>>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

Now that we have reached the end of the regular season, some interesting accomplishments of this year's team:

Best non-conference record in DI era
Most regular season conference wins since 2010-11
Highest regular season standing since 2014-15
Won or tied season series with 8 of 10 Atlantic Hockey teams. Only two series losses were AIC and Sacred Heart

Not to be the glass half empty guy, but I have to admit to feeling not as optimistic as I'd like about their chances of winning the AHA Tournament.

The biggest reason is that if they get through the quarters they will have a high chance of having to play Sacred Heart and then AIC for the Championship. For those who skipped class RIT was 0-4 against said teams, being out scored 21 to 9 in those four games.

Biggest problem for this program over the last 4 years has been the extreme differences in their compete level and quality of play game in and game out. It will keep you up at night thinking about how good they can look one night and how awful they can be the next.

Don't get me wrong I certainly think this team has the tools to win a championship. They have a very good goaltender, an experience defensive core, and they spread scoring around good. However, it's really the lack of who they turn to to score that big goal when they need it. They don't have that line, so they need all hands on deck ever single game going forward. If they don't there is no in the middle for this team they are just awful. If they do, not only can they win a Championship, but will be very dangerous to who ever they would face in the NCAAs.

Being able to say that no one player who stayed 4 years has ever left without some kind of championship ring is a big thing. I hope the guys take it to heart and have it as a call for this playoff run....

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

However, it's really the lack of who they turn to to score that big goal when they need it. They don't have that line, so they need all hands on deck ever single game going forward.

I beat that drum repeatedly in the post-Brenner/Favot and post-MGM line years. Mostly everyone on here dismissed it and said stuff like "RIT has balanced scoring across all lines, so we don't need it". Funny how it works out that when they have a line like that, they win multiple championships and when they don't, they get upset by the 11th place team in the first round. But I guess I'm the crazy one... and now you are, too. Hah!

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

Unfortunately, that's not an option anyway. If Air Force loses, AIC gets the benefit of Mercyhurst coming to their place, ...

I did forget that point, but I still contend that AFA just doesn't scare me as much as in the past. Of course, knowing Frank's Falcons, they'll come into the post-season and turn into the 2009 and 2011 post-season Falcons again, proving me wrong one more time. Doesn't the WCHA have an opening they can apply for?

[Tiger91]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

To go far, they'll need to suddenly be a team that can limit the negative plays. They have continually doomed themselves with:
1. turnovers in the defensive zone
2. penalties, especially while on the powerplay or in the offensive zone
3. giving up goals early and late in the period, or right after they've scored

I'm looking forward to the series next weekend. They should be able to take Air Force in 3 games. AF just flew across the country and played 2 physical games against RIT. Now they have to play 2, possibly 3, games this weekend and then fly back. RIT will be rested and gets Drackett back. The worries are that Drackett may be rusty and AF plays a "we'll make one less mistake than you" style and take advantage of the aforementioned bad habits.

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

I beat that drum repeatedly in the post-Brenner/Favot and post-MGM line years. Mostly everyone on here dismissed it and said stuff like "RIT has balanced scoring across all lines, so we don't need it". Funny how it works out that when they have a line like that, they win multiple championships and when they don't, they get upset by the 11th place team in the first round. But I guess I'm the crazy one... and now you are, too. Hah!

Well last year they definitely had that go to line, but couldn't get it a goal vs. Niagara, so it can go either way. My point is it is kind of a wonder who do you put on the ice when you have to have a goal...

[jflory81]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

Well last year they definitely had that go to line, but couldn't get it a goal vs. Niagara, so it can go either way. My point is it is kind of a wonder who do you put on the ice when you have to have a goal...

Heck, I'd argue the year after the MGM team they didn't have a go to line and still won the AHA championship (it was the 2nd line that went off during championship weekend) and that the Frozen Four team had relatively balanced scoring as well (although they certainly had a go to top defensive pairing to match against other team's top lines). It was the year after that Favot/Brenner really became the dominating force for the team, and unfortunately they couldn't come up with a goal against Air Force in the 1-0 game in the final.

[blazer777]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

An Ivy League Basketball tournament was canceled and the auto entry to the NCAA TOURNAMENT was given to the season champions. All due to the Coronavirus. Will this happen in Atlantic Hockey too?

[Russell Jaslow]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

An Ivy League Basketball tournament was canceled and the auto entry to the NCAA TOURNAMENT was given to the season champions. All due to the Coronavirus. Will this happen in Atlantic Hockey too?

Cornell has already banned all fans to this weekend's men's and women's home playoff games.

[joew74]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

Cornell has already banned all fans to this weekend's men's and women's home playoff games.

RPI also did the same thing earlier this week. But that was based more on the fact that there were at least 2 confirmed cases in the capital district, rather than just generally being proactive. I'm hoping that RIT doesn't go the same route, but with 2 days still before the games, and seemingly more events going this route, I wouldn't be surprised if they decide to err on the side of caution. I hope I'm wrong.

[Transplanted Tiger Fan]

Cornell has already banned all fans to this weekend's men's and women's home playoff games.

Local news updated this during the morning segment... apparently they are allowing spectators, but limited to 3 people per individual team member and team staff... opposing team included. So basically, each participant is allowed three guests to attend.

Stay tuned...

[35TH40TH]

Wedesday at 1130am and they are still running radio ads for this weekends games.

[jflory81]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

I haven't heard/seen anything about this online....at all, including on the RIT Hockey twitter page. They might want to get the info out there if they don't want to be turning away disgruntled customers at the door on Friday...

[mar7967]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

I haven't heard/seen anything about this online....at all, including on the RIT Hockey twitter page. They might want to get the info out there if they don't want to be turning away disgruntled customers at the door on Friday...

They announced the menus for the club lounge today, so it seems like all things are still pointing to games with a crowd.

[joew74]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

I haven't heard/seen anything about this online....at all, including on the RIT Hockey twitter page. They might want to get the info out there if they don't want to be turning away disgruntled customers at the door on Friday...

I think we may be talking about 2 different things here:

The post by Transplanted Tiger Fan is in regard to the Cornell hockey games, which were originally believed to have been being played without spectators.

On the other hand, some of us (and maybe I'm the only one!) are wondering if there is any chance this is going to happen with the RIT games. From my standpoint at least, this is based purely on conjecture, and is not rooted in any rumors or other information I might have heard (because I haven't heard any). It's purely me wondering out loud if this is something that is under any serious consideration, since some other schools in NY (RPI as well) have already announced they will play this weekend's games behind closed doors.

[jflory81]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2019-2020: "We're on the clock" <<<

I think we may be talking about 2 different things here:

The post by Transplanted Tiger Fan is in regard to the Cornell hockey games, which were originally believed to have been being played without spectators.

On the other hand, some of us (and maybe I'm the only one!) are wondering if there is any chance this is going to happen with the RIT games. From my standpoint at least, this is based purely on conjecture, and is not rooted in any rumors or other information I might have heard (because I haven't heard any). It's purely me wondering out loud if this is something that is under any serious consideration, since some other schools in NY (RPI as well) have already announced they will play this weekend's games behind closed doors.

Ah, my mistake. I indeed thought you were talking about the RIT games.

In other news, Harvard is forfeiting their playoff games at RPI this weekend. This seems a little bit draconian, given that RPI has already taken the step of playing without spectators. I guess it's probably related to Harvard sending the kids home and not allowing them to stay in the dorms - disbanding athletics for the rest of the semester is probably part of that. Feel terrible for the kids whose careers are going to end without even a chance to play their way into the NCAA tourney.