Cornell 3 @ Brown 2 (OT 11/5) post-game thread

[billhoward]

After four games, we have a 2.5 goals against average, give or take the three extra OT minutes. Good thing the scoring has ratcheted up a notch. Or half a notch. All three victories have been 3-2, discounting the two empty-netters.

It's not beyond possibility that Cornell could now be 1-3 or 1-2-1. Sheesh.

Cornell opponents seem to gear up to be a giant killer (this weekend) and forget about Colgate.

Losing to MSU in game 2, just getting by Yale, and barely getting by Brown (did we really outshoot Bruno 16-3 in the second with no goals to show for it?) is good in that it gives Schafer some ammunition to do the good cop, bad cop routine and tell the players how they need to work harder, harder, harder.

How many shorthanded goals did we give up all last year?

Are we missing Shane Hynes more than we think?

[scoop85]

While the close calls are of some concern, at least we outshot Brown by a fairly wide margin (although since I did not hear the game, I don't know if that stat is indicative of the play).  Against Yale the shots were even, and the game certainly sounded about even.

[Trotsky]

I think the Brown game was even.  The Red dominated at times, but overall Brown belonged in the same building, and could have won if a bounce had gone their way.  So be it.  Scoreboard.

I think people see an 80% winning percentage and expect 80% control of every game.  That isn't how it works.  Each team will control portions of each game.  The dominant teams have that little extra in talent, drive, or damned cussedness which they apply in the right place at the right time.  Anybody can score twice.  Great teams score that game-winner, and to hell with excuses.

Look at the NCAA losses against UNH and Minny in '02, '03, and '05.  Were we in those games?  Yes.  So what?

[Will]

[Q]billhoward Wrote:

Are we missing Shane Hynes more than we think?

[/q]

Personally, I don't think the addition of Shane alone could have made the game results significantly better over these four games.  I think it's just an early season thing.  If we're still getting results like this frequently in February, then I'd worry.

[A-19]

a win's a win damnit

[Andy'07]

I agree.  The fact that a weekend sweep, if unconvincing, is a cause for concern is a sign that the team is strong.  Obviously expectations are high, but we got 4 points, made the plays we needed to, and have to look towards harvard and dartmouth(both of which lost to Q, eek)

[Townie]

[Q]billhoward Wrote:

 
Are we missing Shane Hynes more than we think?

[/q]

I thought the same thing after the MSU games.  But I'm also wondering if we're missing Cook & Downs more.

[A-19]

yeah i feel like our defense really just quit on us
mckee not as strong on the breakaways this year also

obyrne is significantly improved, and pegoraro, carefoot and scott hussled their asses off tonight

our freshmen take too many penalties, and in general every game is like 3 mins of 5x5. they call every little contact now, and it's irritating. also irritating refs dont have names on their backs.

i was impressed with barlow- very flashy player with good moves

oh, and the non-goal off the post looked very much in. after it bounced out of the inside of the post, it landed right on a cornell stick, but they blew the play dead bc they called it a goal. had they not stopped, it's likely it would have been an actual goal too

and when did brown decide to have fans? i mean, after last night's amazing performance i can see why they decided to show up again. conspicuously absent were the 3 little juvey hall kids with their plastic horns.

-mike '04

[Anne 85]

Well, tonight at least, the defense was missing a few cogs.  Pokaluk was out due to the DQ, and Gleed was apparently a last-minute scratch.  So, we were skating 5 D-men:  O'Byrne, Glover, Krantz, Seminoff, and Davenport.  I think we can all agree that's not a dream-team line-up -- at least not this early in the season.

Given that Sasha is on the top PP unit, and we were also missing Chris Abbott, a go-to faceoff guy, the offense was also a little off-balance.  I'd say that we did what we had to this weekend and came out with the wins, and it's much too soon to panic.

Oh, and regarding the Brown "fans" -- they were bribed to attend.  They were given free pizza from 6-7 before our game, and free round-trip airline tickets were given to 2 lucky students who registered before the game and were still there during the second intermission to claim their prizes.  Despite all of this, the student side of the rink wasn't full and there was no band.

[A-19]

i was wondering what the 40 pizza boxes were there for

[Will]

[Q]Anne 85 Wrote:

Oh, and regarding the Brown "fans" -- they were bribed to attend.  They were given free pizza from 6-7 before our game, and free round-trip airline tickets were given to 2 lucky students who registered before the game and were still there during the second intermission to claim their prizes.  Despite all of this, the student side of the rink wasn't full and there was no band.[/q]

They didn't throw the pizza at the Cornell fans and end up hitting their fellow Brown "fans", did they? :-D

[Al DeFlorio]

[Q]Anne 85 Wrote:

 Well, tonight at least, the defense was missing a few cogs.  Pokaluk was out due to the DQ, and Gleed was apparently a last-minute scratch.  So, we were skating 5 D-men:  O'Byrne, Glover, Krantz, Seminoff, and Davenport.  I think we can all agree that's not a dream-team line-up -- at least not this early in the season.

Given that Sasha is on the top PP unit, and we were also missing Chris Abbott, a go-to faceoff guy, the offense was also a little off-balance.  I'd say that we did what we had to this weekend and came out with the wins, and it's much too soon to panic.
[/q]
Did anyone notice if Kindret ever made it onto the ice?  There seemed to be a lot of shifting going on with the lines tonight to compensate for having only three centers.  Scott filled in occasionally at center, IIRC.  

[bentley]

They did throw a fish after the first goal

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

Schafer said a while back it takes some time for "the system" to gel.  I give him credit for knowing what he's doing.   Hang onto your towel (don't panic).

And on the subject of freshemen taking penalties, see:  Krantz, Doug or O'Byrne, Ryan.  It happens every year and they get better by March.  It's a part of the learning and maturing process.

[Liz '05]

[Q]Jeff Hopkins '82 Wrote:
Hang onto your towel (don't panic).
[/q]

:-)