Clarkson at Cornell postgame thread (2/21/06)

billhoward · January 21, 2006, 09:35:25 PM

Clarkson seemed a tougher opponent than SLU despite the similar outcome; they did not go gentle into the night and mounted a pretty good goaltender-pulled offense the last 2:30. I really wanted an ENG by Cornell to give the weekend perfect 5-2 symmetry. (Makes it easier for sportswriters' weekend wrapups.)

So if Mike Schafer's tactic is to skate all four lines hard and put 'em away wet, until the other team collapses from wear and tear on its three lines - it worked. (Wasn't that Cornell's anti-Minnesota NCAA strategy last year?) And there's nothing sweeter than breaking open a tight game in the last 10 minutes. Good to see the skating wounded back in the lineup today, especially O'Byrne and McCutcheon. Nice to see continued contributions from other than the first line ... plus Pokoluk keeps racking up the points.

Cornell PK didn't do so well and Cornell took what, three or four penalties that ended PP advantages. (Did there seem to be a lot of makeup calls going both ways, or just coincidence?) Seminoff had a good game / bad game with a couple nice plays and an assist but also taking a penalty that immediately was followed by Clarkson's second goal. God bless the Abbotts for the GWG. OK, so Matt Moulson is having trouble scoring even-strength goals, but his, what 10th PPG of the season was a very fine coffin nail (his other 3 goals include how many ENGS - 1? 2?) Don't know how difficult was the McKee save on Cayer with 3:45 left, but it looked awesome on video.

Nice four-point weekend that took a lot of effort.

Trotsky · January 21, 2006, 09:37:20 PM

Colgate 4 SLU 3 (ot)

pfibiger · January 21, 2006, 09:38:50 PM

Bitz looked excellent all game tonight, driving to the net and using his body in a way that he hasn't earlier in the season.

CU at Stanford · January 21, 2006, 09:40:14 PM

The way I look at it...after the spanking at Princeton, any 4-point weekend is a good weekend. (Well, that is redundant, I know, but, it had to be said.) I am looking forward to my trip to Philadelphia over the Feb 17-18 weekend. I will finally have a chance to "watch" Cornell hockey "live," when Harvard comes to Ithaca. The game will be on a large-screen TV at the Cornell event in Philly. Yahoo! :-D

calgARI '07 · January 21, 2006, 09:50:08 PM

Another very good performance by Cornell, particularly in the third period. Clarkson blew two glorious chances after the game was 2-2, one where the guy had the whole net to shoot at and was right on the door step and he put it wide. The other was a 3-on-1 where the guy got the puck wide open in the slot and he misfired. I beg Schafer every week to put the Abbotts together and hopefully the beautiful goal they scored will make him do it. In all, Cornell was the much better team tonight. As usual, Clarkson was extremely dirty and undisciplined. They really are an embarrassment. Cornell is starting to show some scoring depth which is a very very good thing that will make them very tough. They should sweep again next weekend and then the enormous Colgate weekend.
4 Stars Tonight:
1. Pokuluk
2. McKee
3. Gleed
4. Cam Abbott

calgARI '07 · January 21, 2006, 09:52:24 PM

[quote pfibiger]Bitz looked excellent all game tonight, driving to the net and using his body in a way that he hasn't earlier in the season.[/quote]

I am not a Bitz fan, but the last two weekends have been the best of his career. He has really improved.

Trotsky · January 21, 2006, 09:53:47 PM

Tne guest announcer gave Bitz the #1 star.

Al DeFlorio · January 21, 2006, 09:56:23 PM

[quote calgARI '07]They [Cornell] should sweep again next weekend and then the enormous Colgate weekend.
[/quote]
Don't think it will be so easy. Yale is 6-2-2 in their last ten, with an OT loss at UNO (UNO tied it at 19:26 of the third), a 4-1 loss to UNH where Eli put 46 shots on goal, and a tie at Mankato. I wouldn't look past them to Colgate.

redhair34 · January 21, 2006, 10:01:35 PM

[quote calgARI '07]I beg Schafer every week to put the Abbotts together and hopefully the beautiful goal they scored will make him do it.[/quote]

I thought the Abbotts were the collective #1 star of the game. The brought energy every shift; in the 3 period they looked like crazed animals out there. They single handedly helped tire out Clarkson. Having said that I understand why Schafer keeps them separate...I don't think the Mugford-Abbott-Sawada line has given up an even strength goal all season against the oppositions best/second best lines. Its hard to argue with that kind of success. But I do like the idea of pairing them up in 4x4 situations.

Trotsky · January 21, 2006, 10:03:25 PM

[quote Al DeFlorio][quote calgARI '07]They [Cornell] should sweep again next weekend and then the enormous Colgate weekend.
[/quote]
Don't think it will be so easy. Yale is 6-2-2 in their last ten, with an OT loss at UNO (UNO tied it at 19:26 of the third), a 4-1 loss to UNH where Eli put 46 shots on goal, and a tie at Mankato. I wouldn't look past them to Colgate.[/quote]
And tonight they kicked the you know what out of a pretty good RPI team who held Cornell to a 1-1 tie.

Drew042 · January 21, 2006, 10:05:28 PM

Great game tonight. I think that this was the best all around weekend the Sasha has had all year. He shoed great poise is skating the puck out of the zone and controlling play in the defensive end. The team as a whole played realy well together and all the freshman are really doing well. I especially like how Kennedy played this weekend.
That said, ever since I started waching Cornell hockey it amazes me what a terribly disciplined team Clarkson is. They are the biggest bunch of goons I have ever seen play no matter who the coach is and who the players are. The mantra seems to be for them to hurt the opposing players no matter what the score. They are an embarressment for the league and I for one hope they never have success.

ebilmes · January 21, 2006, 10:06:54 PM

[quote Trotsky]
And tonight they kicked the you know what out of a pretty good RPI team who held Cornell to a 1-1 tie.[/quote]

We got physically dominated when we played Yale back in the fall and were lucky to get the win. True, we've come a long way since then, but I don't think a win is automatic.

oceanst41 · January 21, 2006, 10:08:15 PM

I thought McKee had two saves tonight which he probably had no business making. The first was in the first period on a quick 2 on 1 down low that he went post to post in the full split to catch a piece of it. The second was the one I assume you are talking about in the third off the odd man rush. McKee had to go from his right to left and went down early. The Clarkson player roofed it but McKee got the glove back up in enough time to knock the puck up in the air and into the corner.

He also had a bunch of saves in the second on some good chances by the Knights to keep the score even.

Al DeFlorio · January 21, 2006, 10:08:18 PM

[quote Trotsky]And tonight they kicked the you know what out of a pretty good RPI team who held Cornell to a 1-1 tie.[/quote]
I think we agreed earlier that "the you know what" is referred to as "S."

Something tells me "our" Drew will be hearing from "their" Drew before the night is over. ::worry::

Tub(a) · January 21, 2006, 10:09:42 PM

[quote Al DeFlorio][quote Trotsky]And tonight they kicked the you know what out of a pretty good RPI team who held Cornell to a 1-1 tie.[/quote]Something tells me "our" Drew will be hearing from "their" Drew before the night is over. ::worry::[/quote]

He's already defending his angels in the game thread. It won't be too long before he finds his way here I imagine.