clarkson @ cornell, ecachl second round chatter

should be plenty of talk this week on the board. hoping to NOT get a repeat of 2004. so what does everyone think?
anyone have tickets they want to get rid of

why don't we repaet 2005?

See all of you next week. Words cannot express how excited I am for this series.

daredevilcu
Words cannot express how excited I am for this series.

Unfortunately, I don't expect the same to be true for RichS.

daredevilcu
See all of you next week. Words cannot express how excited I am for this series.

Is the rest of the band going to make the trip? Or at least a few more pieces than you guys brought last year to the quarterfinals?

Hopefully we can muster more together this year. Last year was thrown together absolutely last minute, this time we're a little more prepared. We'll see though, it really depends on who is going to be around for spring break and can get a ride into town.

Best case scenario in my opinion. Clarkson was the best team who played this weekend and I want Cornell to play the very best team possible. They have played their best hockey when playing tough teams this year and I think Clarkson is the perfect team to start the playoffs with. Should be a great series like the last two.

calgARI '07
Best case scenario in my opinion. Clarkson was the best team who played this weekend and I want Cornell to play the very best team possible. They have played their best hockey when playing tough teams this year and I think Clarkson is the perfect team to start the playoffs with. Should be a great series like the last two.

I completely agree...plus there's no better way to close out the "old lynah" than a battle with Clarkson.

Gonna be a very, very tough series.

Trotsky
Gonna be a very, very tough series.

Agreed. I somewhat understand the desire to have a chance to improve PWR or to face a tough opponent who'll hopefully bring out Cornell's best, but, frankly, I'd be much happier with the ECACHL championship and Cornell having the path of least resistance that leads to that. Playing Clarkson is not that path. Consider this: would you choose (a) bowing out in the ECACHL but heading into the NCAAs as one of the 1 seeds (I'm speaking hypothetically; I know that cannot happen this year), or (b) winning the ECACHL and heading to the NCAA's as the 14th seed just ahead of the CHA and AHA champ? I'd take "b" in a heartbeat.

ebilmes

daredevilcu
Words cannot express how excited I am for this series.

Unfortunately, I don't expect the same to be true for RichS.

"Unfortunately"? Grow up...

Of course I'm excited. It should be a great series...and no, you guys can't have my tickets.

redhair34

calgARI '07
Best case scenario in my opinion. Clarkson was the best team who played this weekend and I want Cornell to play the very best team possible. They have played their best hockey when playing tough teams this year and I think Clarkson is the perfect team to start the playoffs with. Should be a great series like the last two.

I completely agree...plus there's no better way to close out the "old lynah" than a battle with Clarkson.

I don't. I'm starting to feel like that's Ari's standard response (no offense, but you have said it about four times very recently), and it's not necessarily true. What about Harvard at Lynah? Harvard is a good team, and we didn't play well enough to beat them - in fact, we made some stupid decisions that probably cost us the game. You say we were injured? Okay, how about the game at Dartmouth? This year's ECAC co-champs killed us in an ugly, ugly affair back in November. We haven't played consistently good hockey against anyone.

I welcome Clarkson mostly because its fun to see them for the third year straight in the playoffs at Lynah (even though I won't be there). daredevilcu, please get as much of your band there as posible, because it's fun to yell at you I still think, though, that Clarkson is NOT in our best interest (see: Clarkson 3, Cornell 1, 2/10/06), and that Quinnipiac (who we beat twice, once by a score of 6-0) was.

I too, am excited because it is Cornell/Clarkson. I still see the Clarkson team as a year or two away from making a real run. The team is young and has not learned to win on the road, as of yet. They need to learn how to play in a hostile evironment, none better than Lynah. If we win, it will be big upset, if we lose I see it as "tempering of the sword" for the upcoming years. I hope the games are as competitive as in the past.
Cheers!
Drew

Liz '05
We haven't played consistently good hockey against anyone.

Colgate might disagree.

It's simple. If we beat Clarkson then it was the best possible opponent because it might help our RPI/PWR and prepare us for the next round. If we (knock on wood) lose next weekend then it was an unlucky break and it would've been better to draw someone lower.

Win the games and it won't matter.

Liz '05
I don't. I'm starting to feel like that's Ari's standard response (no offense, but you have said it about four times very recently), and it's not necessarily true. What about Harvard at Lynah? Harvard is a good team, and we didn't play well enough to beat them - in fact, we made some stupid decisions that probably cost us the game. You say we were injured? Okay, how about the game at Dartmouth? This year's ECAC co-champs killed us in an ugly, ugly affair back in November. We haven't played consistently good hockey against anyone.

I welcome Clarkson mostly because its fun to see them for the third year straight in the playoffs at Lynah (even though I won't be there). daredevilcu, please get as much of your band there as posible, because it's fun to yell at you I still think, though, that Clarkson is NOT in our best interest (see: Clarkson 3, Cornell 1, 2/10/06), and that Quinnipiac (who we beat twice, once by a score of 6-0) was.

You bet they played well enough to beat Harvard. The game was even until Cam Abbott took the major and then the game was pretty much sealed. I don't see what your point is regarding the blowout at Dartmouth. That game was in November. Last year's team played I think their worst game at Dartmouth in November. Cornell also lost to Union in November. It's easy to just say that they haven't played consistnetly well against anyone, but it's far more complicated than that. This team rises to the occasion in big games. Far and away the two biggest games they played in this year were the Colgate ones and they happened to play their best hockey that weekend, all without O'Byrne and Pokuluk. Clarkson is very underrated and in my opinion the best team in the ECACHL not in the top four. This is the playoffs, and I really don't think it's good for the team to play a team that they are going to blowout. Clarkson is very underrated and is a team that grinds and battles, making them the perfect opponent for a Cornell team that has really thrived in those types of games over the last two years. Have they played some bad games this year? Yes, but I'm not sure what your point is. So they didn't get up for the game at Hanover in November and haven't gotten up for a handful of other games. My point is that they have gotten up and played their best hockey when the game has the biggest ramifications and they are playing the tough, grind-it-out teams. Something tells me Clarkson in the playoffs will fall into the latter group. Yes, I've said it about four times, but it has been pertinent each time and is even more so for the coming weekend.

