Students have been missing a lot of class, but I don't have any hockey players in my classes this spring to confirm that the hockey team has fallen victim.

They didn't play like a team with players battling illness last night. They played like a team that's snakebit.

[ithacat]

What's happened to students chanting "townies up" at the end of games? Has it been banned?

I heard it each night.

The boarding call was legit.  The other, well, I didn't see it that way through Carnelian hued spectacles.

Watched the end of the game again and I think the Hilbrich call was a weak one. He gets his shoulder in front of the guy and stands him up and they both slide shoulder first into the boards. The Axell call was legit. Axell skates through a trip but afterward loses his edge and goes down before tripping the PU skater. I'll admit to being ridiculously biased when it comes to the officials.

Glad I wasn't the only one confused by the high stick call that led to a center ice FO.

I did hear on replay two or three townies up. Not hearing it at all over in H...it's the kind of season that is now about the little things.

[ScrewBU]

The refs completely screwed us at the end.  Hilbrich had his hands down and didn't even get half of the guy on the "boarding," and Axell's trip was after he had been tripped himself.  Idiocy.

Can it be that ever ref in every venue has a secret vendetta against us or is our approach to the game 20 years old. The Nile is a river in Egypt as well.

Did that knee hit you in the face when it jerked?  Did you even watch the game?

The refs screwed us at the end of what was otherwise a frustrating but entertaining game, played mostly in Princeton's end.  Numerous odd-man rushes just didn't go our way.  Condon played very well, saving Princeton's bacon.  Take a look at the box.  Those 39 weren't bombers from the outside.

Take another look at the box.  See that goose egg next to Cornell?