RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

[DeepRed72]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

Just one more point I would like to make. We have no puck support. When we win 50/50 puck battles, we either try a long pass or put into open ice. When our opponents win those battles, there is always a teammate close by to control the puck.
I have just noticed this in the last couple of weekends, but it is glaring when you look for it.
Again, a system failure.

One more key point on that system failure - playing not to lose - this is a paragraph from Weaver's article referenced by Ralph in post #283:

"Rensselaer coach Seth Appert said several times, and a couple players have echoed him, that there are time(s) the Engineers sit back with a lead and let teams come at them, assuming/expecting that Kasdorf will make all of the big saves necessary."

It may not be the strategy that SA wants but lack of a system is a system.

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

Worth a mention: There is apparently a movement afoot for the union to cut all funding to athletics immediately: https://t.co/DU4uAKkWsi

— Without a Peer (@without_a_peer) February 11, 2016

This is in response to RPI's plan to move athletic funding out of the purview of the Student Union and into RPI's control.

— Without a Peer (@without_a_peer) February 11, 2016

It would also, of course, have a serious impact on athletics (minus women's hockey, which RPI already funds).

— Without a Peer (@without_a_peer) February 11, 2016

The odds of it actually happening are pretty close to nil. RPI is basically just trying to comply with NCAA regs.

— Without a Peer (@without_a_peer) February 11, 2016

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

(bunch of Twitter)

No shocker, once again Queen SAJ trying to screw around, just like when the dorm situation was screwed with just after I left the 'Tute.

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

Just one more point I would like to make. We have no puck support. When we win 50/50 puck battles, we either try a long pass or put into open ice. When our opponents win those battles, there is always a teammate close by to control the puck.
I have just noticed this in the last couple of weekends, but it is glaring when you look for it.
Again, a system failure.

EHF: What you are pointing out in each and every post is exactly right. As has been mentioned, mostly by me for years, our failures are not talent. We have as much or as little as any team in the nation regardless of the number of draft choices (except perhaps for the top 5 each year). What we do not do well are the fundamentals of hockey. These are the same things that need be done at every level but when you cannot do them, or do not do them well, they just get exploited more and become more obvious at each level up. Faceoffs, clearing the defensive zone on the first try, support of the puck, the puck carrier not being the last man heading up the ice (always need someone behind him), how to defend a lead late in the game, how to keep the puck in the offensive zone at the points, etc etc etc. When we seem to do even most of these things well, we have a great night. I honestly believe with our team at full health, we can and could beat anyone when we even do most of the above. Most of us have never coached hockey at any level and many of us may have never even played the game. We see what is not happening and what is wrong but I haven't a clue as how it gets fixed.

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

Great to have @RPI_Hockey alums Wayne Clarke, Steve Duncan, Eric Healey n captain of NCAA champion Mike Sadeghpour join team meal last night

— Seth Appert (@SethAppert) February 12, 2016

[turk181]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

......or, in our case, the League Finals......

When your favorite team hasn't made the playoffs your entire life.#Oilers pic.twitter.com/zQleTF1CzT

— They call me Ben (@Ben_in_yeg) February 12, 2016

[lugnut92]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

When it comes to the whole "full 60" argument, I'll agree that you could make that complaint about pretty much any team in any league on any night, but RPI does seem to have trouble with third periods. We're a +17 in the first two periods of the night, but -17 in the final 20 (if we exclude last weekend, that shifts to +15/-10). It looks even worse if you look at shot differential. We're in the negative in all three periods, but it gets worse and worse as the game wears on. I'm sure some of the deficit could be explained by score effects, as we've led 18 games going into the final frame (12-4-2 in that situation).

As an aside, despite apparently going into a defensive shell, RPI maintains pretty even shot totals across the three periods (284-287-278). The deficit arises almost entirely from giving up more and more shots.

[turk181]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

Selander stops 42 of 43 & Kazzy stops 49 of 50, both vs Harvard tonight. That’s some kind of goaltending!

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

Selander stops 42 of 43 & Kazzy stops 49 of 50, both vs Harvard tonight. That’s some kind of goaltending!

Both teams are certainly living and dying by their goaltending.

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

When it comes to the whole "full 60" argument, I'll agree that you could make that complaint about pretty much any team in any league on any night, but RPI does seem to have trouble with third periods. We're a +17 in the first two periods of the night, but -17 in the final 20 (if we exclude last weekend, that shifts to +15/-10). It looks even worse if you look at shot differential. We're in the negative in all three periods, but it gets worse and worse as the game wears on. I'm sure some of the deficit could be explained by score effects, as we've led 18 games going into the final frame (12-4-2 in that situation).

As an aside, despite apparently going into a defensive shell, RPI maintains pretty even shot totals across the three periods (284-287-278). The deficit arises almost entirely from giving up more and more shots.

In two ECAC games against Harvard, we have given up 91 shots on goal. Kazzy stopped 90 of those shots and we walked away with 3 out of 4 points. No goals against in the third period.
Go figure.

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

Both teams are certainly living and dying by their goaltending.

A definite case of "have to". you can only imagine the scores if they did not stand on their heads yesterday.

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

In two ECAC games against Harvard, we have given up 91 shots on goal. Kazzy stopped 90 of those shots and we walked away with 3 out of 4 points. No goals against in the third period.
Go figure.

I've said it a couple times on this thread. There are fellows who had better records and statistics at RPI and fellows who won tournaments, but I have not seen a better goal tender at RPI in the 50+ years i have followed the program. He has things to work on, as anyone at this level does, but barring something unforeseen, he is going to make a very good NHL level goalie. The sad part for me, is that i can see absolutely no way that he should stay another year in Troy.

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

I've said it a couple times on this thread. There are fellows who had better records and statistics at RPI and fellows who won tournaments, but I have not seen a better goal tender at RPI in the 50+ years i have followed the program. He has things to work on, as anyone at this level does, but barring something unforeseen, he is going to make a very good NHL level goalie. The sad part for me, is that i can see absolutely no way that he should stay another year in Troy.

I think that the recruiting of Chase Perry as a second scholarship goalie indicates that SA knows that also, even though Kasdorf has left the possibility open in recent interviews.

[fr. joe]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

......or, in our case, the League Finals......

When your favorite team hasn't made the playoffs your entire life.#Oilers pic.twitter.com/zQleTF1CzT

— They call me Ben (@Ben_in_yeg) February 12, 2016

I see that Oiler fans are formed early in life... You remember how "Oil Can" Boyd earned that nickname, right?

[fr. joe]

Re: RPI Hockey 2015 - 2016 (Part II): We want more banners, not more flags

Someone pointed out to me that 3, maybe 4 other ECAC goalies maintain gaudy sub-2.00 goals against averages, but in a big game, we're going with Kazzie.
I hope he's not too gassed from last night's game...