Game thread

[upprdeck]

while we were sloppy at times last night on D the will to fight thru checks and control pucks last night was impressive, even the hustle to get to the pucks and go around defenders was relentless all night

[andyw2100]

while we were sloppy at times last night on D the will to fight thru checks and control pucks last night was impressive, even the hustle to get to the pucks and go around defenders was relentless all night

Pretty late in the third period, when the game was long-since decided, Andreev went down to successfully block a hard shot and actually came up a little lame. That said a lot!

[ursusminor]

In regard to RPI not changing goalies, I am surprised as much, if not more so, than the Cornell posters here. The same thought was posted by many on the game thread on USCHO.

RPI has three goalies on their roster, Linden Marshall and Brett Wilson who travelled to Ithaca and Jack Watson who did not. Because of the ECAC's travel squad limit, it's typical to take two goalies on road trips. I suspect Cornell usually does the same. Marshall is a grad student who lost the starting goalie job three seasons ago to Owen Savory. He has started all but one game this year. Watson, a freshman, started the other. BTW, he was a teammate of Joe Howe in Coquitlam two seasons ago. He gave up 3 goals in that game which he lost in overtime. Wilson is a sophomore who, of course, didn't play last year. Although it is possible that both Wilson and Watson have injuries, it is more likely that Watson does since he has played one game and seemed to me to be the better one in juniors.

The reason that Coach Smith didn't remove Marshall, who wasn't that good on Friday vs. Colgate either, is a mystery. Hopefully, the RPI Red Army will ask Coach Smith that question on their podcast this week. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talkin-neers/id1495931988

[Trotsky]

After the Alaska series, I would've told you it would take us 8 games to total 11 goals given how stagnant our offense looked that weekend. We've come a long way in a short time.

In 2015 and 2016 we scored 45 and 46 goals in the 22-game ECAC season.

How the turntables.

[scoop85]

After the Alaska series, I would've told you it would take us 8 games to total 11 goals given how stagnant our offense looked that weekend. We've come a long way in a short time.

In 2015 and 2016 we scored 45 and 46 goals in the 22-game ECAC season.

How the turntables.

Of course that's when Schafer did the recruiting reboot to bring in more skilled players, and the results speak for themself.

[David Harding]

I was listening for Davy in 3 after the 10th goal, and it didn't sound like it.  Has the band forgotten about that (no lacrosse since the current seniors were freshmen), or was it just too hard to hear on the broadcast?

Not sure what "Davy in 3" is, but I'm somewhat surprised you could hear much of the band on the broadcast at all. By the end of the game I think they were up to ten or twelve people, including, I believe, one trumpet, one trombone, one sax, and one tuba, but they started the game shorter than that, and without a trumpet player. They did not get to play the anthems tonight and the first time they played Davy it was barely recognizable, probably due to the lack of brass.

Was the marching band in Hanover for the football game?  That would have depleted the ranks of the pep band.

[Trotsky]

After the Alaska series, I would've told you it would take us 8 games to total 11 goals given how stagnant our offense looked that weekend. We've come a long way in a short time.

In 2015 and 2016 we scored 45 and 46 goals in the 22-game ECAC season.

How the turntables.

Of course that's when Schafer did the recruiting reboot to bring in more skilled players, and the results speak for themself.

Absolutely.  In his first 21 years (96-16), his teams produced 11 hat tricks.  In the 4.2 years since (17-22), they have 9.

[Scersk '97]

Of course that's when Schafer did the recruiting reboot to bring in more skilled players, and the results speak for themself.

Absolutely.  In his first 21 years (96-16), his teams produced 11 hat tricks.  In the 4.2 years since (17-22), they have 9.

Perhaps Sean Flanagan's found a bit of an edge in finding and developing offensive talent?

I've always assumed Syer was brought in to teach our D how to be mobile on offense, i.e., to become part of the cycle and not just camp out around the perimeter, or to become like—hate to say it—the Quinnipiac D had been for some time. An upgrade on strategy that, to his great credit, I think that Schafer figured out had to happen yet that he also had found difficult to bring to fruition himself.

(Not meant to be a significant critique on Schafer. He's clearly a great defensive fundamentals coach for defensemen and forwards. Way back when, we pep bandies snuck into practice one day only to find Schafer teaching how to pin guys against the boards without drawing penalties. His explanation was perfect and clear, and his technique was subtle and powerful. You could see the change in the ('96) team immediately. I assume this applies to all facets of the game. But, you know, he was a defenseman and played four decades ago now! The smart old dog knows he's got to learn new tricks.)

Now, not to knock Topher, but since Flanagan came along it seems that the forwards have figured out something that I find difficult to describe. They seem to be able to change their angle-of-attack off the cycle much better than they used to. I'm not a hockey strategist beyond the very basics, but we seem to be able to attack from any of the four corners of the offensive zone now, rather than just from the points. It's not just creativity exactly; rather, it seems like an offensive package has been installed that allows creativity to happen. I don't know. I find it difficult to describe. (The one missing element to me seems to be the ability to create offense from behind the net, but that's always been a tough one to teach in Lynah, where there just isn't much room at all. It's the Vesce/Baby little guys/unusual big guys skill. The last player I remember being able to do that was... ... wait for it... Topher! I have great hopes for Psenicka.)

