ECAC QF Game 1: Union 3 Cornell 2

[Jim Hyla]

This team can't sit on a lead when it matters.

Locking down leads used to be or trademark

Still is.

"It marked the 21st time in 30 games this season that the Big Red entered the third period with a lead – and the only loss to date was Nov. 16, when Quinnipiac took advantage of a fluke goal that came from the neutral zone via the glass behind the net and Galajda's back."

Funny thing about stats.

[andyw2100]

Puck was literally sitting on the Union goal line or Union crease on three separate occasions at least.

On that note, there was one that was cleared off the goal line (or out of the goal?) by a Union player. It was reviewed at the next stoppage, which was several minutes later. The refs returned to the ice, ruling no-goal very, very quickly--probably in under a minute, and possibly under 30 seconds. I definitely had the sense that there must not have been video, for whatever reason, as I didn't think they would even have been able to find what they needed to see on the video that fast. Was anything said on the ESPN+ broadcast about this? Was there a replay shown that did show the puck not crossing the line? If so, how close was it?

[RichH]

Puck was literally sitting on the Union goal line or Union crease on three separate occasions at least.

On that note, there was one that was cleared off the goal line (or out of the goal?) by a Union player. It was reviewed at the next stoppage, which was several minutes later. The refs returned to the ice, ruling no-goal very, very quickly--probably in under a minute, and possibly under 30 seconds. I definitely had the sense that there must not have been video, for whatever reason, as I didn't think they would even have been able to find what they needed to see on the video that fast. Was anything said on the ESPN+ broadcast about this? Was there a replay shown that did show the puck not crossing the line? If so, how close was it?

Of the two replays they showed, only one camera (top of section F) was in a good position to see anything, and IIRC, a goal pipe was in the way, obscuring the goal line. There was a ref very close to the net and was looking right at it and waved it off immediately. Personally, judging from where the defender's stick was, I felt the puck probably didn't have enough room to completely cross the goal line, and for that matter, didn't have enough speed to cross either.

My guess with the non-reviewed review, the refs headed to the room and the one ref who waved it off said, "it didn't cross the line, I was right on top of it, let's not waste any more time, and cripes the band's Jeopardy thing is really annoying." (sic)

[Trotsky]

Puck was literally sitting on the Union goal line or Union crease on three separate occasions at least.

On that note, there was one that was cleared off the goal line (or out of the goal?) by a Union player. It was reviewed at the next stoppage, which was several minutes later. The refs returned to the ice, ruling no-goal very, very quickly--probably in under a minute, and possibly under 30 seconds. I definitely had the sense that there must not have been video, for whatever reason, as I didn't think they would even have been able to find what they needed to see on the video that fast. Was anything said on the ESPN+ broadcast about this? Was there a replay shown that did show the puck not crossing the line? If so, how close was it?

Of the two replays they showed, only one camera (top of section F) was in a good position to see anything, and IIRC, a goal pipe was in the way, obscuring the goal line. There was a ref very close to the net and was looking right at it and waved it off immediately. Personally, judging from where the defender's stick was, I felt the puck probably didn't have enough room to completely cross the goal line, and for that matter, didn't have enough speed to cross either.

My guess with the non-reviewed review, the refs headed to the room and the one ref who waved it off said, "it didn't cross the line, I was right on top of it, let's not waste any more time, and cripes the band's Jeopardy thing is really annoying." (sic)

This is exactly how I felt at the time.

Is there any way to explain to the band that their inside jokey Jeopardy thing is monumentally stupid and worthy of a junior high school?  It's not winky funny.  It's not meta.  It's just fucking inane and makes them look like talentless morons.

Everything else they do is awesome or funny.  But Jesus Fuck, that is worthy of Union.

[ugarte]

... there was one that was cleared off the goal line... Was anything said on the ESPN+ broadcast about this? Was there a replay shown that did show the puck not crossing the line? If so, how close was it?

Grady and partner seemed pretty sure it was a good clear and the ref signaled no goal very quickly and definitively on the ice from the best possible angle.

We don't get goals on breakouts because nobody is ever looking to make the pass. Last night we had one opportunity and it looked like a great save at first but tbh the pass was so late that the passer had no shot at the goal and the goalie was able to slide over to the shooter early. I can't think of a single time that the guy leading a break has dropped the puck to a trailing teammate rather than rushing into traffic.

[Scersk '97]

This team can't sit on a lead when it matters.

Locking down leads used to be or trademark

Still is.

"It marked the 21st time in 30 games this season that the Big Red entered the third period with a lead – and the only loss to date was Nov. 16, when Quinnipiac took advantage of a fluke goal that came from the neutral zone via the glass behind the net and Galajda's back."

Funny thing about stats.

I realize mine is a pessimistic perspective, but that game at RPI looms large in my mind. You've outshot a team by nearly three to one and finally eke out a goal, but then you don't shut them down afterward? Just boneheaded play by Green, leaving a man absolutely free in the crease, getting the puck back somehow, and then not clearing with authority. Every one else skating around like chickens with their heads cut off. And then there's Clarkson... And last night... And the two overtime losses...

When leading after two, they've blown four games; they haven't once come back when down after two having had six "opportunities," for all the vaunted scoring prowess. Last year's team blew exactly zero games when leading after two; they won once and tied once having also had six opportunities to come back in the third. This year's team has two overtime losses; last year had zero.

