Harvard Crimson 2022-2023

[ROMD]

About five minutes into last night's game, I began to think it would be a repeat of the Brown game from a few weeks ago. Harvard seemed to have their minds on Monday night and not on the task at hand. Fortunately, that all changed in the second period, and we managed to establish some control going forward. Good to see the power play back on track.

Gibson had a less than stellar night. He seems to either play really well or disappear when we need him. Soft first goal from Chisholm who should have received a major on that boarding of Joe Miller. If we are going to do any damage in March, we need Gibson to perform at his best.

And what is up with Ryan Siedem?? The kid is completely lost out there. I counted no less than five turnovers in the Harvard D zone where he had zero forecheck pressure. Something isn't right with him and if it weren't for Senior Weekend next week, I'd bench him. He is hurting the team.

Oh well, on to Monday night and hoping that they can bring the 'Pot back to Cambridge.

Every game is an adventure. Even more than most teams, you don't know what you are going to get on any given night (or any given period based on the Beanpot game with BC). Will Northeastern face the team that played perhaps its best game of the year against Cornell or will they face the team that barely showed up for the recent Brown and Colgate games? For certain this is a different Northeastern team and game versus New Year's Day.

Hopefully Thrun is back. Your comments on Siedem are spot on. Others deserve the chance to get more ice time.

[Crimson Faced]

This season is turning out to be pretty disappointing. They played hard the whole game, but again, except against the lower ECAC teams, lose a game where you want some sign that they can beat teams equal or better than them in an important game. They cannot compete with Quinnipiac, were dominated by Michigan except for the first two periods of the Friday night game, lose to BU, should have lost to BC after the embarrassing no-show in the 3rd period last Monday. Lost to a team they beat 8-4 at home, when there was nothing on the line. One good win at home against Cornell. Last year's team played clutch in the ECAC tournament and competitively in the NCAA tournament.

I'm not a fan of the shootout; on the other hand they were saved in the OT by Gibson, giving up odd man breaks by Coronato and Farrell fiddling and diddling deep in the zone and getting caught up ice. Farinacci loses his stick. Three Hobey Baker finalists for the first three shots in the shootout and their attempts, against an admittedly great goalie were weak.

This team is missing something.

[Skate79]

This season is turning out to be pretty disappointing. They played hard the whole game, but again, except against the lower ECAC teams, lose a game where you want some sign that they can beat teams equal or better than them in an important game. They cannot compete with Quinnipiac, were dominated by Michigan except for the first two periods of the Friday night game, lose to BU, should have lost to BC after the embarrassing no-show in the 3rd period last Monday. Lost to a team they beat 8-4 at home, when there was nothing on the line. One good win at home against Cornell. Last year's team played clutch in the ECAC tournament and competitively in the NCAA tournament.

I'm not a fan of the shootout; on the other hand they were saved in the OT by Gibson, giving up odd man breaks by Coronato and Farrell fiddling and diddling deep in the zone and getting caught up ice. Farinacci loses his stick. Three Hobey Baker finalists for the first three shots in the shootout and their attempts, against an admittedly great goalie were weak.

This team is missing something.

I thought it was a well-played game by both teams. Northeastern came in looking for revenge for that January 1st debacle so you knew it would be tough on the Crimson. I'm not making excuses for Harvard; they should have won last night's game. Coronato had half a dozen close-in chances including the one in OT that would have won it. And yes, I agree about the breakaways in OT for the Huskies. Inexcusable. But for the most part, Harvard's D zone coverage was better than in most of their games lately.

What I saw last night was what we have seen too often since January 1st. They either start strong or play very well in spurts and then take their foot off the pedal and let the other team get back in the game with a giveaway or D zone breakdown leading to a goal.

They need to finish strong going into the playoffs. I don't really care if we finish second or third unless we have to face Colgate in the quarterfinals. Then I do care.

[bothman]

Not the outcome desired, but I thought Harvard played well. That performance going forward gets us to the ECAC final with Quinny and ensures us a NCAA bid as a #3 seed. Like to finish the season 4-0 or 3-1 (trip to north country never easy). Like to get Karpa and Severo healthy as well.

