Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

[thirdtime's . . .]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

This started out on the Scores thread as an East meets Midwest tone of voice thing, which is actually pretty interesting. But we’re now all good, as they say in the West.

 

[thirdtime's . . .]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

Patty Kazmeier, though I'm not sure of the relevance here.

You caught me napping.
The relevance, now that you mention it, is that a potential PK made hash of our PK . . . and PP for that matter!

 

[thirdtime's . . .]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

Harvard is coming into the Thrilla in Nashvilla a little punch-drunk after consecutive knockdowns. I didn’t see the UNH game, but it should have been a sparring, tune-up session at worst, not another encounter with the mat. (While the box score shows that Bloomer will not be denied, the absence of Tresca is ominous.) We’re not looking good going into Grand Ole Opry land. But does it matter? The whole thing should be the kind of fun the players always say they just wanna have. And, go BC! (We will see you down the road.)

I’m too sensible and too old to fly anywhere Thanksgiving week, but no doubt some foolish youngsters from the midwest (and maybe from the Heights) are making the trip, so please, KEEP US POSTED. I don’t see that there’s any coverage anywhere. And you guys will surely let us know what Harvard does and does not have seven games into its season. (I italicize in order to tone down my own expectations as well as to qualify any damage the real heavyweights do.) I’m actually looking forward to having some seasoned WCHA eyes evaluate this team.

BTW, in a hopeful post last year about hockey gene pools I mentioned that then Crimson freshman Kyra Willoughby’s grandfather was the highest scorer on the 1968 Olympic team. Bluffrinkrat (I believe) replied that Taylor Williamson’s grandfather was the coach of that same team. Too bad these Olympic grandkids are missing out by one year on what would have been a notable collegiate face-off in Nashville.

Happy T-Day.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

Harvard is coming into the Thrilla in Nashvilla a little punch-drunk after consecutive knockdowns. I didn’t see the UNH game, but it should have been a sparring, tune-up session at worst, not another encounter with the mat. (While the box score shows that Bloomer will not be denied, the absence of Tresca is ominous.) We’re not looking good going into Grand Ole Opry land. But does it matter? The whole thing should be the kind of fun the players always say they just wanna have. And, go BC! (We will see you down the road.)

I’m too sensible and too old to fly anywhere Thanksgiving week, but no doubt some foolish youngsters from the midwest (and maybe from the Heights) are making the trip, so please, KEEP US POSTED. I don’t see that there’s any coverage anywhere. And you guys will surely let us know what Harvard does and does not have seven games into its season. (I italicize in order to tone down my own expectations as well as to qualify any damage the real heavyweights do.) I’m actually looking forward to having some seasoned WCHA eyes evaluate this team.

BTW, in a hopeful post last year about hockey gene pools I mentioned that then Crimson freshman Kyra Willoughby’s grandfather was the highest scorer on the 1968 Olympic team. Bluffrinkrat (I believe) replied that Taylor Williamson’s grandfather was the coach of that same team. Too bad these Olympic grandkids are missing out by one year on what would have been a notable collegiate face-off in Nashville.

Happy T-Day.

Happy Thanksgiving ... hoping everyone is safe and with family this weekend. The storms cutting across middle America look fierce.

I saw the UNH game and there were several issues, not the least of which Lindsey Reed letting in a five hole goal to extend the UNH lead to 3-1. Reed has to play better if Harvard has any postseason thoughts. Another issue is the D giving up the blue line way too easily. UNH had too many forays into the offensive zone with zero resistance. The Crimson need better D structure. And finally, they have the skill up front to be much better than what they have shown in the past two games. Some offensive creativity would help. And getting tougher in front of the opposing goalie would help as well.

 

[D2D]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

(1) I saw the UNH game and there were several issues, not the least of which Lindsey Reed letting in a five hole goal to extend the UNH lead to 3-1. Reed has to play better if Harvard has any postseason thoughts.
(2) Another issue is the D giving up the blue line way too easily. UNH had too many forays into the offensive zone with zero resistance.
(3) The Crimson need better D structure.
(4) And finally, they have the skill up front to be much better than what they have shown in the past two games. Some offensive creativity would help.
(5) And getting tougher in front of the opposing goalie would help as well.

Geez Skate if they could do all that they'd be unbeatable!

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

Geez Skate if they could do all that they'd be unbeatable!