Drew
I too, am excited because it is Cornell/Clarkson. I still see the Clarkson team as a year or two away from making a real run. The team is young and has not learned to win on the road, as of yet. They need to learn how to play in a hostile evironment, none better than Lynah. If we win, it will be big upset, if we lose I see it as "tempering of the sword" for the upcoming years. I hope the games are as competitive as in the past.
Cheers! - Drew

Drew, if you don't get there in person, let's see how cheerful you are trying to watch the CSTV webcast. On that, Cornell and Clarkson fans who don't attend will likely be united in their opinions.

calgARI '07
My point is that they have gotten up and played their best hockey when the game has the biggest ramifications and they are playing the tough, grind-it-out teams.

The RPI game is the big exception, but in that case you really can make a good argument for injuries influencing the outcome, and Cornell actually played well -- they just couldn't crack Lange.

Mike Schafer is the Chuck Norris of ECAC playoff coaches, and he will have the team ready to play. But they aren't invulnerable -- the losses to Princeton in '99 and Clarkson in '04 were cases in which the team desperately needed wins, was in the position to secure them, and failed to do it. In the latter case, at least, the team was loaded with talent.

Cornell v Clarkson in the ECAC playoffs:

1966 F L
1970 F W
1971 S L
1973 S W
1976 Q W
1977 C W
1985 C W
1986 F W
1988 Q L
1989 Q W
1992 S W
1995 Q L
1997 F W
2000 P W
2004 Q L
2005 Q W

Trotsky

Liz '05
We haven't played consistently good hockey against anyone.

Colgate might disagree.

I knew someone would mention that. Maybe I should've said consistently good hockey against any set of opponents where the set contains more than one opponent.

KeithK
It's simple. If we beat Clarkson then it was the best possible opponent because it might help our RPI/PWR and prepare us for the next round. If we (knock on wood) lose next weekend then it was an unlucky break and it would've been better to draw someone lower.

If we beat Clarkson in three games, it'll be fine for ECAC purposes, but the PWR-obsessed can lament that we hurt our ratings compared to the sweep that would have been more likely against a weaker opponent.

Liz '05

Trotsky

Liz '05
We haven't played consistently good hockey against anyone.

Colgate might disagree.

I knew someone would mention that. Maybe I should've said consistently good hockey against any set of opponents where the set contains more than one opponent.

How about a set of 11 opponents? Cornell was the only team in the conference with a winning road record this year.

Trotsky
How about a set of 11 opponents? Cornell was the only team in the conference with a winning road record this year.

We play road games?

Trotsky

calgARI '07
My point is that they have gotten up and played their best hockey when the game has the biggest ramifications and they are playing the tough, grind-it-out teams.

The RPI game is the big exception, but in that case you really can make a good argument for injuries influencing the outcome, and Cornell actually played well -- they just couldn't crack Lange.

Mike Schafer is the Chuck Norris of ECAC playoff coaches, and he will have the team ready to play. But they aren't invulnerable -- the losses to Princeton in '99 and Clarkson in '04 were cases in which the team desperately needed wins, was in the position to secure them, and failed to do it. In the latter case, at least, the team was loaded with talent.

Cornell v Clarkson in the ECAC playoffs:

1966 F L
1970 F W
1971 S L
1973 S W
1976 Q W
1977 C W
1985 C W
1986 F W
1988 Q L
1989 Q W
1992 S W
1995 Q L
1997 F W
2000 P W
2004 Q L
2005 Q W

Definitely agree with you. Although vulnerable, I believe that this group of players has shown tremendous growth in character since that 2004 playoff series to the point where they really do thrive in these types of situations. This week's column is all about that actually.

[q][q]I don't. I'm starting to feel like that's Ari's standard response (no offense, but you have said it about four times very recently), and it's not necessarily true. What about Harvard at Lynah? Harvard is a good team, and we didn't play well enough to beat them - in fact, we made some stupid decisions that probably cost us the game. You say we were injured? Okay, how about the game at Dartmouth? This year's ECAC co-champs killed us in an ugly, ugly affair back in November. We haven't played consistently good hockey against anyone.[/q]

You bet they played well enough to beat Harvard. The game was even until Cam Abbott took the major and then the game was pretty much sealed. [/q]

Well, we didn't beat Harvard. Cam made a stupid decision, and we lost any and all momentum we had. I blame that on our not playing well enough to 1) avoid the penalty in the first place and 2) regain the momentum lost and the goals scored against us as a result of that penalty.

[q]I don't see what your point is regarding the blowout at Dartmouth. That game was in November. Last year's team played I think their worst game at Dartmouth in November. Cornell also lost to Union in November.[/q]

My point is that we had our worst game this season against Dartmouth, a pre-season favorite for good reason and a team that Schafer voted to win the league. Even coming immediately after Harvard, how could it NOT have been a big game? For you to argue that November's results don't matter (because it's at the beginning of the season?) is silly - just like in PWR, it's still this season and it still matters.

[q]It's easy to just say that they haven't played consistnetly well against anyone, but it's far more complicated than that. This team rises to the occasion in big games. Far and away the two biggest games they played in this year were the Colgate ones and they happened to play their best hockey that weekend, all without O'Byrne and Pokuluk.[/q]

Fair enough. I probably shouldn't have gone for the unqualified statement.