It's as if this year's team thinks that it's last year's team. To use one of my favorite pairs of seasons for an analogy, it's as if 1997 had thought that it was 1996. That '97 team would never have won a championship if it hadn't figured out that the offense was gone. Get a lead? Shut the other team down and win.

I fervently hope this year's team resolves its identity crisis now. No excuses.

[Scersk '97]

Is there any way to explain to the band that their inside jokey Jeopardy thing is monumentally stupid and worthy of a junior high school?  It's not winky funny.  It's not meta.  It's just fucking inane and makes them look like talentless morons.

Everything else they do is awesome or funny.  But Jesus Fuck, that is worthy of Union.

Speaking as a pep band alumnus, there is very little that anyone seems to be able to explain to the current band. They make a lot of "unusual" choices. They can't tune for shit. The percussion plays far too loud all the time. They seem to be unable to cover two events at once or to cover events over breaks. Doing so was just assumed "back in the old days." And there is one particular section that shall remain nameless that sucks constantly—horribly, loudly, crassly so.

I continue to hope they get their act together. What if we did make a run to the Frozen Four? I'd be embarrassed.

EDIT: I'm glad to hear that they've been able to scrap together bands for both today's women's basketball tournament game and the Union game. They'll be at the women's Final Four, but I don't know if they'll make the Placid trip as well, if there's a Placid trip to be made... That would be disappointing: Clarkson's band will be there, since Yale's not winning that series; Harvard's will show as their team's only fans, if 2016 is any indication; and both Quinnipiac and Brown are likely to send bands, I would say. For us not to have a band? Not cool.

[osorojo]

You know things are going bad when comments about the band, good or bad, begin to replace comments about team performance in playoff games.

[LGR14]

Puck was literally sitting on the Union goal line or Union crease on three separate occasions at least.

On that note, there was one that was cleared off the goal line (or out of the goal?) by a Union player. It was reviewed at the next stoppage, which was several minutes later. The refs returned to the ice, ruling no-goal very, very quickly--probably in under a minute, and possibly under 30 seconds. I definitely had the sense that there must not have been video, for whatever reason, as I didn't think they would even have been able to find what they needed to see on the video that fast. Was anything said on the ESPN+ broadcast about this? Was there a replay shown that did show the puck not crossing the line? If so, how close was it?

Of the two replays they showed, only one camera (top of section F) was in a good position to see anything, and IIRC, a goal pipe was in the way, obscuring the goal line. There was a ref very close to the net and was looking right at it and waved it off immediately. Personally, judging from where the defender's stick was, I felt the puck probably didn't have enough room to completely cross the goal line, and for that matter, didn't have enough speed to cross either.

My guess with the non-reviewed review, the refs headed to the room and the one ref who waved it off said, "it didn't cross the line, I was right on top of it, let's not waste any more time, and cripes the band's Jeopardy thing is really annoying." (sic)

This is exactly how I felt at the time.

Is there any way to explain to the band that their inside jokey Jeopardy thing is monumentally stupid and worthy of a junior high school?  It's not winky funny.  It's not meta.  It's just fucking inane and makes them look like talentless morons.

Everything else they do is awesome or funny.  But Jesus Fuck, that is worthy of Union.

Except getting rid of Gonna Fly Now

[coz]

I was sitting in J and had a really good view and it was definitely not in. It was agonizingly close though. It felt like it was sitting on the line forever even if it was just 1-2 seconds.

[Dafatone]

Speaking of reviews, anyone else think that Union's no-goal for goalie interference was a textbook call? I was very confused to hear the announcers thinking it was a tough call. They kept saying the wrong things, too, talking about the Union player's intent and how there wasn't that much contact. The rule (I think) is that it's interference if you deny the goalie an opportunity to make a play.

[coz]

Didn't have a great view of it from my seat but assuming that the Union player wasn't pushed into G, then yeah it was probably text-book. Intent is only important when determining major penalties ie: DQ vs game misconduct. See Priskie's incredibly stupid kick.

[Dafatone]

Didn't have a great view of it from my seat but assuming that the Union player wasn't pushed into G, then yeah it was probably text-book. Intent is only important when determining major penalties ie: DQ vs game misconduct. See Priskie's incredibly stupid kick.

He wasn't pushed in the slightest. The contact wasn't huge, but there wasn't any pushing.

[Tom Lento]

Speaking of reviews, anyone else think that Union's no-goal for goalie interference was a textbook call? I was very confused to hear the announcers thinking it was a tough call. They kept saying the wrong things, too, talking about the Union player's intent and how there wasn't that much contact. The rule (I think) is that it's interference if you deny the goalie an opportunity to make a play.

Every time they showed a replay I thought it was a clear, textbook interference call. The contact wasn't much and I don't think there was any intent but neither of those things matter - the Union skater's leg tangled up with Galajda's and kept him from making a play on the rebound attempt.

Cornell got lucky - I think that would've been a goal if the interference didn't happen - but the refs made the right call.

[jtwcornell91]

Everything else they do is awesome or funny.  But Jesus Fuck, that is worthy of Union.

Except getting rid of Gonna Fly Now

Is it totally gone?  I was trying to figure out if/how they were massacring it the other night.  I know it can sometimes be hard to follow if you're sitting in the wrong place and the drums drown out the trumpet (although that shouldn't happen in section O).  In any event, it seemed like the brand new drum line did a bunch of amphetamines right before the start of Gary Glitter, and couldn't wait to rush into it.