Quarterfinal rooting interests

[Jim Hyla]

If we can beat Q... we can beat anyone left

This is the team that recently tied Brown at home, and lost to Harvard, right?

Why can't we beat them?  As is always the case in the league, anybody can beat anybody left, without it being too much of a surprise.

Because we take a lot of idiotic penalties and our penalty kill sucks? Because we only have one dangerous offensive line? Because we lose the neutral zone with regularity? Because our power play is anemic? I don't know, pick a reason. We have to beat them twice at home in three games when they have a +6 goal differential against us. That seems likely...

Yeah, well, going into Lake Placid in 1980, the Soviets had a +7 differential on the US team - in one game....  

Careful, he's going to come back and point out it's 2 of 3.

[css228]

If we can beat Q... we can beat anyone left

This is the team that recently tied Brown at home, and lost to Harvard, right?

Why can't we beat them?  As is always the case in the league, anybody can beat anybody left, without it being too much of a surprise.

Because we take a lot of idiotic penalties and our penalty kill sucks? Because we only have one dangerous offensive line? Because we lose the neutral zone with regularity? Because our power play is anemic? I don't know, pick a reason. We have to beat them twice at home in three games when they have a +6 goal differential against us. That seems likely...

Yeah, well, going into Lake Placid in 1980, the Soviets had a +7 differential on the US team - in one game....  

Careful, he's going to come back and point out it's 2 of 3.

Well if we're tied after 1 period and Pecknold panics and pulls Hartzell for the series/this series magically gets move to Lynah so we have home ice, maybe I'll start to see some parallels.

[Chris '03]

If we can beat Q... we can beat anyone left

This is the team that recently tied Brown at home, and lost to Harvard, right?

Why can't we beat them?  As is always the case in the league, anybody can beat anybody left, without it being too much of a surprise.

Because we take a lot of idiotic penalties and our penalty kill sucks? Because we only have one dangerous offensive line? Because we lose the neutral zone with regularity? Because our power play is anemic? I don't know, pick a reason. We have to beat them twice at home in three games when they have a +6 goal differential against us. That seems likely...

Who said beating Q was likely? How's the kill been in the last 8? How many stupid penalties over that stretch? (Don't tell me performance against Yale, RPI, and Union doesn't count.)

Jordan's point is that anything can happen in this conference. Hell, Vermont, a year removed from having their season canceled, took out Clarkson at Cheel in a 10 vs 1 series.

And, of course, Q did lose to AIC this year....::bolt::

[Trotsky]

If we can beat Q... we can beat anyone left

This is the team that recently tied Brown at home, and lost to Harvard, right?

Why can't we beat them?  As is always the case in the league, anybody can beat anybody left, without it being too much of a surprise.

Because we take a lot of idiotic penalties and our penalty kill sucks? Because we only have one dangerous offensive line? Because we lose the neutral zone with regularity? Because our power play is anemic? I don't know, pick a reason. We have to beat them twice at home in three games when they have a +6 goal differential against us. That seems likely...

They gotten a lot better the last month.

Q seems to be a little less effective.

The trend lines may cross.

[Ben]

If we can beat Q... we can beat anyone left

This is the team that recently tied Brown at home, and lost to Harvard, right?

Why can't we beat them?  As is always the case in the league, anybody can beat anybody left, without it being too much of a surprise.

Because we take a lot of idiotic penalties and our penalty kill sucks? Because we only have one dangerous offensive line? Because we lose the neutral zone with regularity? Because our power play is anemic? I don't know, pick a reason. We have to beat them twice at home in three games when they have a +6 goal differential against us. That seems likely...

Who said beating Q was likely? How's the kill been in the last 8? How many stupid penalties over that stretch? (Don't tell me performance against Yale, RPI, and Union doesn't count.)

Jordan's point is that anything can happen in this conference. Hell, Vermont, a year removed from having their season canceled, took out Clarkson at Cheel in a 10 vs 1 series.

Not really, but even if we accept this premise, it would be wiser to prepare for the higher likelihood of Q thrashing us 8-0 over two games than thinking about AC. In the same way, I don't remember people worrying about rust for us and pushing Dartmouth's chances last year. Home teams with byes have that advantage for a reason: they're better. That doesn't make an upset impossible, but it is very unlikely, and we should approach the series that way.

[KeithK]

If we can beat Q... we can beat anyone left

This is the team that recently tied Brown at home, and lost to Harvard, right?

