ECAC '25 semifinal Red vs. Q

[Trotsky]

I meant with respect to the ECAC.

Obviously the team's expectation was final 8 or higher.  Well, that's didn't happen.  But in conference they could not be in a better place.

[BlueSky]

I love where we sit. Playing with "house money" with little pressure.

This I disagree with. There is all the pressure in the world on us, against the best team in the conference. The season, the careers of ten seniors, and the career of our coach will all end if we lose. I can't imagine more pressure than that.

A little dramatic but closer to right. It's not house money to the players. imo the mindset in the locker room is probably "we can win this conference and have underperformed all year" not "wow we beat the vaunted COLGATE!"

Quinnipiac is not Ovechkin's Capitals. It's not even Celebrini's Sharks. Hell, it isn't Celebrini's Terriers. Our guys are going into this with the same amount of pressure as any win or go home team faces in a win or go home game. Who knows how Quinnipiac feels. Relief that they may have a backdoor to the tournament if they lose? Worry that they have to sweat out the selection process? No idea!

On the other hand, I love where we sit because we're still playing.

Clownlover - you're projecting your personal angst onto the team, and that's ridiculous.

-what pressure? From where? Why?   It's a win or go home tournament but what's the downside to losing apart from how each player feels individually? There aren't any consequences to losing, especially since they are the underdog.  Even if they were favored, it's not like we're a pro team in a major media market where they are getting pelted with questions every day from the media and probably hearing from random fans when they are seen in a supermarket and getting booed around town for choking.

The seniors aren't freaking out about their college careers ending with a loss...that's ridiculous.   They've all been to this spot in the tourney before, so it's familiar, for one.  No first time nerves. And having won the tourney last year, they aren't facing their last chance to win it.  Now if it's on their mind that it's their last shot at winning a national title, then there's some internal pressure there, sure.  

But going in to the game as the underdog definitely reduces the internal pressure.

The freshman will feel some pressure because they haven't been there before.  

And this whole thing about Schafer's career ending probably matters a lot more to alums and older fans who watched most of not all of Schafs tenure. I can't imagine these guys are internalizing and shouldering the responsibility  for how coach's last game goes down. Clearly, he is going out by losing his final game.  Winning for coach feels a lot more likely to be a motivational rallying cry than a source of angst to the players.

These guys didn't end up playing upper level D1 hockey without the ability to focus on the game at hand and take things a day at a time.  And that will extend to winning each period, and doing the right things each shift.

And I bet our guys like their chances in a single game v Q, especially with the uptick at the end of the season.

This was what I was getting at originally. The season has been so, well....poor. Pieces have come together and I think they are playing the best team hockey of the whole season. Coach has mentioned the ability to actually practice and practice hard that comes with a healthy team. The defensive scheme stymied "Gate all weekend and we can do something similar to QU. When I spoke of playing with freedom, do you think Sully actually tries a 360 move in the playoffs if he was over thinking the situation? Would Major fire a short angle if he wasn't feeling confident? I believe whole heartedly that they have zero to lose after such a mediocre RS. They do have limited success this season against the other 3 in LP, but it's a new season and I'm optimistic. Call it rose colored glasses but I could see an amazing run and 2 W's in LP and a second Whitelaw in a row.

I personally have seen 6 games in person. The SHU games, compared to Yale last month are just different teams. I think the return of the captain, Kyle Penney has been the number one reason. He may not be drafted, or the greatest player in Red, but I think he is the glue...a true leader that does a lot of dirty work, forechecks, back checks, and leaves his heart on the ice. Someone in the media should tell HIS story of injury, illness and resurgence.

The last piece is Shane. He is no doubt seeing the puck better, playing with some confident, getting some missing puck luck, and most importantly, the guys are really blocking more shots.

I'd love the story of 2 wins in LP and a trip to the NCAA's where we know ANYTHING can happen.  #LGR

[upprdeck]

Teams play better when they see pucks going in the net.

[andyw2100]

Call it rose colored glasses but I could see an amazing run and 2 W's in LP and a second Whitelaw in a row.

I'd love the story of 2 wins in LP and a trip to the NCAA's where we know ANYTHING can happen.  #LGR

Should this happen it would mean a great set of bookends for Schafer. He would have won the ECAC championship his first two years as coach, his last two years as coach, and three years in between.

[BearLover]

I love where we sit. Playing with "house money" with little pressure.

This I disagree with. There is all the pressure in the world on us, against the best team in the conference. The season, the careers of ten seniors, and the career of our coach will all end if we lose. I can't imagine more pressure than that.

A little dramatic but closer to right. It's not house money to the players. imo the mindset in the locker room is probably "we can win this conference and have underperformed all year" not "wow we beat the vaunted COLGATE!"

