RPI 2021-22: Picking Up Where We Left Off

[DavidSec17]

Here's my fantasy for this season. Covid cases plunge and we go into the final weekend of the season with 4th place on the line. Shirley, in a stunning last minute change of heart, throws open the doors of the Field House and the team wins both games in front of boisterous full houses. It's an absurdly optimistic reaction to yesterday's victory, but more pleasant than the downer I was on after investing two evenings in last weekend's snooze-fest.

I actually had a similar fantasy that they'd let fans in if they are home for the playoffs. One can hope I guess.

[Ralph Baer]

Here's my fantasy for this season. Covid cases plunge and we go into the final weekend of the season with 4th place on the line. Shirley, in a stunning last minute change of heart, throws open the doors of the Field House and the team wins both games in front of boisterous full houses. It's an absurdly optimistic reaction to yesterday's victory, but more pleasant than the downer I was on after investing two evenings in last weekend's snooze-fest.

As I was reading this I got to "Shirley, in a stunning last minute change of heart," and my mind finished this with "won't be retiring". : eek :

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Here's my fantasy for this season. Covid cases plunge and we go into the final weekend of the season with 4th place on the line. Shirley, in a stunning last minute change of heart, throws open the doors of the Field House and the team wins both games in front of boisterous full houses. It's an absurdly optimistic reaction to yesterday's victory, but more pleasant than the downer I was on after investing two evenings in last weekend's snooze-fest.

Love it !!

[rpi82]

With Harvard losing two of their best players to the Olympics, they might not be as strong as they need to be for the next three weeks.
Also, they have been shut out three times already this season, so maybe they are not as good as everyone thinks.
Having said that, we still have to win the games that we are supposed to win to put us in a position for 4th. And that has not always happened this season.
Take it one game at a time. And put in the same effort that they played with last night. That is all you can ask of any team.

Here's my fantasy for this season. Covid cases plunge and we go into the final weekend of the season with 4th place on the line. Shirley, in a stunning last minute change of heart, throws open the doors of the Field House and the team wins both games in front of boisterous full houses. It's an absurdly optimistic reaction to yesterday's victory, but more pleasant than the downer I was on after investing two evenings in last weekend's snooze-fest.

[Waite21]

Just in keeping with the title of this thread, let it be noted that in the next-to-last game of the 2019-20 season, RPI defeated Harvard at Bright, 2-0.

The team hasn't exactly played a whole season at that level, but if last night was an indication, maybe they're finally ready to start picking up where they left off. Better late than never.

[DrDemento]

With Harvard losing two of their best players to the Olympics, they might not be as strong as they need to be for the next three weeks.
Also, they have been shut out three times already this season, so maybe they are not as good as everyone thinks.
Having said that, we still have to win the games that we are supposed to win to put us in a position for 4th. And that has not always happened this season.
Take it one game at a time. And put in the same effort that they played with last night. That is all you can ask of any team.

Simply stated and spot on. We have to just go one game at a time (there's a cliche for you) but we must win the games we should and we have absolutely not done that this year (see Yale, Brown, Alaska, Army, and perhaps SLU at HFH or one of the BG games too). There are certainly reasons and excuses for some of these that are very valid but you cannot give away anything at this level and we have done just that at times. Yesterday was not perfect as we were hugely out shot but most of what we did, we did extremely well (face offs make up such a big part of the game for us). overcoming a probably bad 5 minute major penalty call late in a game (when your defense is tired form 2+ periods of work) was huge. Great job by the boys and shows what they are capable of any given game.

[engineerhockeyfan]

We pretty much need to go 7-2 the rest of the way to get 4th.

On the schedule for those 9 games:
@ Dartmouth
@ Princeton
@ Quinnipiac
vs Cornell
vs Colgate
@ Brown
@ Yale
vs Dartmouth
vs Harvard

Basically, we have to win every game except the ones against Quinnpiac, Cornell and Harvard. In those 3 games, we need to win at least 1 of them. It's possible, but there's pretty much no margin for error. That final game against Harvard could become a winner take all game for the 4th seed.

With Harvard losing two of their best players to the Olympics, they might not be as strong as they need to be for the next three weeks.
Also, they have been shut out three times already this season, so maybe they are not as good as everyone thinks.
Having said that, we still have to win the games that we are supposed to win to put us in a position for 4th. And that has not always happened this season.
Take it one game at a time. And put in the same effort that they played with last night. That is all you can ask of any team.

[sezenack]

We pretty much need to go 7-2 the rest of the way to get 4th.

