Showdown in the Capital District (RPI @ UC 1/15/10)

[burgie12]

Engineers travel the 16 miles on Route 7 to Messa Rink for the last regular-season game between the two CD foes.

The game is already sold out, with 150 SRO seats to be sold this afternoon. TW3 will be broadcasting the game and WRPI will be providing an audio stream.

Union comes into the game on a 4-0-0 streak and still has not dropped a game in ECAC play. But, Cornell, with their win at Cheel, tied the Dutchmen for most points in the conference. A win tonight extends their bragging rights over the local big brother and keeps them on top of the conference, at least for the time being.

RPI is 4-1-0 since seeing the Dutchmen most recently. The Engineers are skating at full strength this time around and are also fighting to stay above 500 in conference play.

No doubt that this game will be a brawl. LET'S GO RED!

[Ralph Baer]

Re: Showdown in the Capital District (RPI @ UC 1/16/10)

Thread-Starting Statistics:

engineerhockeyfan  3- 2- 0  6 points  .600
Red Cloud          2- 1- 0  4 points  .667
Ralph Baer         1- 1- 1  3 points  .500
FlagDUDE08         1- 0- 0  2 points 1.000
NYhockeyguy        1- 0- 0  2 points 1.000
Waite21            1- 0- 0  2 points 1.000
GRussinko          1- 1- 0  2 points  .500
rpihockeyfan13     1- 1- 0  2 points  .500
fr joe             1- 2- 0  2 points  .333
Rockchops          0- 1- 1  1 point   .250
DrDemento          0- 1- 0  0 points  .000

Cumulative 2003-4 - 2009-10 Thread-Starting Statistics

engineerhockeyfan 14-17- 4 32 points  .457
fr joe            14-22- 4 32 points  .400
Ralph Baer        11-20- 5 27 points  .375
hockeyhound       11-13- 1 23 points  .460
Red Cloud         11- 2- 1 23 points  .821
GRussinko          7-12- 0 14 points  .368
rpihockeyfan13     5- 4- 0 10 points  .556
RPIBMW             4- 5- 1  9 points  .450
DrDemento          3-10- 3  9 points  .281
HighlanderRPI      3- 4- 1  7 points  .438
FlagDUDE08         3- 0- 0  6 points 1.000
jericho            2- 5- 0  4 points  .286
RPIHFH             1- 1- 1  3 points  .500
JennyRN            1- 1- 1  3 points  .500
Waite21            1- 3- 1  3 points  .300
berbs91            1- 0- 0  2 points 1.000
ambersuds          1- 0- 0  2 points 1.000
NYhockeyguy        1- 0- 0  2 points 1.000
Jeffrey On         1- 1- 0  2 points  .500
REDRocket          1- 2- 0  2 points  .333
redrocker          0- 0- 1  1 point   .500
Rockchops          0- 1- 1  1 point   .250
vicb               0- 3- 1  1 point   .125
RenPI              0- 1- 0  0 points  .000
johnk              0- 1- 0  0 points  .000
Cookin4Fun         0- 1- 0  0 points  .000
RPI-Fan-Go-Red     0- 1- 0  0 points  .000
Gophers #1         0- 1- 0  0 points  .000
ZYanksRule         0- 1- 0  0 points  .000
redhead18          0- 1- 0  0 points  .000

For your listening pleasure:

Fight Song
****** src="http://pepband.union.rpi.edu/music/LongHail.mp3" Loop=0 Volume=100 Autostart="false">

Alma Mater
****** src="http://pepband.union.rpi.edu/music3/06%20Alma%20Mater.mp3" Loop=0 Volume=100 Autostart="false">

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Showdown in the Capital District (RPI @ UC 1/15/10)

Union hasn't lost to an ECAC foe since October. In fact they've only lost to one ECAC foe. However, given who that ECAC foe is... if RPI can do it once, we can do it again.

LET'S GO RED!

[DrDemento]

Re: Showdown in the Capital District (RPI @ UC 1/15/10)

I get the feeling this one will be determined by special teams. If we can stay even on the power plays against and not get called for any 5 on 3's-Union will have their hands full with a very confident and healthy RPI team. If we take stupid penalties or get put down 2 men-well we are just ot a good team with 3 men on the ice. This has the potential to be a classic match up. 2 good teams, both playing well, and after playing 3 times this year probably not liking each other all that much. I really don't think either team has much of an edge in this one and we could just see a hard fought tie.

[GRussinko]

Re: Showdown in the Capital District (RPI @ UC 1/15/10)

As has been posted before, tonight may well be a special teams battle thanks to the chosen refs, and I think if anything that benefits RPI this season. A little look at the numbers from last season to this one (ECAC only):

2008-2009

RPI
Power Play 14/117, 12.0%, 4 SHG allowed (12th)
Penalty Kill 113/142, 79.6%, 1 SHG scored (12th)

Union
Power Play 22/134, 16.4%, 2 SHG allowed (6th)
Penalty Kill 97/119, 81.5%, 0 SHG scored (9th)

2009-2010

RPI
Power Play 14/49, 28.6%, 0 SHG allowed (1st)
Penalty Kill 44/52, 84.6%, 3 SHG scored (2nd)

Union
Power Play 10/48, 20.8%, 2 SHG allowed (4th)
Penalty Kill 32/38, 84.2%, 2 SHG scored (4th)

While both teams are improved so far over last season, RPI's improvement is a complete turnaround from an entire season of special teams ineptitude in 08-09.