[Skate79]

Okay so I chalk up last night's game to a Beanpot hangover losing in the shootout (which I hate with the fire of a thousand suns). The first and third periods exhibited some ugly moments on D for the Crimson. Egregious giveaways and lackadaisical play. I'm guessing that the combination of the hangover and recognizing that Union has trouble putting the puck in the ocean led to some complacency. Union came to play, and I give them a lot of credit for their effort and neutralizing Matthew Coronato. Fortunately, the Crimson's depth paid off with goals from Philip Tresca and Baker Shore. Good to see those guys on the scoresheet.

We should have a much better effort tonight for Senior Night and the fact that we owe the Engineers for that less than stellar performance in November. I'm expecting Harvard will put them away early to avoid any late game drama that we had to deal with in last spring's playoff series.

Congrats to the seniors for their hard work, dedication to the program through Covid and keeping Harvard relevant on the national scene.

[Skate79]

It a while longer than I thought it would, but we eventually seized control of the game midway through the second period and into the third. RPI played its usual physical brand of hockey, and it was mind-blowing that their only penalty came with a minute left in the game. The officials did a horrible job of letting them get away with obvious calls such as boarding Alex Gaffney (hope he is okay).

Once again, we had issues with our D zone coverage and had some bad giveaways. I think this is something we are going to live with for the remainder of the season. Which doesn't bode well for the tournament.

Prettiest goal of the night belonged to Marek Hejduk who tipped a pass from Baker Shore past Watson to make it 3-0 near the end of the second. Nice passing play all around from Drukulac, to Shore to Hejduk.

And a nice gesture by Teddy to put the seniors out on the power play at the end of the game including Jace Foskey. Almost worked.

Thanks to Cornell choking away their weekend at Lynah, we're in second place and if we beat SLU on Friday and Cornell is taken to OT vs. Brown, we'll clinch second place. The fight for 4th place in the conference is wild. Will make for a great finish to the season.

On to North Country...

[sshablak]

Chances are good that Harvard and Cornell will play at Lake Placid short of any major upsets.

[bothman]

Chances are good that Harvard and Cornell will play at Lake Placid short of any major upsets.

The big sheet is a huge advantage for Harvard.

[Kepler]

Cornell is 6-2 in the Ivies, with 19 points (6x3 + 1 point for losing in overtime to Harvard).

Harvard is 9-1 in the Ivies, with 24 points, because 3 of their wins were overtime.

If Cornell wins both games this weekend in regulation, we will finish with 25 points, thus cleanly beating Harvard for the Ivy League title, 25-24, despite (1) a 8-2 record vs 9-1, and (2) Harvard beating us twice.

I HATE three point games, but my god that is funny. Please tell me it will be enough to end the derp of three point games forever.

[Kepler]

The big sheet is a huge advantage for Harvard.

Lake Placid reconfigured their rink. It is regulation for the ECACs now.

[bothman]

Lake Placid reconfigured their rink. It is regulation for the ECACs now.

Ugh!

[Kepler]

Ugh!

Yeah, I won't pretend that when I saw that I didn't smile.

[Lynah Rink]

Cornell is 6-2 in the Ivies, with 19 points (6x3 + 1 point for losing in overtime to Harvard).

Harvard is 9-1 in the Ivies, with 24 points, because 3 of their wins were overtime.

If Cornell wins both games this weekend in regulation, we will finish with 25 points, thus cleanly beating Harvard for the Ivy League title, 25-24, despite (1) a 8-2 record vs 9-1, and (2) Harvard beating us twice.

I HATE three point games, but my god that is funny. Please tell me it will be enough to end the derp of three point games forever.

well that’s a much fairer outcome than giving Harvard full credit for winning three games in 3x3 OT…

[Kepler]

well that’s a much fairer outcome than giving Harvard full credit for winning three games in 3x3 OT…

I figured it out by reverse engineering the official Ivy site.

The Ivy League point system is:

• 2 points for a win in regulation or overtime
• 1 for a loss in overtime (thus generating an anomalous 3-point game)
• 1 for reaching the shootout, result unimportant
• 0 for a loss in regulation

Cornell cannot win even a share of the Ivy title. Harvard wins the title outright.

[sshablak]

Question...What's the significance of being #2 or #3 if they both get to Lake Placid, just last change ?