Quinnipiac is not Ovechkin's Capitals. It's not even Celebrini's Sharks. Hell, it isn't Celebrini's Terriers. Our guys are going into this with the same amount of pressure as any win or go home team faces in a win or go home game. Who knows how Quinnipiac feels. Relief that they may have a backdoor to the tournament if they lose? Worry that they have to sweat out the selection process? No idea!

On the other hand, I love where we sit because we're still playing.

Clownlover - you're projecting your personal angst onto the team, and that's ridiculous.

-what pressure? From where? Why?   It's a win or go home tournament but what's the downside to losing apart from how each player feels individually? There aren't any consequences to losing, especially since they are the underdog.  Even if they were favored, it's not like we're a pro team in a major media market where they are getting pelted with questions every day from the media and probably hearing from random fans when they are seen in a supermarket and getting booed around town for choking.

The seniors aren't freaking out about their college careers ending with a loss...that's ridiculous.   They've all been to this spot in the tourney before, so it's familiar, for one.  No first time nerves. And having won the tourney last year, they aren't facing their last chance to win it.  Now if it's on their mind that it's their last shot at winning a national title, then there's some internal pressure there, sure.  

But going in to the game as the underdog definitely reduces the internal pressure.

The freshman will feel some pressure because they haven't been there before.  

And this whole thing about Schafer's career ending probably matters a lot more to alums and older fans who watched most of not all of Schafs tenure. I can't imagine these guys are internalizing and shouldering the responsibility  for how coach's last game goes down. Clearly, he is going out by losing his final game.  Winning for coach feels a lot more likely to be a motivational rallying cry than a source of angst to the players.

These guys didn't end up playing upper level D1 hockey without the ability to focus on the game at hand and take things a day at a time.  And that will extend to winning each period, and doing the right things each shift.

And I bet our guys like their chances in a single game v Q, especially with the uptick at the end of the season.

I read the first line, saw you are still acting like a child, and decided not to read/engage with the rest of your post.

[Snowball]

From the Sun re: Nick DeSantis

According to Schafer, "all signs are pointing" to DeSantis' return to the lineup this weekend.

LGR!

[stereax]

From the Sun re: Nick DeSantis

According to Schafer, "all signs are pointing" to DeSantis' return to the lineup this weekend.

LGR!

Hell yeah! LGR!

[abmarks]

I love where we sit. Playing with "house money" with little pressure.

This I disagree with. There is all the pressure in the world on us, against the best team in the conference. The season, the careers of ten seniors, and the career of our coach will all end if we lose. I can't imagine more pressure than that.

A little dramatic but closer to right. It's not house money to the players. imo the mindset in the locker room is probably "we can win this conference and have underperformed all year" not "wow we beat the vaunted COLGATE!"

Quinnipiac is not Ovechkin's Capitals. It's not even Celebrini's Sharks. Hell, it isn't Celebrini's Terriers. Our guys are going into this with the same amount of pressure as any win or go home team faces in a win or go home game. Who knows how Quinnipiac feels. Relief that they may have a backdoor to the tournament if they lose? Worry that they have to sweat out the selection process? No idea!

On the other hand, I love where we sit because we're still playing.

Clownlover - you're projecting your personal angst onto the team, and that's ridiculous.

-what pressure? From where? Why?   It's a win or go home tournament but what's the downside to losing apart from how each player feels individually? There aren't any consequences to losing, especially since they are the underdog.  Even if they were favored, it's not like we're a pro team in a major media market where they are getting pelted with questions every day from the media and probably hearing from random fans when they are seen in a supermarket and getting booed around town for choking.

The seniors aren't freaking out about their college careers ending with a loss...that's ridiculous.   They've all been to this spot in the tourney before, so it's familiar, for one.  No first time nerves. And having won the tourney last year, they aren't facing their last chance to win it.  Now if it's on their mind that it's their last shot at winning a national title, then there's some internal pressure there, sure.  

But going in to the game as the underdog definitely reduces the internal pressure.

The freshman will feel some pressure because they haven't been there before.  

And this whole thing about Schafer's career ending probably matters a lot more to alums and older fans who watched most of not all of Schafs tenure. I can't imagine these guys are internalizing and shouldering the responsibility  for how coach's last game goes down. Clearly, he is going out by losing his final game.  Winning for coach feels a lot more likely to be a motivational rallying cry than a source of angst to the players.

These guys didn't end up playing upper level D1 hockey without the ability to focus on the game at hand and take things a day at a time.  And that will extend to winning each period, and doing the right things each shift.

And I bet our guys like their chances in a single game v Q, especially with the uptick at the end of the season.