Overall RPI has to try to limit Union's offensive chances, as the Dutchmen are 2nd in league scoring at 3.78 goals/game. RPI is in 4th at 3.33 goals/game.

Union and RPI will both rely on pretty stingy defense, as the teams are tied for second in the league allowing an average 2.33 goals/game.

Overall though, these are two pretty evenly matched teams on paper, and as we've seen pretty evenly matched on the ice as well. I fully expect an exciting, fast-paced game, and won't be surprised if the lead changes hands multiple times (not to mention in the last couple minutes of regulation).

Let's go RED!

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: Showdown in the Capital District (RPI @ UC 1/15/10)

I was at HFH for the last Union/RPI match, and each team came out if it playing well.
I believe that RPI will come out determined to get revenge, but Union will come out with the confidence of beating RPI two in a row.
Should be a hard fought game. We need our best players to be at their best, and I think if that happens, we win.
We have been great on special teams the last two games and there is no reason why that should change.
I may be a little late getting here tonight, so keep the posts coming.

LETS GO RED!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Showdown in the Capital District (RPI @ UC 1/15/10)

GRuss, my heart has been eaten out.

This is certainly going to be a fun one to listen to. Unfortunately I don't get that TW feed here, so I have to settle for radio.

[DrDemento]

Re: Showdown in the Capital District (RPI @ UC 1/15/10)

As has been posted before, tonight may well be a special teams battle thanks to the chosen refs, and I think if anything that benefits RPI this season. A little look at the numbers from last season to this one (ECAC only):

2008-2009

RPI
Power Play 14/117, 12.0%, 4 SHG allowed (12th)
Penalty Kill 113/142, 79.6%, 1 SHG scored (12th)

Union
Power Play 22/134, 16.4%, 2 SHG allowed (6th)
Penalty Kill 97/119, 81.5%, 0 SHG scored (9th)

2009-2010

RPI
Power Play 14/49, 28.6%, 0 SHG allowed (1st)
Penalty Kill 44/52, 84.6%, 3 SHG scored (2nd)

Union
Power Play 10/48, 20.8%, 2 SHG allowed (4th)
Penalty Kill 32/38, 84.2%, 2 SHG scored (4th)

While both teams are improved so far over last season, RPI's improvement is a complete turnaround from an entire season of special teams ineptitude in 08-09.

Overall RPI has to try to limit Union's offensive chances, as the Dutchmen are 2nd in league scoring at 3.78 goals/game. RPI is in 4th at 3.33 goals/game.

Union and RPI will both rely on pretty stingy defense, as the teams are tied for second in the league allowing an average 2.33 goals/game.

Overall though, these are two pretty evenly matched teams on paper, and as we've seen pretty evenly matched on the ice as well. I fully expect an exciting, fast-paced game, and won't be surprised if the lead changes hands multiple times (not to mention in the last couple minutes of regulation).

Let's go RED!

Nice work on the stats but remember that it is not only the number of power plays called-but under what circumstances. A lengthy 5 on 3 is far more dangerous than a short 3 second overlapping penalty. A penalty called late in a period can be harder to defend with players tiring. I hope it does not come to this-I hope we can enjoy a game in which we hardly know who the refs are. I strongly suspect though that one or both teams will be very unhappy with the calls of the game.

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Showdown in the Capital District (RPI @ UC 1/15/10)

RPI's Lineup

Helfrich is out, and Rabbani is in. Hopefully Josh is the big enforcer tonight. Otherwise, it's all the same, including Brutlag. Watts is in on the 4th line.

[Ralph Baer]

Re: Showdown in the Capital District (RPI @ UC 1/15/10)

RPI's Lineup

Helfrich is out, and Rabbani is in. Hopefully Josh is the big enforcer tonight. Otherwise, it's all the same, including Brutlag. Watts is in on the 4th line.

Some people said that Helfrich didn't look right last week.

[DrDemento]

Re: Showdown in the Capital District (RPI @ UC 1/15/10)

I think I like it better when Kennedy and Merth are split up to play with other partners. I realize it isnt common to see them play with other partners.

[Red Cloud]

Re: Showdown in the Capital District (RPI @ UC 1/15/10)

Nice work on the stats but remember that it is not only the number of power plays called-but under what circumstances. A lengthy 5 on 3 is far more dangerous than a short 3 second overlapping penalty.

A 5-on-3 that lasts longer than 20 seconds is like money in the bank against us.

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Showdown in the Capital District (RPI @ UC 1/15/10)

BTW, I just noticed..... this game took place yesterday?

[hab]

Re: Showdown in the Capital District (RPI @ UC 1/15/10)

Women dropped one they should have won this afternoon at Yale . Outshot the Bulldogs 41-17, but gave up 4 goals to lose 4-3.

[GRussinko]

Re: Showdown in the Capital District (RPI @ UC 1/15/10)

Women dropped one they should have won this afternoon at Yale . Outshot the Bulldogs 41-17, but gave up 4 goals to lose 4-3.

Disappointing outcome for sure. RPI tied the game 3-3 with 1:30 left in the 3rd and gave up the GWG less than a minute later. You could see the wind knocked right out of their sails then and there.