Why can't we beat them?  As is always the case in the league, anybody can beat anybody left, without it being too much of a surprise.

Because we take a lot of idiotic penalties and our penalty kill sucks? Because we only have one dangerous offensive line? Because we lose the neutral zone with regularity? Because our power play is anemic? I don't know, pick a reason. We have to beat them twice at home in three games when they have a +6 goal differential against us. That seems likely...

They gotten a lot better the last month.

Q seems to be a little less effective.

The trend lines may cross.

Or they may not.  But I'd rather approach this weekend hoping for the best, dreaming about salvaging some of the high hopes for this season. It's more fun that way, certainly in the days leading up to the games.

[scoop85]

If we can beat Q... we can beat anyone left

This is the team that recently tied Brown at home, and lost to Harvard, right?

Why can't we beat them?  As is always the case in the league, anybody can beat anybody left, without it being too much of a surprise.

Because we take a lot of idiotic penalties and our penalty kill sucks? Because we only have one dangerous offensive line? Because we lose the neutral zone with regularity? Because our power play is anemic? I don't know, pick a reason. We have to beat them twice at home in three games when they have a +6 goal differential against us. That seems likely...

Who said beating Q was likely? How's the kill been in the last 8? How many stupid penalties over that stretch? (Don't tell me performance against Yale, RPI, and Union doesn't count.)

Jordan's point is that anything can happen in this conference. Hell, Vermont, a year removed from having their season canceled, took out Clarkson at Cheel in a 10 vs 1 series.

Not really, but even if we accept this premise, it would be wiser to prepare for the higher likelihood of Q thrashing us 8-0 over two games than thinking about AC. In the same way, I don't remember people worrying about rust for us and pushing Dartmouth's chances last year. Home teams with byes have that advantage for a reason: they're better. That doesn't make an upset impossible, but it is very unlikely, and we should approach the series that way.

Perhaps, but our performance over the past month gives me the belief that win or lose we can make this a heck of a series.  That being said, I don't put too much into Q's results the last few weeks of the regular season since any team could have struggled maintaining intensity under the circumstances.

[RichH]

If we can beat Q... we can beat anyone left

This is the team that recently tied Brown at home, and lost to Harvard, right?

Why can't we beat them?  As is always the case in the league, anybody can beat anybody left, without it being too much of a surprise.

Because we take a lot of idiotic penalties and our penalty kill sucks? Because we only have one dangerous offensive line? Because we lose the neutral zone with regularity? Because our power play is anemic? I don't know, pick a reason. We have to beat them twice at home in three games when they have a +6 goal differential against us. That seems likely...

They gotten a lot better the last month.

Q seems to be a little less effective.

The trend lines may cross.

This came up during a game chat around the time QU finally assummed the #1 mantle.  What about them is so different this year from last? The 2011-12 edition of the Deerticks didn't post a single 4-point weekend, and only had a two instances where they won two straight after Dec. 1. So of course this year, after losing to Acadia (ex), RMU, Colgate, and AIC, a team like that will go off on a 21-game unbeaten streak.  As much as we try to defend the ECAC nationally, I don't see how they've become a fearsome powerhouse.  I link to TBRW's most-thourough-of-anywhere-else prediction system here: http://www.tbrw.info/?/seasons/2013/2013_Never.html which had them lined up to finish 4th.  Solid. Not invincible.  They don't have an Austin Smith type scoring threat...just a balanced attack and excellent goaltending & defense.  "Quinnipiac 2013: Getting it done."

So, if a shot-blocking defense and a solid goaltending is indeed their strength, it plays well to the Schafer playoff strategy, which is basically "hang with them defensively, and see if you get the bounce at the end." I like playing a team like that instead of a "go ahead and try to bottle up our pesky guys" like Yale.  I really feel Quinnipiac's perception as a Beast is stronger right now than the reality.  

I don't love our chances, obviously, but hey...what the hell?

[Trotsky]

So, if a shot-blocking defense and a solid goaltending is indeed their strength, it plays well to the Schafer playoff strategy, which is basically "hang with them defensively, and see if you get the bounce at the end." I like playing a team like that instead of a "go ahead and try to bottle up our pesky guys" like Yale.  I really feel Quinnipiac's perception as a Beast is stronger right now than the reality.  

I don't love our chances, obviously, but hey...what the hell?

