Cornell 4 MSU 2 post game-1 thread

[billhoward]

Workmanlike victory. Special teams especially PK (6x7 on PK?) did well: Holding the opponent scoreless for 5 minutes in the third period when you're protecting a one-goal lead, that's awesome.

The place sure looked empty 15 minutes before game time. Not during the game. Lots of crowd shots, more than in last year's webcasts. Good PR for Cornell - although how many non-Cornell, non-MSU fans are paying to watch a Webcast?

Pokoluk looked good. Maybe that's because he uses up more pixels on the Webcast than anyone else, even McKee and Mckee's pads, so he's hard not to notice. In comparison, the smoothing algorithms make it hard to notice Topher and his white jersey against the dasherboards.

The defense seemed a little unsettled in a couple places. But then in the third period there were a couple images where the MSU wing was trying to bring the puck out from the near corner and from the camera angle what it appeared he saw was two huge Cornell defensemen forming a solid wall between him and the net. As if they were posing for an illustrated How to Play Defense the Mike Schafer way. Must be even scarier down on the ice.

Shane who? Cornell won without him Friday night but maybe when there's a midseason slump or a couple injuries ...

Need more information on the five-minute penalty on Barlow: Justified call? Makeup call for a missed call earlier? And what had MSU hopping mad earlier in the game when Cornell got called for the two-minute minor -- they were hoping for a five against Cornell?

Also curious from those who attended on how the freshmen looked overall.

Nice that Schafer got No. 200. It would have been better and more symmetrical (10 years, 200 wins) if No. 200 had come against Minnesota.

It's a nice start. And important for post-season seedings since this is a top ten team. Now to do this about, say, 33 or 34 more times, starting with Saturday's game.

[andyw2100]

[Q]billhoward Wrote:

Need more information on the five-minute penalty on Barlow: Justified call? Makeup call for a missed call earlier? And what had MSU hopping mad earlier in the game when Cornell got called for the two-minute minor -- they were hoping for a five against Cornell? [/q]

I didn't see the Barlow penalty. I think I missed it partially because it was behind the play, and partially because I think it was up along the boards in an area that I can't see very well. So I can't comment on whether or not it was justified. I'd be very interested in others' views, though.

As for the other penalty, etc., that I had a good look at.

The ref, Feola, spoke to the MSU coach for quite some time, and then to Schafer for quite some time. Feola then skated over to the scorer's table and procured what appeared to be some sort of rule book. It looked like a set of white, possibly photocopied pages, though, as opposed to some bound 4-color "book." But the consensus around my seats was that it was a rule book. He looked through it for perhaps a minute or two, and then skated back over to the MSU bench with it, showing it to the MSU coach. He then returned it to the scorer's table, without talking to Schafer again.

So, I believe the MSU coach was questioning some rule, and whatever it was, he turned out to be wrong, which is why Feola did not show Schafer anything in the rulebook.

Obviously this is largely conjecture on my part, so take it for what it's worth.
                                   Andy W.

[Beeeej]

[Q]andyw2100 Wrote:
So, I believe the MSU coach was questioning some rule, and whatever it was, he turned out to be wrong, which is why Feola did not show Schafer anything in the rulebook.[/q]

Apparently there was a small change in the rules in the recent past that gave the ref more discretion than there used to be in that specific penalty call, and the MSU coach was disputing whether such discretion existed.

First time in seventeen years I've ever seen them consult the actual text of the rules during a game.

Beeeej

[Brian]

I didn't see the penalty by Barlow because it was behind the play however I would say that the Michigan State player was milking the penalty.  He stared at the ref until he made a call and then skated to the bench, he wasn't hurt at all.  There were several penalties called on us that Michigan State played up, they were putting their bodies in comprimising positions against the boards so if they were hit it would draw a penalty.  It is clear to me that they were trying to draw penalties on the basis of our physical style of play.  I would say that most of the penalties that were called against us were legitamite however there were several calls that should have been made on Michigan State that were not made.  I sit in section K row 3 and I had the perfect angle on the puck that got past the Michigan State goalie in the second and it DID cross the blue line but the refs were out of position on my side of the ice and the ref on the other side had his view blocked by the goalie as he was knocking the net off its moarings when it went in.  