[q]Clarkson is very underrated and in my opinion the best team in the ECACHL not in the top four. This is the playoffs, and I really don't think it's good for the team to play a team that they are going to blowout.[/q]

Difference of opinion, I think. I'm pretty confident we can continue to beat Q, and thus make it to Albany. I'm not at all confident that we can beat Clarkson in a 2 of 3 series. I'd like to win the ECACs.

[q]Clarkson is very underrated and is a team that grinds and battles, making them the perfect opponent for a Cornell team that has really thrived in those types of games over the last two years. [/q]

I'm not sure whether we are less dominant this year because of others' recruiting and improvement or our shift away from battles in the corners and along the boards, but I feel like Cornell just hasn't managed to grind and battle enough this season. Are we still capable of consistently coming out on top in those games?

[q]Have they played some bad games this year? Yes, but I'm not sure what your point is. So they didn't get up for the game at Hanover in November and haven't gotten up for a handful of other games. [/q]

And those games have not been solely against weak competition.

[q]My point is that they have gotten up and played their best hockey when the game has the biggest ramifications and they are playing the tough, grind-it-out teams. Something tells me Clarkson in the playoffs will fall into the latter group. Yes, I've said it about four times, but it has been pertinent each time and is even more so for the coming weekend.[/quote]

Trotsky
Cornell was the only team in the conference with a winning road record this year.

Really? I didn't know that. Yay Cornell!

calgARI '07

Liz '05
Clarkson is very underrated and in my opinion the best team in the ECACHL not in the top four. This is the playoffs, and I really don't think it's good for the team to play a team that they are going to blowout. Clarkson is very underrated and is a team that grinds and battles, making them the perfect opponent for a Cornell team that has really thrived in those types of games over the last two years.

Ari,

This year Clarkson has NOT been a consistently grinding or battling team. They lost the game I saw at Princeton last month specifically because they did not "battle" enough. The playoff games vs Princeton were a different story because they did battle, or as Coach Roll put it, "we played a complete game."

This team has a large group of finesse and skilled forwards but few physical types. The same can be said of the D with Brekelmans being the only big hitter of the bunch that sees the most ice time.

Their weakness, which has accounted for a lot of their inconsistency is that they have not played enough of a physical or grinding type of game. That is what the coaches have been referring to when they have expressed displeasure with the "effort."

That effort has improved down the stretch and obviously they need to display more grit and physical play at Lynah or risk getting run out of the place.

RichS

calgARI '07

Liz '05
Clarkson is very underrated and in my opinion the best team in the ECACHL not in the top four. This is the playoffs, and I really don't think it's good for the team to play a team that they are going to blowout. Clarkson is very underrated and is a team that grinds and battles, making them the perfect opponent for a Cornell team that has really thrived in those types of games over the last two years.

Ari,

This year Clarkson has NOT been a consistently grinding or battling team. They lost the game I saw at Princeton last month specifically because they did not "battle" enough. The playoff games vs Princeton were a different story because they did battle, or as Coach Roll put it, "we played a complete game."

This team has a large group of finesse and skilled forwards but few physical types. The same can be said of the D with Brekelmans being the only big hitter of the bunch that sees the most ice time.

Their weakness, which has accounted for a lot of their inconsistency is that they have not played enough of a physical or grinding type of game. That is what the coaches have been referring to when they have expressed displeasure with the "effort."

That effort has improved down the stretch and obviously they need to display more grit and physical play at Lynah or risk getting run out of the place.

Sorry, I don't know them that well, but I wasn't really calling it their identity as a team, but pointing out that they have played with that identity the last two years. I think they were more of a skill and skating team the last two years as well, but they managed to really battle in the playoffs against Cornell and actually the games at Cornell in the regular season as well. They really seem to get into the intense atmosphere at Cornell. Again, don't know a ton about them as a team except that they have given Cornell a lot to handle at times the last two years while having a lot more skill than the teams around them in the standings. Additionally, even if Clarkson has not been consistently battling, something tells me they will this weekend.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/06/2006 12:59PM by calgARI '07.

Liz '05

Well, we didn't beat Harvard. Cam made a stupid decision, and we lost any and all momentum we had. I blame that on our not playing well enough to 1) avoid the penalty in the first place and 2) regain the momentum lost and the goals scored against us as a result of that penalty.

My point is that we had our worst game this season against Dartmouth, a pre-season favorite for good reason and a team that Schafer voted to win the league. Even coming immediately after Harvard, how could it NOT have been a big game? For you to argue that November's results don't matter (because it's at the beginning of the season?) is silly - just like in PWR, it's still this season and it still matters.

Of course in the PWR or in the final standings, the game in November mattered, but something that happened four months ago is hardly significant to what the team is capable of now as far as what they do on the ice. And it works both ways. I think that the team played one of its best games of the season in their first game against Michigan State. But when I think about what Cornell can do over the next couple of weeks, I think a lot more about what they did against Colgate a month ago than what they did against Michigan state five months ago as an indicator. Yes, it is still significant aside from the PWR, etc., but really not that much.
Regarding the Harvard game, I still don't understand your point. Cornell was playing decent hockey, although not as well as they did the night before, and was in a position to win that game. The Abbott play drastically changed the complexion and badly hurt Cornell's chances at winning that game.

Post-post-post. Do you guys have classes or anything? All we could do was stare out the window when a lecture got dull. I envy you. Except for the papers got coming due.

Speaking of which, RichS, I'd be pleased to meet you in person and shake your hand at some point during the weekend. You're a hell of a hockey fan.

Beeeej

billhoward
Post-post-post. Do you guys have classes or anything? All we could do was stare out the window when a lecture got dull. I envy you. Except for the papers got coming due.

Not I - hence the "'05"

....Don't fall for it Rich, it is the ol'buzzer in the handshake gag.

Liz '05

billhoward
Post-post-post. Do you guys have classes or anything? All we could do was stare out the window when a lecture got dull. I envy you. Except for the papers got coming due.