Exactly.  We have also had our share of games this year where we completely outplayed an opponent but couldn't buy a goal.  Perhaps it will happen to them.

Twice.

[Chris '03]

If we can beat Q... we can beat anyone left

This is the team that recently tied Brown at home, and lost to Harvard, right?

Why can't we beat them?  As is always the case in the league, anybody can beat anybody left, without it being too much of a surprise.

Because we take a lot of idiotic penalties and our penalty kill sucks? Because we only have one dangerous offensive line? Because we lose the neutral zone with regularity? Because our power play is anemic? I don't know, pick a reason. We have to beat them twice at home in three games when they have a +6 goal differential against us. That seems likely...

Who said beating Q was likely? How's the kill been in the last 8? How many stupid penalties over that stretch? (Don't tell me performance against Yale, RPI, and Union doesn't count.)

Jordan's point is that anything can happen in this conference. Hell, Vermont, a year removed from having their season canceled, took out Clarkson at Cheel in a 10 vs 1 series.

Not really, but even if we accept this premise, it would be wiser to prepare for the higher likelihood of Q thrashing us 8-0 over two games than thinking about AC. In the same way, I don't remember people worrying about rust for us and pushing Dartmouth's chances last year. Home teams with byes have that advantage for a reason: they're better. That doesn't make an upset impossible, but it is very unlikely, and we should approach the series that way.

I guess I'll sell my tickets for this weekend then since it's just a faulty premise that anything can happen. ::rolleyes::

I don't see a lot of people (anyone?) running around saying it's likely Cornell will win the series. I hardly think this thread does that.

[marty]

Rooting interests for the typical RPI student

[Jim Hyla]

If we can beat Q... we can beat anyone left

This is the team that recently tied Brown at home, and lost to Harvard, right?

Why can't we beat them?  As is always the case in the league, anybody can beat anybody left, without it being too much of a surprise.

Because we take a lot of idiotic penalties and our penalty kill sucks? Because we only have one dangerous offensive line? Because we lose the neutral zone with regularity? Because our power play is anemic? I don't know, pick a reason. We have to beat them twice at home in three games when they have a +6 goal differential against us. That seems likely...

Who said beating Q was likely? How's the kill been in the last 8? How many stupid penalties over that stretch? (Don't tell me performance against Yale, RPI, and Union doesn't count.)

Jordan's point is that anything can happen in this conference. Hell, Vermont, a year removed from having their season canceled, took out Clarkson at Cheel in a 10 vs 1 series.

Not really, but even if we accept this premise, it would be wiser to prepare for the higher likelihood of Q thrashing us 8-0 over two games than thinking about AC. In the same way, I don't remember people worrying about rust for us and pushing Dartmouth's chances last year. Home teams with byes have that advantage for a reason: they're better. That doesn't make an upset impossible, but it is very unlikely, and we should approach the series that way.

We should approach the series to have fun. For Christ sake, we're fans not gamblers. I'm not looking to make money this weekend. I want to have fun. Yes there's a good chance that we could lose, but what fun is it constantly saying we underperform, take too many penalties, have a no good PP and PK...

No, it's a lot more fun to look at what we've done in the last 9, maybe 10, games. We've played pretty well, good enough to have a decent chance. I don't think that gives us a good enough chance to bet my retirement on it, but if I could have gone this weekend, it was a good enough chance for me to spend money and time being there. So let all you naysayers stay home and carp, some of us will be there watching, others at home watching, but win or lose a lot of us will have fun. In the end that's what it's all about for me.

[Greenberg '97]

...win or lose a lot of us will have fun. In the end that's what it's all about for me.

Geez, who let the crazy guy in?

[marty]

...win or lose a lot of us will have fun. In the end that's what it's all about for me.

Geez, who let the crazy guy in?

He may be a plant from Mars.

[Ben]

So let all you naysayers stay home and carp, some of us will be there watching, others at home watching, but win or lose a lot of us will have fun. In the end that's what it's all about for me.

What is the point of this? I shouted my throat out at every game this season, and I'm sticking around in Ithaca for another day to cheer for WICE. Don't tell me that an attempt to be objective about the men's team's chances is being a naysayer -- if they had performed better during the regular season, I'd have more evidence to suggest that they will play well against Q. MICE certainly have a better chance now than they did three weeks ago, but Q looked far better than us back in February.