I think the ref was looking at the rule book because, as the crowd called him "Harry Potter" did not serve the remainder of his game misconduct that was called earlier in the game.  I think Shafer kept quiet about it until later in the game in case another penalty came up against us.  I think coach was trying to use it to even the odds, smart move coach!

[aznxjz]

Lynah was a bit empty during the player intros, but we filled up pretty quickly.  It was LOUD last night, and I hope it's the same tonight.  

Freshmen:  Barlow, Mugford, Seminoff (didn't really see or notice the other freshmen) played fairly well, but as you know they committed a majority of our penalties.  For their first game, I was certainly impressed.  There was one play in the third (I think) where Mugford skated through 3 or 4 MSU guys in traffic which I was impressed with.  

Dave McKee was amazing as usual, and was helped out by one of two lucky breaks.  There was one heart stopper in the second when the puck was just frozen there next to the pipe until our D cleared it.  

I think this is the best I've seen us carry the puck up the ice this early in the season since 2002.

And finally, our PK was amazing.  That 5 min stretch didn't even seem like an MSU PP.

Can't wait for tonight's game.  LGR

[redhair34]

The Ithaca Jornal mentions that Comley might start Jeff Lerg tonight in goal

[Beeeej]

[Q]Brian Wrote:
I didn't see the penalty by Barlow because it was behind the play however I would say that the Michigan State player was milking the penalty.  He stared at the ref until he made a call and then skated to the bench, he wasn't hurt at all.[/q]

The measure of whether our player committed a penalty is not whether their player was actually injured.

[q]I think the ref was looking at the rule book because, as the crowd called him "Harry Potter" did not serve the remainder of his game misconduct that was called earlier in the game.  I think Shafer kept quiet about it until later in the game in case another penalty came up against us.  I think coach was trying to use it to even the odds, smart move coach![/q]

Not even close; see my post above.  And I believe Potter was called for a ten-minute, not a game misconduct - and he served the entire ten minutes.  That bit of confusion you saw was because he was given a two-minute minor and a ten-minute misconduct, and the box official let him out after ten minutes instead of the total twelve.  He was immediately called back and served the remaining time.

Beeeej

[Mikek]

No potter didnt get a remainder of the game he just got a 10 min misconduct. He served his 10 and then he's allowed back out. Also I saw the barlow call and what it looked like is when barlow started his check they were faceing shoulder to shoulder which is legal, but just as he checked him the msu got turned his back to him making it look like behind. There was nothing barlow could do he was already committed to the check he couldnt stop his body when he saw him turn. Bad call, it was simply a make up call.


Also number 1 in the nation will be ours if we win tonight as MU lost last night.

[DisplacedCornellian]

[Q]Brian Wrote:

I think the ref was looking at the rule book because, as the crowd called him "Harry Potter" did not serve the remainder of his game misconduct that was called earlier in the game.  I think Shafer kept quiet about it until later in the game in case another penalty came up against us.  I think coach was trying to use it to even the odds, smart move coach![/q]


I'm pretty sure Potter didn't get a game misconduct, just a 10 minute misconduct.  Barlow was the only game misconduct.

Watching on the webcast, looked like both teams were out for blood.  Lots of hard hitting, got quite chippy at times.  Looked pretty evenly matched.  That said, I think if Cornell can limit their turnovers in the neutral zone, they should pull off the sweep tonight.

[redhair34]

[Q]DisplacedCornellian Wrote:

 [Q2]Brian Wrote:

I think the ref was looking at the rule book because, as the crowd called him "Harry Potter" did not serve the remainder of his game misconduct that was called earlier in the game.  I think Shafer kept quiet about it until later in the game in case another penalty came up against us.  I think coach was trying to use it to even the odds, smart move coach![/Q]
I'm pretty sure Potter didn't get a game misconduct, just a 10 minute misconduct.  Barlow was the only game misconduct.