Not I - hence the "'05"

So shouldn't you be out defending our freedoms or something?

Liz '05
I'm pretty confident we can continue to beat Q, and thus make it to Albany. I'm not at all confident that we can beat Clarkson in a 2 of 3 series. I'd like to win the ECACs.

It seems somewhat silly to say this but if we can’t beat Clarkson two-out-of-three, we don't deserve to win the ECACs.

However, I know what you are wishing for: path of least resistance. Unfortunately, we are the three seed and not the one seed.

I still wish that the team could take care of some sorely unfinished business against RPI this weekend (one of many reasons why we aren't playing Yale or the Q)...

I find that I will often be the first one to say that a little pessimism is needed when some seem overly optimistic but I believe that in this situation, Clarkson shouldn't be the cause of heartburn. The true cause of the heartburn is the reality of the playoffs and life. Because this isn't a college hockey video game (hint, hint) with custom players and cheat codes, either team can win on any given night (even in Lynah) and two wins by the "evil-do-ers" means no Albany (honestly, how often do you yearn for Albany?). Buck up! We can beat Clarkson! And--if the result is positive --their speed of play will better prepare us for the possibility of Albany and the NCAAs and the stronger teams that come with those competitions. Of course we can wish for Niagara in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but because of prior results (for now, apparently only one), we will probably face a Colorado College or a Boston University and we need to be ready.

Anyone want to talk about Shawn Weller? He's been a lot of fun to watch, especially when he bosses around the other Clarkson players... If you are looking for an abundance of chant material on Weller, check out Glens Falls: [www.cityofglensfalls.com] Think "Troy with a better hospital"

I guess he's as excited to meet you as you are to him!

jtwcornell91

Liz '05

billhoward
Post-post-post. Do you guys have classes or anything? All we could do was stare out the window when a lecture got dull. I envy you. Except for the papers got coming due.

Not I - hence the "'05"

So shouldn't you be out defending our freedoms or something?

We've got a president and vice-president handling that quite nicely, wouldn't you say? Mister Cheney is defending the right to fire arms. President Bush is out supporting the world's biggest democracy and wondering why with one billion Indians he didn't see one lousy casino.

Back to the topic. Quickly. My feeling about "deserving to win" is the same as John Calvin's. If you wake up in heaven, you deserved it. In a sport where a 1/128th of a difference in the angle of a shot is the difference between going home or moving a step closer to the NCAA championship, the hell with deserving -- grab every sliver of a chance of improving the odds.

Good to know that this:

Trotsky

billhoward
Cornell is the 1927 Yankees of hockey fandom.

Please never, ever use the words Cornell hockey and Yankees in the same sentence again...

is off limits, but this:

Trotsky
Mike Schafer is the Chuck Norris of ECAC playoff coaches...

is perfectly acceptable.

billhoward
President Bush is out supporting the world's biggest democracy and wondering why with one billion Indians he didn't see one lousy casino.

should be a great series. i agree that if there is one team I would not want to play in the second round of the teams that didnt have buys it would be clarkson

Jacob 03

Trotsky
Mike Schafer is the Chuck Norris of ECAC playoff coaches...

is perfectly acceptable.

Mike Schafer does not get frostbite. Mike Schafer bites frost.

edited from: [www.chucknorrisfacts.com]

I think the best odds for Cornell winning in Albany rests on playing Clarkson this weekend (obviously since we have to win to move on I know). The point is rather than having an opponent Cornell knows it can and should beat like say QU, Cornell has a tough series instead. This series is by no means an afterthought on the way to Albany, so the team will be more mentally prepared than perhaps they have been against some weaker competition this year. That way they are more ready to face their next opponent in Albany if they get that opportunity.

I couldn't picture a better team to come into Lynah to get these guys up for the playoffs, other than maybe Harvard.

Regular-season stats mean absolute jack once the playoffs start, but I feel a little better about the Big Red's chances in the q-finals after looking up this information on the Golden Knights:

This season, Clarkson's record on the road has been -- and there's no way to sugar-coat this -- horrendous. The Knights went 3-13 away from home; only Brown, at 0-12-3 (1-14-3 now) was worse in the ECAC. Probably as an extension of his team's road woes, likely starter David Leggio has been a very different goalie away from Cheel.

Home stats: 10-0-3, 1.81 GAA, 0.927 sv%

Away stats: 1-7, 3.96 GAA, 0.885(!) sv% (In the one win, at Bowling Green, Leggio gave up 4 goals)

Now in Leggio's last away game, the season-ender at Harvard, he stopped 37 of 39 shots, so one probably can't read too much into all this. Still, bringing a rotten road record into Lynah doesn't seem to bode well for the Knights...

(By contrast, Clarkson was 6-14 on the road in 2004-05 heading into the playoffs. In 2003-04, they were 6-5-2.)

Jacob 03
Good to know that this:

Trotsky

billhoward
Cornell is the 1927 Yankees of hockey fandom.

Please never, ever use the words Cornell hockey and Yankees in the same sentence again...

is off limits, but this:

Trotsky
Mike Schafer is the Chuck Norris of ECAC playoff coaches...

is perfectly acceptable.

It's because there are many people alive who hate the Yankees. While there have been people who hate Chuck Norris, that's what corn nuggets are made from.

Drew
....Don't fall for it Rich, it is the ol'buzzer in the handshake gag.

