Obviously, I'm biased and shouldn't need to state who I'm rooting for.
That said, here's what I'm thinking. Yale is playing tomorrow on house money. By that I mean they were a single bounce away from making the tournament to begin with. Then, they took it to the Gophers only to let them back into the game before capitalizing on a mistake to win in OT. Last night, they dominated UML but allowed them to climb right back into the game, again winning in OT on a mistake. Keep playing with fire and eventually you'll get burned.
Now, I admit that Yale is playing much better (and with Malcolm) than they did the first 2 times we met this year. They were extremely sloppy in our game in Atlantic City (understandable under the circumstances, but inexcusable based on their pairwise situation at the time). Therefore, I don't know what team is going to show up against us tomorrow, but I like our chances regardless.
Based on that, I think the game comes down to the guys between the pipes, and the senior leadership on the bench. That gives the edge to the Bobcats.
QuinnipiacBobcats 2023 National Champions ECAC Regular Season Champions: 2012-13, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 ECAC Tournament Champions: 2016 East Regional: 2013 (Champions), 2014, 2016 (Champions), 2023 (Champions), 2024 Northeast Regional: West Regional: 2015, 2021 Midwest Regional: 2019, 2022 Frozen Four: 2013, 2016, 2023 (Champions) Pass complete. Lipkin has a man in front! Shot... SCORE!!!
I'm with you.....but less conflicted. Allain is a bit more tolerable, although he always seems to have that sour puss face on 100% of the time. I think there is almost universal dislike for Pecknold.
I too like the way Ylae plays....fast, uptempo. And I agree the best part about Q Pac are it's loyal fans like Mark Eagle and Allnightwong. But I'm pulling for Ylae. I think my rationale is I'm jealous of Q Pac. Beautiful arena.....big marketing budget, they spend a ton of money on their program. They are the Gordon Gecko of the ECAC. To me it would feel like they bought a title as opposed to earning it. That and I think it would be an anathema to me as it came too soon and easy for them. That said I think they will be a force to be reckoned with for seasons to come.
I think for Yale everything is contingent on the start. Q is clearly in the Eli's psyche and if Yale can play like they did and have in the tournement..... they have a good shot. If they take the bait from Q...or get behind early, I think it will be all over early. I'm still not sold on Malcolm and he (to me) looked unsteady in parts of the game against UML. I think Q will win but I'm pulling for Ylae.
To the extent that they can't allow any cheap goals, yes the start matters.
But even more important is that they play with discipline. Their performances against North Dakota and UML were wonderful in that regard -- no dumb penalties, and smart play throughout. In league, though, they have tended to play looser, and they can't allow that to happen tomorrow.
In league, though, they have tended to play looser, and they can't allow that to happen tomorrow.
Keep in mind that we won't be seeing ECAC refs in the game tomorrow night. That can and will have an impact on both teams style of play, though I must say the officiating so far this weekend has been pretty good.
QuinnipiacBobcats 2023 National Champions ECAC Regular Season Champions: 2012-13, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 ECAC Tournament Champions: 2016 East Regional: 2013 (Champions), 2014, 2016 (Champions), 2023 (Champions), 2024 Northeast Regional: West Regional: 2015, 2021 Midwest Regional: 2019, 2022 Frozen Four: 2013, 2016, 2023 (Champions) Pass complete. Lipkin has a man in front! Shot... SCORE!!!
Obviously, I'm biased and shouldn't need to state who I'm rooting for.
That said, here's what I'm thinking. Yale is playing tomorrow on house money. By that I mean they were a single bounce away from making the tournament to begin with. Then, they took it to the Gophers only to let them back into the game before capitalizing on a mistake to win in OT. Last night, they dominated UML but allowed them to climb right back into the game, again winning in OT on a mistake. Keep playing with fire and eventually you'll get burned.
Now, I admit that Yale is playing much better (and with Malcolm) than they did the first 2 times we met this year. They were extremely sloppy in our game in Atlantic City (understandable under the circumstances, but inexcusable based on their pairwise situation at the time). Therefore, I don't know what team is going to show up against us tomorrow, but I like our chances regardless.
