Cornell 2 Dartmouth 1 (OT), 1/23/26

[VIEWfromK]

Without the working scoreboard, until I read through the posts there's no way you could convince me that Cornell had over thirty shots on goal.  I said late in the third that I bet neither team had more than fifteen. Most of Cornell's best scoring chances (outside of the breakaways) didn't result in shots on goal.  I was getting worried that that was a bad omen.  Glad I was wrong.

Cornell came out and won a bunch of battles to start the game but then the tide changed and I counted three instances where two Cornell guys were on a puck and the one Dartmouth guy came away with it.  One of them I thought Castagna got away with hauling the Dartmouth guy down and another one ended up with the Dartmouth goal.

Second period was once again Cornell's best period.  They were figuring out that the only way to make plays was to get rid of the puck quickly.  Dartmouth was smothering the puck all night.  When they finally got the puck to the goal line it resulted in some nice set ups.  Can't believe they were that close to two shorties on the same kill.  That was electric.  Would have loved for the roof to come off the place if Walsh had cashed in.

I haven't watched any of the game back but I swear that Major had gained the line on that late icing.

Speaking of icings.  That had to be the most Cornell has been forced into this season.  They really struggled to get the puck out of their zone, then through the neutral zone and then into the zone.  I saw a few too many times where a Cornell player took the first pass and instead of skating the puck they just stood still looking to make that next pass.  Move your feet boys.  Take the open ice.

The lowest percentage play in the Cornell playbook is anything on the backhand.  It's usually soft.  It rarely finds its mark.  They tried it too many times last night and it was never successful.

Kraft was an animal once again.  Great to see him burry those two.  I thought the Dartmouth guy had caught him in OT and that he'd at least take a penalty.  What a finish, top corner, with a guy draped all over him.  That was a beautiful site as he celebrated with the bench emptying in his direction.

The two plays that set up the breakaways were great examples of putting the puck into space.  DiGiulian did that to lead Walsh and Veilleux did it for Kraft after making that nice defensive play. 

No let down.  Please

[fastforward]

Me sitting here waiting for ViewfromK's analysis of the game-I enjoy his perspective
UPDATE: WOW, ask, and you shall receive instant instantaneously 🤣

[stereax]

My biggest secret is I get such a kick of dropping an "I wasn't born then" whenever people who are significantly older than I am reminisce about the past to me. It gets 'em every time.

No, it just means you never got to enjoy the greatest time in Cornell Hockey!

Including watching something that will never happen again!

Ahhh, beans. You got me there! 🥲

[stereax]

I haven't watched any of the game back but I swear that Major had gained the line on that late icing.

In my "VIEWfromC", the players were similarly distraught over that being called an ice. Pretty sure Walsh, Castagna, Major, and two other guys were all arguing with the ref by the bench. Casey called his TO there in part to get some rest on the legs stuck out there.

[upprdeck]

the puck left Majors stick about 2 ft behind the line. major was about 6 ft behind the line

[Snowball]

I loved this about our game last night:

Cornell homed in on Dartmouth's Hayden Stavroff, who entered the night tied for the nation's lead in goals (20) and points per game (1.58), limiting the sophomore forward scoreless for just the sixth time in 20 games this season. He generated just one shot on goal.

https://cornellbigred.com/news/2026/1/23/mens-ice-hockey-dartmouth-recap.aspx

We were on him all night—right from the opening faceoff, when Kraft tied up his stick. Brought back memories of how we shut down eventual 2025 Hobey Baker winner Isaac Howard of Michigan in last year's playoffs.

[andyw2100]

Speaking of icings.  That had to be the most Cornell has been forced into this season.  They really struggled to get the puck out of their zone, then through the neutral zone and then into the zone. 

I think I can safely say this now.

Casey had said at the luncheon that Dartmouth was very good between the blue lines and that he didn't want to play there. All the icings were a result of the game plan to not play to Dartmouth's strength.

[Snowball]

Speaking of icings.  That had to be the most Cornell has been forced into this season.  They really struggled to get the puck out of their zone, then through the neutral zone and then into the zone. 

I think I can safely say this now.

Casey had said at the luncheon that Dartmouth was very good between the blue lines and that he didn't want to play there. All the icings were a result of the game plan to not play to Dartmouth's strength.

Thank you - that makes sense given how dominant we are on face-offs.

[Weder]

the puck left Majors stick about 2 ft behind the line. major was about 6 ft behind the line

Watching the broadcast live, it was clearly icing.

[VIEWfromK]

Kraft NEEDED a game like that.

There were two times where Kraft was in on the forcheck with one Dartmouth defender and both times he came away with the puck because the defender wanted nothing to do with Kraft.

[VIEWfromK]

the puck left Majors stick about 2 ft behind the line. major was about 6 ft behind the line

Watching the broadcast live, it was clearly icing.

That could have been a devastating decision.  Major was going for a change and I thought he had enough room to gain the line and dump it in safely.  Even though Cornell won the faceoff, Ashton wasn't able to pin the puck and sure enough those last few seconds got hairy as the puck came into the middle.  Phew

[VIEWfromK]

Me sitting here waiting for ViewfromK's analysis of the game-I enjoy his perspective
UPDATE: WOW, ask, and you shall receive instant instantaneously 🤣

There's also a running commentary during the game much to my wife's chagrin

[fastforward]

Kraft NEEDED a game like that.

There were two times where Kraft was in on the forcheck with one Dartmouth defender and both times he came away with the puck because the defender wanted nothing to do with Kraft.

Hopefully Harvard feels the same way

[Trotsky]

Speaking of icings.  That had to be the most Cornell has been forced into this season.  They really struggled to get the puck out of their zone, then through the neutral zone and then into the zone. 

I think I can safely say this now.

Casey had said at the luncheon that Dartmouth was very good between the blue lines and that he didn't want to play there. All the icings were a result of the game plan to not play to Dartmouth's strength.

Excellent observation.  Thanks!

[RichH]

the puck left Majors stick about 2 ft behind the line. major was about 6 ft behind the line

Yeah, it was pretty clear to me in real time that he hadn't gained the line on the broadcast, and I'm a notorious homer on calls like that.

Edit: Ok, 4 others already said this. Wait until you finish reading the thread, dumdum