Nah. It's just the first date, after all that flirting last week.
Andy W.

fenwick
Regular-season stats mean absolute jack once the playoffs start, but I feel a little better about the Big Red's chances in the q-finals after looking up this information on the Golden Knights:

This season, Clarkson's record on the road has been -- and there's no way to sugar-coat this -- horrendous. The Knights went 3-13 away from home; only Brown, at 0-12-3 (1-14-3 now) was worse in the ECAC. Probably as an extension of his team's road woes, likely starter David Leggio has been a very different goalie away from Cheel.
Home stats: 10-0-3, 1.81 GAA, 0.927 sv%
Away stats: 1-7, 3.96 GAA, 0.885(!) sv% (In the one win, at Bowling Green, Leggio gave up 4 goals)
Now in Leggio's last away game, the season-ender at Harvard, he stopped 37 of 39 shots, so one probably can't read too much into all this. Still, bringing a rotten road record into Lynah doesn't seem to bode well for the Knights...
(By contrast, Clarkson was 6-14 on the road in 2004-05 heading into the playoffs. In 2003-04, they were 6-5-2.)

Maybe we could bring in a foghorn, train whistle or St. Lawrence Seaway freighter to make Leggio feel more at home. Or leave half the seats empty.

On the flip side, Leggio has only allowed 1 goal in his career (100mins--all at Cheel) against Cornell. The one goal he did allow was a rebound which Bitz stuffed in off a Moulson shot--he had know chance on it. Granted he needed the help of 2 crossbars and 2 posts in the third period at Cheel earlier this year, but he made a couple of spectacular saves (including a breakaway and a 2 on 1) and was the difference maker that weekend. I think Clarkson's X-Factor is Leggio. If he continues his strong play against us, I think it will be a very, very tough grind it out series.

I'll agree that Leggio and the Knights young defense is our x-factor. Pokuluk and O'Byrne are yours, in my opinion. Are they going to be fully healed? Will they even play? If so, how will they be in their first game back? Motivated? Rusty?

I say this series comes down to special teams. The top two PKs in the league, two of the top PPs, should be very interesting. Unfortunately, that puts a lot of burden on the referees to call the game fairly and correctly, and with the ECAC, that's always a wild card.

daredevilcu
I'll agree that Leggio and the Knights young defense is our x-factor. Pokuluk and O'Byrne are yours, in my opinion. Are they going to be fully healed? Will they even play? If so, how will they be in their first game back? Motivated? Rusty?

I say this series comes down to special teams. The top two PKs in the league, two of the top PPs, should be very interesting. Unfortunately, that puts a lot of burden on the referees to call the game fairly and correctly, and with the ECAC, that's always a wild card.

Aye. Or oy. That's the real X factor -- the striped shirts.

Bring back Giles Threadgold and Percy Shore. Speaking of which, why aren't we working on more ref-cheers? One of my all-time favorites was a leather-lunged fan -- this guy could be heard over the cowbell -- who caught a quiet moment in the action and bellowed, "Hey, ref! One more eye -- you'd be Cyclops."

Plus, Moulson's on a tear. In recent games, he's averaging 1.0 goals per game beyond his power play scoring.

oceanst41
I think the best odds for Cornell winning in Albany rests on playing Clarkson this weekend (obviously since we have to win to move on I know). The point is rather than having an opponent Cornell knows it can and should beat like say QU, Cornell has a tough series instead. This series is by no means an afterthought on the way to Albany, so the team will be more mentally prepared than perhaps they have been against some weaker competition this year. That way they are more ready to face their next opponent in Albany if they get that opportunity.

I couldn't picture a better team to come into Lynah to get these guys up for the playoffs, other than maybe Harvard.

It's not a good sign if the guys are going to need a reason to get up for the playoffs. They should have plenty of reasons without having to seek motivation from who the opponent is. First and foremost on the list of motivations might be giving the seniors a better sendoff from Lynah than they did on Senior Night.

JasonN95

Trotsky
Gonna be a very, very tough series.

Agreed. I somewhat understand the desire to have a chance to improve PWR or to face a tough opponent who'll hopefully bring out Cornell's best, but, frankly, I'd be much happier with the ECACHL championship and Cornell having the path of least resistance that leads to that. Playing Clarkson is not that path. Consider this: would you choose (a) bowing out in the ECACHL but heading into the NCAAs as one of the 1 seeds (I'm speaking hypothetically; I know that cannot happen this year), or (b) winning the ECACHL and heading to the NCAA's as the 14th seed just ahead of the CHA and AHA champ? I'd take "b" in a heartbeat.

Not only is (a) impossible, but I think that playing Clarkson raises the stakes to the point that it's win or go home for the season this weekend. Clarkson is a TUC and will certainly remian one if they pull off another upset. Two TUC losses plus the RPI hit would probably push Cornell out of the NCAAs. Losing to Q, as unlikely as that would be, wouldn't hurt as much since they aren't a TUC, and even if they became one, our 2 earlier wins against them would buffer the losses.

In any case, if Cornell can't beat Clarkson in a best of 3 series at Lynah, they're not good enough to make any noise in the NCAAs. Clarkson will be a tougher opponent than Q, and better competition now will hopefully help the team raise its game to a higher level that they will need in Albany and beyond.

Hey. I'm not sure if this has come up yet, but I was wondering what the chances that Clarkson remains a TUC if we were to pull off a sweep this week? I'm thinking slim to none. Cause 2 more wins against TUC's couldn't hurt in the PWR but regardless I would think that 2 wins against Clarkson would help the RPI right? So a win this weekend could go a big way in clinching a spot in the NCAA's and maybe moving us up from the 10 spot right now. Anybody who has actually looked at this stuff, could you let me know how this series could effect pairwise?

According to JTW's script, if the games are played in a vacuum, a Cornell sweep makes CCT's RPI ~.5007 (i.e. still TUC) and moves CU to 6th in the PWR. Of course there are at least 30 other games this weekend that can impact that.

I guess I didn't make myself too clear. What I was going for is that Cornell would be more mentally prepared for a long playoff run starting with a team like Clarkson as opposed to Q.

Cornell will have to play its best hockey this weekend, not some of the good hockey they've been getting away with in some games. Cornell has shown in the past that the "best" hockey can grow on itself and become a pretty decent run. This team may not have that 18-1-1 record down the stretch, but why not bump the level of hockey to "best" this weekend.

