RPI 2021-22: Picking Up Where We Left Off

[Wicked Slappaahs]

I still think the team will do well for the rest of the season. Yes, they lost, but lets not forget we had a skeleton crew last weekend, and I am sure they are tired. On top of that you had guys coming back from Covid. Having had Covid myself, my experience was that it physically drains you, and it does takes longer than 10 days to get back to feeling a 100%. Also, the lines are still getting juggled a lot, which also makes it hard to find a groove. I am not trying to make excuses for the team, it's just the way I see it right now. I think the team will do better as time goes on. I am still very optimistic about this team.

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!

[Go Puckman]

I still think the team will do well for the rest of the season. Yes, they lost, but lets not forget we had a skeleton crew last weekend, and I am sure they are tired. On top of that you had guys coming back from Covid. Having had Covid myself, my experience was that it physically drains you, and it does takes longer than 10 days to get back to feeling a 100%. Also, the lines are still getting juggled a lot, which also makes it hard to find a groove. I am not trying to make excuses for the team, it's just the way I see it right now. I think the team will do better as time goes on. I am still very optimistic about this team.

[engineerhockeyfan]

I agree they missed Johnson. It also can't be much fun playing in an empty building. However, the fact that they lost two close games at home against teams from the bottom tier of the standings reinforces the view that we are a team from the bottom tier. I didn't expect to finish in the top 3, but I did expect us to be solidly positioned for home ice in the first round and at least have a shot at the final bye. The funny thing is that we are currently tied for 5th so we should be right where I hoped, but we are much, much closer to 11th place than we are to 4th. So far the ECAC is 4 quality teams plus everybody else. I would hope to at least be solidly among the top of "everybody else" but we haven't been able to separate ourselves from that group.

We just don't win the games that we should win and that is what will keep up near the bottom of the league.
We played this weekend with no energy and no urgency. A total of 15 minutes for the weekend, we looked like a team that wanted to win. That is not nearly enough.
Johnson is good, but he is not a catalyst. We need someone to energize this team and we haven't found that person yet.
Maybe he will show up tomorrow night.

[rpi82]

They were very close both weekend games. They missed #23 Johnson.

I agree they missed Johnson. It also can't be much fun playing in an empty building. However, the fact that they lost two close games at home against teams from the bottom tier of the standings reinforces the view that we are a team from the bottom tier. I didn't expect to finish in the top 3, but I did expect us to be solidly positioned for home ice in the first round and at least have a shot at the final bye. The funny thing is that we are currently tied for 5th so we should be right where I hoped, but we are much, much closer to 11th place than we are to 4th. So far the ECAC is 4 quality teams plus everybody else. I would hope to at least be solidly among the top of "everybody else" but we haven't been able to separate ourselves from that group.

[RPI67]

I hate to say it but i think we over-rated this team. I know it's unrealistic to expect a team to play flat out for 60 minutes, but it's getting tiring to see them skate and press for 15-20 minutes a game and cruise through the rest. I wonder if its a gap in leadership. Ture Linden is one of my favorite players in that he plays a solid 2-way game and I'll bet is a real leader in the locker room. He's a Patrice Bergeron type. But sometimes you need to complement that kind of leader with a guy that can shake things up on the ice with a high-speed hustle play or a hit - a Brad Marchand type that can get the team going and change momentum. Yes, it's probably unfair to use as examples NHL all-stars and big-time scorers, but one of my favorite RPI leaders of the second type was CJ Lee, who was hardly a big goal scorer but seemed to always skate hard and generate a lot of key hustle plays.

They were very close both weekend games. They missed #23 Johnson.

[RPI67]

If there is anyone near Cambridge who wants to go to the Harvard game. https://twitter.com/harvardcrimson/s...71768978112512

Thanks. I may go.

[Ralph Baer]

If there is anyone near Cambridge who wants to go to the Harvard game. https://twitter.com/harvardcrimson/s...71768978112512

[engineerhockeyfan]

I hate to say it but i think we over-rated this team. I know it's unrealistic to expect a team to play flat out for 60 minutes, but it's getting tiring to see them skate and press for 15-20 minutes a game and cruise through the rest. I wonder if its a gap in leadership. Ture Linden is one of my favorite players in that he plays a solid 2-way game and I'll bet is a real leader in the locker room. He's a Patrice Bergeron type. But sometimes you need to complement that kind of leader with a guy that can shake things up on the ice with a high-speed hustle play or a hit - a Brad Marchand type that can get the team going and change momentum. Yes, it's probably unfair to use as examples NHL all-stars and big-time scorers, but one of my favorite RPI leaders of the second type was CJ Lee, who was hardly a big goal scorer but seemed to always skate hard and generate a lot of key hustle plays.

I totally agree with you. The fourth line is supposed to bring hustle and fight to the game. Make the first three lines take notice and follow their example. We just don't seem to have that with this team.
We really could use a CJ Lee, he brought it every shift.
No one on this team comes close.

[rpi82]

I hate to say it but i think we over-rated this team. I know it's unrealistic to expect a team to play flat out for 60 minutes, but it's getting tiring to see them skate and press for 15-20 minutes a game and cruise through the rest. I wonder if its a gap in leadership. Ture Linden is one of my favorite players in that he plays a solid 2-way game and I'll bet is a real leader in the locker room. He's a Patrice Bergeron type. But sometimes you need to complement that kind of leader with a guy that can shake things up on the ice with a high-speed hustle play or a hit - a Brad Marchand type that can get the team going and change momentum. Yes, it's probably unfair to use as examples NHL all-stars and big-time scorers, but one of my favorite RPI leaders of the second type was CJ Lee, who was hardly a big goal scorer but seemed to always skate hard and generate a lot of key hustle plays.

[realet]

Union today on being able to offer scholarships:

"The ability to offer scholarships is arguably the most pivotal moment in the history of ice hockey at Union since the decision in 1991 for the men's team to jump from Division III to Division I."

1. If it's that important, they ought to go find the people responsible for not being able to do it and give them a serious talking to.

2. More pivotal than winning a national championship? Uh, OK.

[DrDemento]

Fake vaccination records?

For Rabies??

[jmhusker]

It took them 8 years since he tried to fight SA.

Seriously, I do wonder what caused this.

Fake vaccination records?

[Wicked Slappaahs]

I doubt that Union would have done anything like this unless it was for something quite substantial. You do not take this kind of ste for getting caught picking your nose.

Sorry to hear this news. I hope for the team's sake that they get to the bottom of things in short order.

[DrDemento]

It took them 8 years since he tried to fight SA.

Seriously, I do wonder what caused this.

I doubt that Union would have done anything like this unless it was for something quite substantial. You do not take this kind of step for getting caught picking your nose.

[RPI fan 4 life]

Mongo in trouble.