Watching on the webcast, looked like both teams were out for blood.  Lots of hard hitting, got quite chippy at times.  Looked pretty evenly matched.  That said, I think if Cornell can limit their turnovers in the neutral zone, they should pull off the sweep tonight.

[/q]

The hard hitting was on our side.  MSU is not a physical team, and our style of play really got under their nerves.

[Dpperk29]

My opinion on the Barlow call was that is was a penalty... just not a major+game. it should have been a minor for checking from behind. barlow lined him up from behind...

team looked good, Mckee was amazing, nothing more to say.

[DeltaOne81]

[Q]aznxjz Wrote:
Dave McKee was amazing as usual, and was helped out by one of two lucky breaks.  There was one heart stopper in the second when the puck was just frozen there next to the pipe until our D cleared it. [/Q]

Saves: Dave McKee 25, Dominic Vicari 17, Ryan O'Byrne 1 :-D

While on the topic, I saw a number of very good defensive plays by O'Bryne last night. Very nice.


[Q]I think this is the best I've seen us carry the puck up the ice this early in the season since 2002.[/Q]

Agreed, although I don't often get to 'watch' the opening weekend as it seems like they're usually away. But I was *very* impressed by how sharp the team looked early compared to how they usually 'sound.'


[Q]And finally, our PK was amazing.  That 5 min stretch didn't even seem like an MSU PP.[/Q]

Eh, it was like an MSU powerplay, in as far as Cornell got little offense and MSU setup in the zone fairly often and passed it around our boxed D. But it wasn't a very good one. Very impressive PK all around, especially then. They had their time in the zone, but not a lot of good chances.

[Will]

Great game all around.  Both goalies performed admirably, I felt; luckily, McKee played just a bit better, helped by the stifling defense.  No huge complaints about any of our guys; in fact, my personal rating of O'Byrne rose a bit (and not just because of his goal, though that doesn't hurt either).

One comment to the fans, at least on the student side (perhaps on the townie side as well, though I couldn't really see all of them): Don't do the "We're not worthy" after every single save McKee makes.  While it's true that he makes some amazing saves, most of the saves he makes are pretty standard, even last night.

[sockralex]

[Q]Will Wrote:

One comment to the fans, at least on the student side (perhaps on the townie side as well, though I couldn't really see all of them): Don't do the "We're not worthy" after every single save McKee makes.  While it's true that he makes some amazing saves, most of the saves he makes are pretty standard, even last night.[/q]

Yeah, it got so rediculous last night that I mockingly started doing the 'we're not worthy' when McKee would stop the puck from an MSU dump.  McKee is a good goalie.  We don't need to bow down when he makes a glove save on a 10 mph wrister from the blue line w/ no one in front.

With that said, he made an AMAZING save in the first from point blank on a 2v1 that robbed MSU of a goal.  We were truly not worthy.

[Drew042]

Great game last night; the crowd was as good as I have seen it in quite some time.  A few notes from where I was sitting in Section O (I know, I suck:-) ):

*Barlow's penalty was at most a 2 min. minor; not sure if it was a make up call or not, but the timing was brutal.
*As per Freshman I was most impressed by Mugford and Barlow (before his early exit).  The play where Mugford outhustled 4 MSU players in the 3rd was quite impressive.  Barlow seems to have the makings of a larger Scott as he can skate well and seems to create situations for shots to be produced.  Seminoff took a fair number of penalties, but I think he will develop into a solid player as the year progesses.
*McKee was his usual self; esp. in the third with several outstanding saves.
*Overall I was impressed for the 1st game of the season.  They skated well; they started the rush well; O'Byrne only had 2 miscues with the puck that I noticed (and he even scored a goal).
*I thought the best players on the ice last night were McKee, Moulson; Miller for MSU was as advertised.  I thought that Sawada was especially a non-factor and he needs to step up his game now that Shane has left for greener pastures.  

See everyone tonight!!  LGR!!!