It's not saying the team can't get up for Q, just that they may not have to beat them (i.e. their 2-1 win earlier this year at Lynah).

jtwcornell91

Liz '05

billhoward
Post-post-post. Do you guys have classes or anything? All we could do was stare out the window when a lecture got dull. I envy you. Except for the papers got coming due.

Not I - hence the "'05"

So shouldn't you be out defending our freedoms or something?

Freedoms I'm currently defending:

Freedom to enjoy the weather by going to the beach.
Freedom to drink large quantities of alcohol every night.
Freedom to work out at the gym for hours every day (or until I get bored).
Freedom to post incessantly on eLF.

I'd say those are pretty good, wouldn't you? (no, I'm not sunburned yet)

oceanst41
I guess I didn't make myself too clear. What I was going for is that Cornell would be more mentally prepared for a long playoff run starting with a team like Clarkson as opposed to Q.

Cornell will have to play its best hockey this weekend, not some of the good hockey they've been getting away with in some games. Cornell has shown in the past that the "best" hockey can grow on itself and become a pretty decent run. This team may not have that 18-1-1 record down the stretch, but why not bump the level of hockey to "best" this weekend.

It's not saying the team can't get up for Q, just that they may not have to beat them (i.e. their 2-1 win earlier this year at Lynah).

Completely agree.

daredevilcu
I'll agree that Leggio and the Knights young defense is our x-factor. Pokuluk and O'Byrne are yours, in my opinion. Are they going to be fully healed? Will they even play? If so, how will they be in their first game back? Motivated? Rusty?

I'm not worried about motivation - Schafer has never had a problem getting his guys fired up for the playoffs - but rust certainly could be a factor. I guess it depends in large part on how much practice Sasha and OB have been able to get in while they've been out of game action, and we really can't say that with any certainty.

Liz '05
Freedoms I'm currently defending:

Freedom to enjoy the weather by going to the beach.
Freedom to drink large quantities of alcohol every night.
Freedom to work out at the gym for hours every day (or until I get bored).
Freedom to post incessantly on eLF.

I'd say those are pretty good, wouldn't you? (no, I'm not sunburned yet)

Wow, sign me up! Where's the nearest recruiter?

Kyle

hmmm, was anyone able to get tickets from the clarkson ticket office today?

we got ours thru other sources...

jy3
hmmm, was anyone able to get tickets from the clarkson ticket office today?

we got ours thru other sources...

Glad you were able to secure tickets in any case.

Will

jy3
hmmm, was anyone able to get tickets from the clarkson ticket office today?

we got ours thru other sources...

Glad you were able to secure tickets in any case.

thanks, me too

I got some through the clarkson office rather easily.

Dpperk29
I got some through the clarkson office rather easily.

really in past years they have asked if you were an alumni and if so they wanted proof. u telling me i coulda saved money

well, my father is an alum, and I am a future student, so I didnt have much trouble

Dpperk29
well, my father is an alum, and I am a future student, so I didnt have much trouble

well there ya go

Beeeej
Speaking of which, RichS, I'd be pleased to meet you in person and shake your hand at some point during the weekend. You're a hell of a hockey fan.

Beeeej

I'm hoping to get there for the Saturday night game....hopefully! Fri and Sun won't work. I'm sure I'll be in Section O and not hard to spot.

Drew, thanks for the warning...I'll be wary of all handshakes...lol.

Rich S

Beeeej
Speaking of which, RichS, I'd be pleased to meet you in person and shake your hand at some point during the weekend. You're a hell of a hockey fan.

Beeeej

I'm hoping to get there for the Saturday night game....hopefully! Fri and Sun won't work. I'm sure I'll be in Section O and not hard to spot.

Drew, thanks for the warning...I'll be wary of all handshakes...lol.

Rich, a decent guy, will be easy to spot: the lone Clarkson fan waving with all his fingers.

billhoward

Rich S

Beeeej
Speaking of which, RichS, I'd be pleased to meet you in person and shake your hand at some point during the weekend. You're a hell of a hockey fan.

Beeeej

I'm hoping to get there for the Saturday night game....hopefully! Fri and Sun won't work. I'm sure I'll be in Section O and not hard to spot.

Drew, thanks for the warning...I'll be wary of all handshakes...lol.

Rich, a decent guy, will be easy to spot: the lone Clarkson fan waving with all his fingers.

I remember a few years back at a Cornell-Clarkson game at Lynah when I headed over to O to say hi to some Clarkson bandies I knew from various on-line ECAC fan circles. I waved an "RPI SUCKS" T-shirt as a flag of truce.

Hey, I may sit near Rich on Saturday. If you guys are going to throw stuff, be accurate

Drew
Hey, I may sit near Rich on Saturday. If you guys are going to throw stuff, be accurate

Who do you think we are, Colgate?

DeltaOne81

Drew
Hey, I may sit near Rich on Saturday. If you guys are going to throw stuff, be accurate

Who do you think we are, Colgate?

Yeah, honestly, we are much more accurate than Colgate fans.

Does anyone know if any of the games for this series are going to be on TV?

daredevilcu
Does anyone know if any of the games for this series are going to be on TV?

They will not be on TV. However, there will be webcasts (barring any CSTV mishap) of the games on All-Access--a pay service...[allaccess.cstv.com]

Some pretty good revisionist history over on GPL: [www.gopherpucklive.com]

Also chatter about making t-shirts for this weekend.

I for one have never considered a game that goes to overtime to be the most one sided high profile hockey game ever...

Raise your hand if the first thing the subject brought to mind was the GNU General Public License.

ETA: Wow, what a bunch of assholes on that board.

Chris '03
Some pretty good revisionist history over on GPL: [www.gopherpucklive.com]

Also chatter about making t-shirts for this weekend.