On the schedule for those 9 games:
@ Dartmouth
@ Princeton
@ Quinnipiac
vs Cornell
vs Colgate
@ Brown
@ Yale
vs Dartmouth
vs Harvard

Basically, we have to win every game except the ones against Quinnpiac, Cornell and Harvard. In those 3 games, we need to win at least 1 of them. It's possible, but there's pretty much no margin for error. That final game against Harvard could become a winner take all game for the 4th seed.

[Wicked Slappaahs]

I wish that I could figure this team out. One day removed from this awful weekend, and we play a total team game.
The first period, they gave up a lot of shots, but the team defense kept all of them to the outside giving Watson a chance to see all of them.
Then in the third period, they came out pushing the play. I don't remember the last time an RPI team did that going into the third period with a lead.
Watson is a very good goaltender. He has a great glove and his positioning is second to none. He is always were he should be.
Now the question is, can we score some goals and keep the pressure on the opposition for the rest of the season.
That is what it will take to move up in the standings.
They have shown us that they are capable, now lets see them do it.
Great game last night.

RPI has a long, but distinguished track record of playing to the level of its competition.... Great job by the boys last night and I absolutely agree it was a great team win !

[engineerhockeyfan]

I wish that I could figure this team out. One day removed from this awful weekend, and we play a total team game.
The first period, they gave up a lot of shots, but the team defense kept all of them to the outside giving Watson a chance to see all of them.
Then in the third period, they came out pushing the play. I don't remember the last time an RPI team did that going into the third period with a lead.
Watson is a very good goaltender. He has a great glove and his positioning is second to none. He is always were he should be.
Now the question is, can we score some goals and keep the pressure on the opposition for the rest of the season.
That is what it will take to move up in the standings.
They have shown us that they are capable, now lets see them do it.
Great game last night.

[DrDemento]

Did you mean 4th?

That's where I am looking. Have to set your sights high.

[Ralph Baer]

Nice win. Watched on ESPN+. Still have a chance for 5th place.

Did you mean 4th?

[RPI67]

Thanks. I may go.

Nice win. Watched on ESPN+. Still have a chance for 5th place.

[sezenack]

I hope you are right, but we're not the only team dealing with pandemic adversity. We also can't ignore that since the Clarkson game at home 2 1/2 months ago we have performed quite poorly. Other than the Northeastern weekend when they lost both but were very competitive against a solid team with an outstanding goalie, we haven't put together anything other than short in-game stretches of good performance and we've blown games that we clearly should have won if we want to be even a 2nd tier team. I've only seen the Army game in person, but it was indicative of the season as we played well enough to get a 2 goal lead only to cough it up in the 3rd as we were either too passive, unmotivated or out of gas to hold off a fired up Black Knights squad that dominated the third period and OT (although I'm sure Baxter still has nightmares about the completely open net he missed In OT from between the circles).

Here's hoping they can put together a strong 60 minutes tonight. I wonder if some of the bench guys that came through vs SLU will make it into the lineup tonight. Also, does anyone know Johnson's status? I don't think one guy explains last weekend, but he has been the linchpin of our defense when it has played well and we need all assets available versus Harvard.

I was at the game against Brown Saturday because I was working the goal horn. Johnson was wearing one of those medical walking boots, so I think it's safe to assume he will be out awhile.

[rpi82]

Great points all.... they were shorthanded and the kids they had dressed may not all have been 100% We just don't know. Here's hoping they can return to full strength and go on a roll down the stretch!

I hope you are right, but we're not the only team dealing with pandemic adversity. We also can't ignore that since the Clarkson game at home 2 1/2 months ago we have performed quite poorly. Other than the Northeastern weekend when they lost both but were very competitive against a solid team with an outstanding goalie, we haven't put together anything other than short in-game stretches of good performance and we've blown games that we clearly should have won if we want to be even a 2nd tier team. I've only seen the Army game in person, but it was indicative of the season as we played well enough to get a 2 goal lead only to cough it up in the 3rd as we were either too passive, unmotivated or out of gas to hold off a fired up Black Knights squad that dominated the third period and OT (although I'm sure Baxter still has nightmares about the completely open net he missed In OT from between the circles).

Here's hoping they can put together a strong 60 minutes tonight. I wonder if some of the bench guys that came through vs SLU will make it into the lineup tonight. Also, does anyone know Johnson's status? I don't think one guy explains last weekend, but he has been the linchpin of our defense when it has played well and we need all assets available versus Harvard.