Now if we could just find someone to install the perfect power play...

[Trotsky]

Remember too that Schafer changed because the game changed around him.  The style of play we are seeing now depends on puck handlers being able to open the ice up without being wrapped up, dragged down, or cross checked into the boards.  The type of players we are getting now  might not have been as effective under the Old World Order.

BTW, do people think Haiskanen has regressed or that the other players have simply gotten so much better he has been surpassed?  I barely notice him out there now.

[scoop85]

Remember too that Schafer changed because the game changed around him.  The style of play we are seeing now depends on puck handlers being able to open the ice up without being wrapped up, dragged down, or cross checked into the boards.  The type of players we are getting now  might not have been as effective under the Old World Order.

BTW, do people think Haiskanen has regressed or that the other players have simply gotten so much better he has been surpassed?  I barely notice him out there now.

Fact is our prior style of play is no longer tenable because we'd be sitting in the penalty box for 10 minutes each period based on the way the game is called.

Regarding Haiskenan, he hasn't been as impactful as I expected, but I imagine he'll become more of a force as the season progresses.

[ACM]

In regard to RPI not changing goalies, I am surprised as much, if not more so, than the Cornell posters here. The same thought was posted by many on the game thread on USCHO.

RPI has three goalies on their roster, Linden Marshall and Brett Wilson who travelled to Ithaca and Jack Watson who did not. Because of the ECAC's travel squad limit, it's typical to take two goalies on road trips. I suspect Cornell usually does the same. Marshall is a grad student who lost the starting goalie job three seasons ago to Owen Savory. He has started all but one game this year. Watson, a freshman, started the other. BTW, he was a teammate of Joe Howe in Coquitlam two seasons ago. He gave up 3 goals in that game which he lost in overtime. Wilson is a sophomore who, of course, didn't play last year. Although it is possible that both Wilson and Watson have injuries, it is more likely that Watson does since he has played one game and seemed to me to be the better one in juniors.

The reason that Coach Smith didn't remove Marshall, who wasn't that good on Friday vs. Colgate either, is a mystery. Hopefully, the RPI Red Army will ask Coach Smith that question on their podcast this week. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talkin-neers/id1495931988

I assume by "Brett Wilson" you mean Brett Miller, who was the backup goalie listed on the RPI roster in the game program and on the line chart.

I heard, but could not confirm, that the backup goalie had some sort of illness and was unfit to play. If that's so (and as I said, I couldn't confirm it), why would you allow a player who is ill to dress and spend the game on the bench, especially in this age of COVID?

If you hear any explanation from Coach Smith, please pass it along.

[ursusminor]

In regard to RPI not changing goalies, I am surprised as much, if not more so, than the Cornell posters here. The same thought was posted by many on the game thread on USCHO.

RPI has three goalies on their roster, Linden Marshall and Brett Wilson who travelled to Ithaca and Jack Watson who did not. Because of the ECAC's travel squad limit, it's typical to take two goalies on road trips. I suspect Cornell usually does the same. Marshall is a grad student who lost the starting goalie job three seasons ago to Owen Savory. He has started all but one game this year. Watson, a freshman, started the other. BTW, he was a teammate of Joe Howe in Coquitlam two seasons ago. He gave up 3 goals in that game which he lost in overtime. Wilson is a sophomore who, of course, didn't play last year. Although it is possible that both Wilson and Watson have injuries, it is more likely that Watson does since he has played one game and seemed to me to be the better one in juniors.

The reason that Coach Smith didn't remove Marshall, who wasn't that good on Friday vs. Colgate either, is a mystery. Hopefully, the RPI Red Army will ask Coach Smith that question on their podcast this week. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talkin-neers/id1495931988

I assume by "Brett Wilson" you mean Brett Miller, who was the backup goalie listed on the RPI roster in the game program and on the line chart.

I heard, but could not confirm, that the backup goalie had some sort of illness and was unfit to play. If that's so (and as I said, I couldn't confirm it), why would you allow a player who is ill to dress and spend the game on the bench, especially in this age of COVID?

If you hear any explanation from Coach Smith, please pass it along.

My error. It is indeed Miller.

I did confirm that Coach Smith will be asked why he did not switch goalies on the RPI Red Army's podcast late in the week.

[margolism]

According to USCHO stats, an Ivy school in upstate New York has the top scoring offense in the country, for now.

[abmarks]

Regarding Haiskenan, he hasn't been as impactful as I expected, but I imagine he'll become more of a force as the season progresses.

I've  never been impressed by him. I've been meaning to post that critique all season but you beat me to it.

I don't think he's regressed. I think he wasn't that good to begin with.

[Scersk '97]

Remember too that Schafer changed because the game changed around him.  The style of play we are seeing now depends on puck handlers being able to open the ice up without being wrapped up, dragged down, or cross checked into the boards.

I don't know. I certainly see other teams' players doing all those things to us often enough without getting penalized.  ::rolleyes::