I for one have never considered a game that goes to overtime to be the most one sided high profile hockey game ever...

A tip: Anything about spelling or razors (or mentioning other general grooming ideas) usually riles the Minnesota fans. Once one listens to the Minnesota radio broadcast team, one understands the fan base. <Colbert impression>Facts only confuse gut feelings.</Colbert impression>

billhoward mentioned CSTV webcast perhaps, but I could not verify.

jtwcornell91
ETA: Wow, what a bunch of assholes on that board.

Indeed, they are pricks.

But until we prove them wrong by winning another national championship, don't expect the taunting to ebb.

Kyle

Drew
billhoward mentioned CSTV webcast perhaps, but I could not verify.

[cornellbigred.collegesports.com]

Game 1: Friday, Mar. 10, 2006 • 7 p.m. • Lynah Rink (Ithaca, N.Y.)
Game 2: Saturday, Mar. 11, 2006 • 7 p.m. • Lynah Rink (Ithaca, N.Y.)
Game 3 (If Necesary): Sunday Mar. 12, 2006 • 7 p.m. • Lynah Rink (Ithaca, N.Y.)
The Series: Began 1922-23 ... Cornell leads 48-47-9
The Last Meeting: Feb. 10, 2006 -- Clarkson 3, Cornell 1 (Potsdam, N.Y.)
Last Cornell Win: Jan. 21, 2006 -- Cornell 4, Clarkson 2 (Ithaca, N.Y.)
Series Streak: Clarkson -- 1 unbeaten (1-0-0)

Radio: In Ithaca -- WHCU 870AM, Jason Weinstein (play-by-play)
Television: None
Gametracker: www.CornellBigRed.com, free
Live Audio: Cornell All-Access, www.CornellBigRed.com, subscription
Live Video: Cornell All-Access, www.CornellBigRed.com, subscription

Wow, I mean wow. I'm surprised they even noticed Cornell was in that game - you'd have thought it was a Gopher intra-squad scrimmage

They really need to be knocked off their high horse, I really hope we don't sound that bad ever. I'd like to believe objectivity can sometimes be a part of this board

On a lighter note, we are more annoying than Bucky so we must be doing something right

jtwcornell91
ETA: Wow, what a bunch of assholes on that board.

Whew! If they have such little respect for Cornell, it makes you wonder what triggered this diatribe. Why would they even bother whining about a pushover? Good locker room wall stuff, if they meet again in a few weeks.

oceanst41
On a lighter note, we are more annoying than Bucky so we must be doing something right

I believe the quote a Goopher fan said to me after the weekend was "wow...you guys are like Wisconsin fans on speed."

It's natural to pump up your team's performance to be more magnificent in close playoff wins, and to dwell painfully on the close playoff losses. I'm sure UHN fans look back on their 2002 regional win as a dominating performance when CU owned more than half of that game, and had it tied with 5 minutes left. Realistically, 2003 CU vs. BC could've easily gone the other way with a bounce of the puck in the first OT, yet we mope about "what might have been" in the national semifinals.

So I don't have a huge problem with the revisionist history. For the record, yes UMinn had dominated time of possession and shots, but they didn't just skate by us and shoot. Virtually all their shots were low-percentage. They did beat us at our own game in OT, and that's what hurts most of all. We got the game to a point we wanted and didn't get it finished, like we had vs. tOSU the day before.

Coach Schafer may be a whiner, but he's *our* whiner, dammit.

The thing that bugs me is the post about that "superior" Ivy thing again. The conversation he referenced may have been the most cordial thing ever, but because of pre-conceived biases, the CU fan may have walked away thinking "arrogant WCHA jackass" and the UMinn fan walked away with "snobbish Ivy prick." OTOH, each one of those fans could start conversations to troll and antagonize for stories they can re-hash on message boards to their buddies. The main point I like to spread is that not everyone is like their stereotype, so check your jersey at the door and have a beer together. The college hockey world would be better for it.

Thanks, where is a decent place for a pre game beer? Please do not suggest Potsdam, cleveland, syracuse...etc.

Drew
Thanks, where is a decent place for a pre game beer? Please do not suggest Potsdam, cleveland, syracuse...etc.

Pregame, I suggest Ruloff's on College Ave. Right near the entrance to campus, and walkable to Lynah...they also have food. The Nines is another block down the road, and has good deep-dish pizza as well as beer...but you have to wait a long time for pizza, usually.

Post-game...I love the Chapter House on Stewart Ave. for unwinding, and they have a great selection, upwards of 30 beers. Dunbar's is the hockey dive straight up the hill from Chapter House, but you may not want to go there with opposing clothes.

RichH

Drew
Thanks, where is a decent place for a pre game beer? Please do not suggest Potsdam, cleveland, syracuse...etc.

Pregame, I suggest Ruloff's on College Ave. Right near the entrance to campus, and walkable to Lynah...they also have food. The Nines is another block down the road, and has good deep-dish pizza as well as beer...but you have to wait a long time for pizza, usually.

Post-game...I love the Chapter House on Stewart Ave. for unwinding, and they have a great selection, upwards of 30 beers. Dunbar's is the hockey dive straight up the hill from Chapter House, but you may not want to go there with opposing clothes.

Rich, I appreciate the tip, nice to get the civility out of the way

I hate to admit it, but this was what I feared when I saw the injury quote from Schafer a few weeks ago. The last couple years he has clearly developed a reputation for -- to put it nicely -- voicing his displeasure. That is not to say he doesn't have perfectly valid points when pissed about the Mankato matchup in 2003 or being sent West or the Olympic ice, etc.

But when those are followed by a "complaint" about how injured the team is, that's only going to add fuel to the fire. While some posters over there are obviously being pricks, the OP nailed it and was being perfectly fair when saying "Imagine that! Your hockey team has some injuries to deal with!" The moment I saw that quote, I was rather disappointed that Coach seemed to already be forwarding an excuse for struggles down the stretch.

