Cornell-Wisconsin postgame thread (post-season thread?) NCAA quarterfinals 2006

[Oat]

[quote Al DeFlorio][quote DeltaOne81]We weren't really out of position though, which is what I thought. There was a Cornell guy there (didn't notice who) covering Skille, but it was just a perfect no/little-look, tape-to-tape pass.[/quote]
I think it was Gleed near Skille.  The whole sequence would be near impossible to duplicate.  The pass to Skille was a one-timer backhand of a puck coming off the boards precisely on target for a one-timer shot by a player skating hard.

[Edit: INCH picture here shows Gleed next to McKee after the goal.  And in no way should anyone knock Jon for this goal happening.][/quote]

In my opinion, Mckee put a little too much on the puck when he cleared it out to the board. Just as I turned to my roommate to say this, a Wisconsin player got to the puck before our guy did and quickly centered it to Skille. It wasn't Mckee's fault though. We can't point the fingers at him after what he has done for the team. He did the most sensible thing that anyone would have done in that situation which was to clear the puck away from the goal. Well Skille had been terrorizing our defense all night. He deserved that goal.

[Oat]

As for Gleed, he was in the correct position for the 4x4 special team. He was right in front of the net, very focused, and watching the puck (a good thing to do if you're playing hockey). He was not looking where Skille was. Skille did not give him any time to challenge the lucky one-timer.

Gleed did everything he could have done.

[nyc94]

[quote ithacat][quote Hayek]Anyone know the link to where the eBadger forum is?[/quote]

Be warned: there are some less than flattering comments made regarding Cornell fans. For the most part respect leads to respect. Remember, every board has its ::nut:: (lordy, let that not be me...)

http://mb28.scout.com/fwisconsin36703frm6[/quote]

I kind of agree with them that "red line, idiot" isn't as meaningful if the player intentionally ices the puck - unless they could have easily crossed the line.

[Andrew]

"A loss is a loss," the junior[McKee] said. "We really wanted to move on and go to the Frozen Four. We're just pretty bitter."

The Cornell Store would make a killing selling Wisconsin thankyou notes to the forum.  Enjoy hoisting another "Almost Frozen Four" banner in you living room.

As Fred Shero the Flyers Head Coach said during their 1974 Stanley Cup Final run over the Bruins "Win today and we walk together forever."

"A loss is a loss" and it really really hurts.

[Tub(a)]

[quote nyc94][quote ithacat][quote Hayek]Anyone know the link to where the eBadger forum is?[/quote]

Be warned: there are some less than flattering comments made regarding Cornell fans. For the most part respect leads to respect. Remember, every board has its ::nut:: (lordy, let that not be me...)

http://mb28.scout.com/fwisconsin36703frm6[/quote]

I kind of agree with them that "red line, idiot" isn't as meaningful if the player intentionally ices the puck - unless they could have easily crossed the line.[/quote]

How often is an icing a mistake worth calling someone an idiot for? Really. 99% of the time they know they are icing and they are doing it for strategic reasons.

In fact, this was one of the differences in the Wisconsin/Cornell game. Wisconsin was winning faceoffs so with any pressure in their zone they just whipped the puck down the ice to get a fresh set of legs and a second chance in their zone. Cornell tried to carry or pass it out and the result was a huge tip towards Wisconsin in offensive zone possession.

[redGrinch]

[quote ninian '72]Did a quick check on the Caps message board regarding prospects.  Not that their speculation is any more informed than ours regarding where players will be next year, but there are a number of scenarios with Sasha that are tied to the Caps long-term rebuilding process.  Mgmt thinks highly of their young defense prospects, but they appear to be overstocked.  The Caps really loaded up on draft picks during the selloff before the strike and now appear to have an overabundance of young talent in the system.  The general plan appears to be to improve from a bottom 5 team this year to a bottom 10 team next season and then make a run the year after, which gives them some flexibility now in drafting for the best available player and not for positional needs. They may choose to unload some young D-men to trade up in the draft or to acquire some more experienced talent, though, if a good opportunity shows up.  (Kessel's name has surfaced a few times.) Guesses on Sasha are that he stays, moves up to Hershey, moves up after the end of the 06-07 NCAA season, or gets traded. Your pick.  A lot also depends on how D-men further up in the system pan out.  Decisions in most cases appear to be a year away, so don't expect the logjam to break up soon.[/quote]
I've said this a few times, but McPhee (the Caps GM) has been quite patient with waiting for eligibility from his junior players, and it's reasonable to assume that would be the case with Pokulok as well.... and in the limited TV viewings I've seen of him, he doesn't even look like he'd crack the Hershey lineup.  So unless he wants out (a la Chris Borque), I don't think the Caps will rush him.  He'll get an invite to summer prospect camp and they'll send him back to Ithaca w/ some things to work on.  Schultz will be in Hershey next season - and I'll be making a point to watch UND's Joe Finley during the frozen four too.