I read the first line, saw you are still acting like a child, and decided not to read/engage with the rest of your post.

Translation: clownlover's got nothing

[BearLover]

I love where we sit. Playing with "house money" with little pressure.

This I disagree with. There is all the pressure in the world on us, against the best team in the conference. The season, the careers of ten seniors, and the career of our coach will all end if we lose. I can't imagine more pressure than that.

A little dramatic but closer to right. It's not house money to the players. imo the mindset in the locker room is probably "we can win this conference and have underperformed all year" not "wow we beat the vaunted COLGATE!"

Quinnipiac is not Ovechkin's Capitals. It's not even Celebrini's Sharks. Hell, it isn't Celebrini's Terriers. Our guys are going into this with the same amount of pressure as any win or go home team faces in a win or go home game. Who knows how Quinnipiac feels. Relief that they may have a backdoor to the tournament if they lose? Worry that they have to sweat out the selection process? No idea!

On the other hand, I love where we sit because we're still playing.

Clownlover - you're projecting your personal angst onto the team, and that's ridiculous.

-what pressure? From where? Why?   It's a win or go home tournament but what's the downside to losing apart from how each player feels individually? There aren't any consequences to losing, especially since they are the underdog.  Even if they were favored, it's not like we're a pro team in a major media market where they are getting pelted with questions every day from the media and probably hearing from random fans when they are seen in a supermarket and getting booed around town for choking.

The seniors aren't freaking out about their college careers ending with a loss...that's ridiculous.   They've all been to this spot in the tourney before, so it's familiar, for one.  No first time nerves. And having won the tourney last year, they aren't facing their last chance to win it.  Now if it's on their mind that it's their last shot at winning a national title, then there's some internal pressure there, sure.  

But going in to the game as the underdog definitely reduces the internal pressure.

The freshman will feel some pressure because they haven't been there before.  

And this whole thing about Schafer's career ending probably matters a lot more to alums and older fans who watched most of not all of Schafs tenure. I can't imagine these guys are internalizing and shouldering the responsibility  for how coach's last game goes down. Clearly, he is going out by losing his final game.  Winning for coach feels a lot more likely to be a motivational rallying cry than a source of angst to the players.

These guys didn't end up playing upper level D1 hockey without the ability to focus on the game at hand and take things a day at a time.  And that will extend to winning each period, and doing the right things each shift.

And I bet our guys like their chances in a single game v Q, especially with the uptick at the end of the season.

I read the first line, saw you are still acting like a child, and decided not to read/engage with the rest of your post.

Translation: clownlover's got nothing

I didn't read your post past the first sentence actually

[617BigRed]

Guys cmon lets keep it civil here difference of opinion is fine if disagree just move on no need for name-calling/disparagement - lets all get behind the team for today LGR!

[BearLover]

Guys cmon lets keep it civil here difference of opinion is fine if disagree just move on no need for name-calling/disparagement - lets all get behind the team for today LGR!

LGR

I am grateful for everything Schafer has done but I am resigned to the fact it likely all ends today. But I will be so thrilled if I am wrong.

[Jim Hyla]

Guys cmon lets keep it civil here difference of opinion is fine if disagree just move on no need for name-calling/disparagement - lets all get behind the team for today LGR!

LGR

I am grateful for everything Schafer has done but I am resigned to the fact it likely all ends today. But I will be so thrilled if I am wrong.

Unfortunately I think we all know that already.

Although I'm realizing that it can happen, it's not something that I need to keep saying.

I much prefer to keep a positive attitude and then accept what happens.

[BearLover]

Guys cmon lets keep it civil here difference of opinion is fine if disagree just move on no need for name-calling/disparagement - lets all get behind the team for today LGR!

LGR

I am grateful for everything Schafer has done but I am resigned to the fact it likely all ends today. But I will be so thrilled if I am wrong.

Unfortunately I think we all know that already.

Although I'm realizing that it can happen, it's not something that I need to keep saying.

I much prefer to keep a positive attitude and then accept what happens.

No arguments here. It's a good way to live.

[stereax]

Guys cmon lets keep it civil here difference of opinion is fine if disagree just move on no need for name-calling/disparagement - lets all get behind the team for today LGR!

LGR

I am grateful for everything Schafer has done but I am resigned to the fact it likely all ends today. But I will be so thrilled if I am wrong.

Unfortunately I think we all know that already.

Although I'm realizing that it can happen, it's not something that I need to keep saying.

I much prefer to keep a positive attitude and then accept what happens.

Exactly. I'm mentally preparing myself for a very sad day of Cornell hockey, but I'm rooting for the team and hoping for a storybook ending for Schaf.

[ACM]

Lines. At least, our lines.