Cornell at Harvard 11/16

[Tom Lento]

Syer, whom everyone praised for being an extremely detail-oriented coach, leaves Cornell and then the PK consistently botches details.

Not to let facts get in the way of a good argument, but this year's PK has killed 77.8% of penalties, which is about 40th in the NCAA. Last year, with Syer on the staff, the PK killed 79%, which, as someone else already pointed out someplace, was 37th in the NCAA. Worth noting, half of Cornell's games this season have come against 2 of the top 5 teams in the NCAA for PP % (Dartmouth and NoDak), and I'm reasonably sure at least one of them (NoDak) will end up in the top 10, so it's at least possible this year's team has a better PK but ran into some particularly tough competition early.

Based on the small samples of games I've been able to watch these last two seasons the kill has looked pretty similar. This year's has been better when it's good and worse when it's bad but it's all been a matter of degree, there were plenty of botched details last year, too. All of this suggests two things to me:

1. They've probably got a mediocre PK again (although I do think this year's team has more upside than last year's)
2. Ben Syer has nothing to do with it

[Trotsky]

"You're never as good as you look when you win.

You're never as bad as you look when you lose."

Grab a drink, sit back, watch another 20 games. Maybe then we'll know something that isn't merely a reaction to the last shift.

[BearLover]

Syer, whom everyone praised for being an extremely detail-oriented coach, leaves Cornell and then the PK consistently botches details.

Not to let facts get in the way of a good argument, but this year's PK has killed 77.8% of penalties, which is about 40th in the NCAA. Last year, with Syer on the staff, the PK killed 79%, which, as someone else already pointed out someplace, was 37th in the NCAA. Worth noting, half of Cornell's games this season have come against 2 of the top 5 teams in the NCAA for PP % (Dartmouth and NoDak), and I'm reasonably sure at least one of them (NoDak) will end up in the top 10, so it's at least possible this year's team has a better PK but ran into some particularly tough competition early.

Based on the small samples of games I've been able to watch these last two seasons the kill has looked pretty similar. This year's has been better when it's good and worse when it's bad but it's all been a matter of degree, there were plenty of botched details last year, too. All of this suggests two things to me:

1. They've probably got a mediocre PK again (although I do think this year's team has more upside than last year's)
2. Ben Syer has nothing to do with it

Last year we had up to 10 freshmen in the lineup every night. Has Cornell not historically had a good PK under Syer looking at more than just last season?

[VIEWfromK]

2. Ben Syer has nothing to do with it

Can't we just ask him on Saturday if he did?

[CU2007]

2. Ben Syer has nothing to do with it

Can't we just ask him on Saturday if he did?

The difference between our 78% PK (kinda meh) and say 85% (outstanding) is (at this point of the season) what? 2 goals? I would chalk that up to puck luck and small sample size variance. I suspect this will revert to the mean and be about what we expect by the end of the year.

[upprdeck]

Additionally, how many chances do you get on PP matters

When you are dealing with Injuries, lines get shifted and players on the specials get over used at times

[fastforward]

Additionally, how many chances do you get on PP matters

When you are dealing with Injuries, lines get shifted and players on the specials get over used at times

I would agree
Seeing some of the players after the games they look exhausted
Some are seeing hefty on ice times

[Iceberg]

The PP seems slightly worse but it wasn't that great last year in many instances. The PK has appeared noticeably worse this year, though. Many instances of poor or blown coverage, including one I mentioned earlier in this very thread!

[stereax]

"You're never as good as you look when you win.

You're never as bad as you look when you lose."

Grab a drink, sit back, watch another 20 games. Maybe then we'll know something that isn't merely a reaction to the last shift.

Every time we lose a game we're getting relegated to DIII, every time we win it's our last of the season... can we just watch hockey and enjoy it?

[The Rancor]

I went back and watched both weekend games, and yes, mistakes were made, team is not perfect. But it might be one of the most talented group of players I've seen on the ice from this school. Some of y'all seem to just love to hate the Big Red and I don't understand it.

[Trotsky]

We gain self esteem when our sportsball team wins.

When our sportsball team loses, we feel bad.

Our sportsball team has hurt us.

They must be punished.

[VIEWfromK]

The good news is that I found my lucky Big Red shirt.  I'll have it on tonight for the first time since the preseason.  It was in the last place that I would ever think to look, hanging on the treadmill.  Hopefully now I can edge back away from the cliff some.

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

"You're never as good as you look when you win.

You're never as bad as you look when you lose."

Grab a drink, sit back, watch another 20 games. Maybe then we'll know something that isn't merely a reaction to the last shift.

Every time we lose a game we're getting relegated to DIII, every time we win it's our last of the season... can we just watch hockey and enjoy it?

Excuse me.  What website do you think you're posting on?  ::popcorn::

[stereax]

"You're never as good as you look when you win.

You're never as bad as you look when you lose."

Grab a drink, sit back, watch another 20 games. Maybe then we'll know something that isn't merely a reaction to the last shift.

Every time we lose a game we're getting relegated to DIII, every time we win it's our last of the season... can we just watch hockey and enjoy it?

Excuse me.  What website do you think you're posting on?  ::popcorn::

I'm new here!! I don't know the vibes yet, hahahaha. I thought a good team would mean it wouldn't be doomer central 24/7, but alas, perhaps I misjudged haha.

[Will]

I'm new here!! I don't know the vibes yet, hahahaha. I thought a good team would mean it wouldn't be doomer central 24/7, but alas, perhaps I misjudged haha.

I think we've learned not to get our hopes up.  When we get our hopes up, the universe tends to respond in kind with the likes of unfair placement in a western regional against a highly-seeded first round opponent or global pandemics.  Doom is our default state.