Based on that, I think the game comes down to the guys between the pipes, and the senior leadership on the bench. That gives the edge to the Bobcats.
The two teams both play a very similar game. Defensive, but transition hockey. The biggest difference I see in the game is in the goaltending. Hartzell is the best goaltender in the country, and Malcolm is not. He'll have to outplay Hartzell to win it, and I have a tough time seeing that happen.
The other thing going for QU, the last 5-6 weeks or so, they've been much, much better in Game 2 of a weekend than they were in Game 1. If that continues tomorrow night, Yale will have a very tough time winning.
I think Quinnipiac takes it. And, obviously, that's who I'm rooting for. May the best team win.
First & foremost I'm thrilled that an ECAC team will finally win a NC for the first time in 24 years. I know its not going to change everyone's opinion of the league, but it puts to rest some of the EZAC B.S. and the notion that the league is a poor second fiddle to mighty HE. When Harvard won the last one back in '89, there was still talk that it was just the last fumes from the old ECAC prior to the HE split. This one will definitely be for the whole league as it stands now.
I don't put much stock in what I hear about the personalities of coaches. Most of it is just hearsay and plenty of the greatest coaches of all time had rough personalities. Both of these coaches are doing it right. They are recruiting very good players and getting them to play a specific style of hockey. Personally I'll root for Qpac because I like the tougher style of hockey they play and I don't like the Ivy superior "skating circles around everybody" comments that have come from some Yale posters. Still, I won't be too upset if Yale wins either - I love their fast skating style of play.
As for the game itself, I think it comes down to Malcolm not laying an egg. Yale has lost in their previous NCAA appearances when their goaltending imploded. If Malcolm doesn't give up any softies, then Yale has a chance and could even win going away if Qpac takes some bad penalties. But everything else being equal, this game is Qpac's to lose. The Bobcat's physical style and speed is a bad matchup for Yale, particularly if Hartzell is on his game.
Let's not forget the fact that we're talking about a PS tournament here, and not a season's worth of data... Quinnipiac has already shown that it's the best team in the country on the basis of that much, no matter who wins tonight.
The Yale-Quinnipiac "rivalry", though in its infancy, reminds one of the the birth of the Hopkins-Loyola rivalry in lacrosse. Loyola, once an obscure commuter school in Baltimore, much like Quinnipiac in New Haven, had similar aspirations academically and athletically. Each succeeded in establishing national recognition. The new rivalry will eventually earn the respect of those still in denial or offended by the "new kid on the block." It is great for the game. Whatever the outcome this evening, one must, perhaps grudgingly, tip their hat to Quinnipiac. For hardened Elis the" I am all in favor of progess but can't stand change" attitude will be softened with a victory.
I know this thread is concentrating on tonight's game but look at the progress that the ECAC has made in the past three years.
The ECAC and the NCAA's
Year, #Teams, Teams, Combined Record, (number made it to the FF)
2011 2 ECAC teams made it, Union and Yale, combined record in NCAA 1-2, number in FF (0)
2012 2 ECAC teams made it, Union and Cornell, combined record in NCAA 3-2, number in FF (1)
2013 3 ECAC teams made it, Union and Yale and Quinnipiac, combined record in NCAA 8-2, number in FF (2)
I know this thread is concentrating on tonight's game but look at the progress that the ECAC has made in the past three years.
The ECAC and the NCAA's
Year, #Teams, Teams, Combined Record, (number made it to the FF)
2011 2 ECAC teams made it, Union and Yale, combined record in NCAA 1-2, number in FF (0)
2012 2 ECAC teams made it, Union and Cornell, combined record in NCAA 3-2, number in FF (1)
2013 3 ECAC teams made it, Union and Yale and Quinnipiac, combined record in NCAA 8-2, number in FF (2)
Looks like progress ....
What about 2014 ? Any thoughts?
2011 3 ECAC teams made it, RPI, Union, and Yale, combined record in NCAA 1-3, number in FF (0)
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