[ninian '72]

And perhaps playing a similarly classic game against Wisconsin there.  Sometimes the game that really decides who the eventual champion will be isn't played in the last game of the tournament. Small comfort, but nevertheless...

[Trotsky]

[quote Tub(a)]How often is an icing a mistake worth calling someone an idiot for? Really. 99% of the time they know they are icing and they are doing it for strategic reasons.[/quote]

Agreed, redline... idiot almost always just makes our fans look stupid.  "Blue line... idiot" for offisdes would make far more sense, especially if we limited it to opponent rushes and powerplays.

[Beeeej]

[quote billhoward]We're losing a couple good seniors. We could lose a bunch of non-seniors to the pros - but how many?[/quote]

I haven't read any other posts in this thread yet, so it's probably already been said, but:

I understood Shane Hynes leaving when he did, because I don't think I honestly believed the 2005-06 Cornell team had a legitimate shot at reaching the Frozen Four.  But if it were me on the team this year, after getting as far as we did, I'd be thinking that next year is looking really, really good.

Beeeej

[Beeeej]

[quote jkahn]A guy from Colorado Springs whose daughter goes to Cornell come over and sat with us when we were down 0-2 of Friday, right before Topher's goal.  He commented that he decided to root for Cornell (though he goes to the CC home games) as he could see our team just plays like we want it more.  That's all you can ask.[/quote]

Was his name also Jeff?  If so I think I met him at one of the Clarkson QF games a few weeks ago.  Very nice guy, spoke very highly of Cornell's program.

Beeeej

[DeltaOne81]

[quote Beeeej]after getting as far as we did, I'd be thinking that next year is looking really, really good.

Beeeej[/quote]

I think the question (as it always is), is how much will we really miss the seniors. Obviously we will miss Moulson, but how much? Consider the majority of his production was on the power play, can't much of that be made up for by getting our PP to figure out how to connect down low?

And sure, we'll miss the Abbotts and Pegararo and Gleed, but they don't seem irreplaceable, if someone else can just step up into those rolls. And we all appreciate Louis efforts, but I think even he would admit that its not going to have a major impact on next years teams.


Will the rising-seniors step up in the way the '05 seniors did, esp a role player like Carefoot or Glover? Will O'Byrne (if he stays) and/or Bitz become a true force to be reckoned with? Can McCutcheon take yet another leap forward? And probably most importantly, can McKee (if he stays) pick up anywhere near where he left off, or will he pick up more like he picked up this year?

Will Sasha (if he stays) show that buried talent more consistently?

How quick will the new freshman produce? Are they half what they're hyped to be? Will they play in the system or will Schafer have trouble getting the team to gel with the kind of talent he has?


Not that listings these questions even begins to provide an answer.

[Beeeej]

No disrespect to Fred, but What Rich Said.  Post of the year.

Beeeej

[jkahn]

[quote Beeeej][quote jkahn]A guy from Colorado Springs whose daughter goes to Cornell came over and sat with us when we were down 0-2 of Friday, right before Topher's goal.  He commented that he decided to root for Cornell (though he goes to the CC home games) as he could see our team just plays like we want it more.  That's all you can ask.[/quote]

Was his name also Jeff?  If so I think I met him at one of the Clarkson QF games a few weeks ago.  Very nice guy, spoke very highly of Cornell's program.

Beeeej[/quote]
We didn't exchange names but it's probably him, as he said he was at the 2nd Clarkson game.  He was wearing a CC sweatshirt and Cornell hat when he came over, but took off the CC sweatshirt in the 3rd.  He came back and sat with us on Sunday, this time wearing a Cornell sweatshirt.

[KeithK]

We are losing two of our best faceoff guys in Abbott and Pegararo.  We'll need a couple of guys to step up in that role.

The biggest question about next year is early departures.  If everyone stays then we look really good right now (assuming the incoming class is all it has been made out to be).  If everyone in question leaves (at least McKee, O'Byrne, Pokulok) then we're seem pretty questionable.

[Lauren '06]

This is in no way conclusive and it should never be sworn by, but just to put some minds at ease (maybe)... it is my understanding that McKee will probably be back next year, but Pokulok is much more a question mark.  If you have to worry about anybody leaving, it's him.

Having said that, whoever brought up the upcoming vacuum at center has it right as far as I'm concerned.  Going to need huge strides from Bitz and Kennedy on faceoffs, I would hope Topher Scott would be switched back to center as well.