When I get home tonite I'll look for a "Hahvuhd Sucks" T shirt.

Jordan 04
I hate to admit it, but this was what I feared when I saw the injury quote from Schafer a few weeks ago. The last couple years he has clearly developed a reputation for -- to put it nicely -- voicing his displeasure. That is not to say he doesn't have perfectly valid points when pissed about the Mankato matchup in 2003 or being sent West or the Olympic ice, etc.

But when those are followed by a "complaint" about how injured the team is, that's only going to add fuel to the fire. While some posters over there are obviously being pricks, the OP nailed it and was being perfectly fair when saying "Imagine that! Your hockey team has some injuries to deal with!" The moment I saw that quote, I was rather disappointed that Coach seemed to already be forwarding an excuse for struggles down the stretch.

Those Minnesota fans hardly took the high road when they said we were lucky we didn't stay east to play an even better WCHA team. Minnesota was not, after all, playing their best hockey.

jtwcornell91

ETA: Wow, what a bunch of assholes on that board.

Come on now. They are Minnesotans. That automatically makes them much nicer people than we snobby, obnoxious northeasterners.

The only thing I can think of as the reason for their intense hatred of Cornell (Minny did win the game after all) is the presence our small contingent of fans had in their arena. It was probably beyond anything any of them had ever experienced there, and it put their numerous but weak fans to shame. Kudos to those Cornell fans who were there. I heard you loud and clear on TV.

RichH

Drew
Thanks, where is a decent place for a pre game beer? Please do not suggest Potsdam, cleveland, syracuse...etc.

Pregame, I suggest Ruloff's on College Ave. Right near the entrance to campus, and walkable to Lynah...they also have food. The Nines is another block down the road, and has good deep-dish pizza as well as beer...but you have to wait a long time for pizza, usually.

The Nines also has corn nuggets and a bunch of us. But Rich is right, if you can't get there before 5pm, don't count on getting your pizza in time to get to the rink.

RichH
For the record, yes UMinn had dominated time of possession and shots, but they didn't just skate by us and shoot. Virtually all their shots were low-percentage. They did beat us at our own game in OT, and that's what hurts most of all. We got the game to a point we wanted and didn't get it finished, like we had vs. tOSU the day before.

That game was one break away from being a masterstroke for Cornell and Schafer. We played rope-a-dope for two periods, stayed in the game, got into overtime, and then as you say faltered in the area that should have been to our advantage: grinding in the corners.

Great JTW, appreciate the insight, I will literally be a last minute decision. Last question, can I make in 4 hours from NYC? I am in Westchester 1/2 hour from the city to be exact.

You are right it wasn't a real "complaint," more so a response to the writer's question about the injuries and whether they'd be healthy for Union/RPI. Schafer was just letting Cornell fans know that we might be surprised by the injuries.

Maybe it's that we are calling them out for inconsistent play, where injuries might be playing a huge factor, and he wanted to throw that out there. It was hardly him saying Cornell has more injuries than team "X" or whatever.

Drew
Great JTW, appreciate the insight, I will literally be a last minute decision. Last question, can I make in 4 hours from NYC? I am in Westchester 1/2 hour from the city to be exact.

Yes you should be able to make it, assuming you drive a bit above the speed limit. I'd avoid the Nines. The pizza is of variable quality (usually very good but sometimes its "eh" and the service (if you can call it that) will leave you too worried about whether you can get to the game on time to enjoy your pizza. I agree with Rich about Ruloffs and Chapter House (get some of the free popcorn--you won't be disappointed). If you are in the mood, get a burger at Ruloffs--they are very good.

Reading that horrific GPL thread that features one Gopher fan after another talking about their complete "domination" of Cornell last year makes me want to face them again. I'd put them on the list of teams I'd like to face in the NCAAs. Kudos to Ari for posting on that forum.

redhair34
The pizza is of variable quality (usually very good but sometimes its "eh" and the service (if you can call it that) will leave you too worried about whether you can get to the game on time to enjoy your pizza.

I've never had less than an excellent pizza at The Nines. The service, though, is amazingly slow. They just don't have the ability to manage a rush.

ebilmes
Reading that horrific GPL thread that features one Gopher fan after another talking about their complete "domination" of Cornell last year makes me want to face them again. I'd put them on the list of teams I'd like to face in the NCAAs. Kudos to Ari for posting on that forum.

Just forget them. We all know the truth of what happened last year, for better or for worse. Let us hope that we'll get a chance for a rematch with a Cornell victory in the end.

Minnesota Hockey: We Can't Handle the Truth.

Definitely lots of complaining on that board, but I have to admit that this possible shirt slogan was funny, especially with all the talk about the lack of scoring:

Cornell Hockey. Offense is Offensive.

Drew
Great JTW, appreciate the insight, I will literally be a last minute decision. Last question, can I make in 4 hours from NYC? I am in Westchester 1/2 hour from the city to be exact.

drew, a good place for a meal, although a bit far from campus but not hard to get to, is rosa's. it in pyramid mall on triphammer road. I assume this place is still open
very quick service, all kinds of food and very reasonable pricing. i may be there

Thanks jy3! I appreciate everyone's help....you guys have been very cool. Ready for hell during the game, but expect all of us to be gentlemen for pre and post game festivities if given the chance......trash talking of course is always accepted
I hope things work that I can get there....Will keep ya posted.
Drew

What the fook is Rosa's? You sending Drew on a wild goose chase? I think what he means is The Rose. Food is eh and it's farther from the rink than Collegetown, plus you'll probably never find it without a local.

As for travel, it will be somewhere around 4 hours. Something between 3:45 and 4:15, depending on how friendly you want to get with the troopers on 17. There was that one time it happened in 3:15, but that's a story for another day...