I don't think any of my suggestions are unrealistic. If you want to compete in D-1 and be a national contender, these are the simple but important facets of the game that have to be addressed.

 

[thirdtime's . . .]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

Someone on this thread has to acknowledge what went on in Nashville, just for the record.

One eyewitness said Harvard (excepting Reed) was the worst team he’d seen all season! I have no grounds on which to dispute his viewing experience (he did say it was a small sample size), but he is a Gopher fan and no doubt was sorry that Harvard, down a whopping 1-0 after two periods, was not likely to upset the Badgers. A Badger fan, on the other hand, applauded his team’s ability to hold up to pressure all weekend, implying that Harvard did play some serious hockey on occasion. My take is that the Crimson, however ragged, would not find themselves at the bottom of the WCHA.

Three of the four freshman playing against these two behemoths had seen limited ice time this season, and one of them was playing in her third and fourth game. Would Tresca’s presence have changed either outcome? Probably not. Would Tresca’s presence have changed the flow of Harvard’s offense? Undoubtedly.

Reed has averaged 45 saves in three games against Wisconsin.

The always huge (for Harvard, anyway) BC game is now huger than ever, however intangible the reasons.

But there’s no one left to intimidate/exhaust us. Been there, done that.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

But there’s no one left to intimidate/exhaust us. Been there, done that.

Agreed...Playing two games against Wisconsin and Minnesota, who have the deepest teams in all of women's D1 hockey, was a difficult task.

They had a difficult time handling the speed and puck possession of Wisconsin in the first game. According to the box score the shots were 57-15 and it was that lopsided a game with, as you mentioned, the caveat that they were only down 1-0 going into the third period. By the third period, they were worn down.

They appeared to be better able to hang with Minnesota, as least in the first half of the game on Saturday but again by the third period they appeared to be out of gas. This game, they were outshot 43-21. Somehwat better, but still too many shots given up. It is asking a lot of your goaltender to hang in there with the total amount of shot differential (64) on the weekend.

 

[NMH]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

I was impressed with Harvard after watching them this weekend in Nashville.

First things first, I wouldn't put too much stock in the shot disparities. There didn't seem to be a lot of rhyme or reason to how shots were being counted. The game didn't feel that lopsided. Yes, the Badgers are very good at shooting a bunch without scoring, but that really wasn't the case here.

I can tell you that in post-game on Saturday, the Crimson players were really pumped up. Despite results, they gained a lot of confidence from the weekend. They weren't totally outclassed - they played with the two top teams in the country and though there were clearly some parts of the game that UM and UW were better at, Harvard held up and played well. I got the impression that they felt like if they had done this well here, they should be more dominant in their conference games. We'll see how that played out, but after all was said and done, I talked to Petrie and Peper and they were in really good spirits and feeling like the weekend was an overall win.

 

[MrOpinion]

I was impressed with Harvard after watching them this weekend in Nashville.

First things first, I wouldn't put too much stock in the shot disparities. There didn't seem to be a lot of rhyme or reason to how shots were being counted. The game didn't feel that lopsided. Yes, the Badgers are very good at shooting a bunch without scoring, but that really wasn't the case here.

I can tell you that in post-game on Saturday, the Crimson players were really pumped up. Despite results, they gained a lot of confidence from the weekend. They weren't totally outclassed - they played with the two top teams in the country and though there were clearly some parts of the game that UM and UW were better at, Harvard held up and played well. I got the impression that they felt like if they had done this well here, they should be more dominant in their conference games. We'll see how that played out, but after all was said and done, I talked to Petrie and Peper and they were in really good spirits and feeling like the weekend was an overall win.

That's right. Stay positive !

Ok then.......

 

[thirdtime's . . .]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

i was impressed with harvard after watching them this weekend in nashville.

First things first, i wouldn't put too much stock in the shot disparities. There didn't seem to be a lot of rhyme or reason to how shots were being counted. The game didn't feel that lopsided. Yes, the badgers are very good at shooting a bunch without scoring, but that really wasn't the case here.

I can tell you that in post-game on saturday, the crimson players were really pumped up. Despite results, they gained a lot of confidence from the weekend. They weren't totally outclassed - they played with the two top teams in the country and though there were clearly some parts of the game that um and uw were better at, harvard held up and played well. I got the impression that they felt like if they had done this well here, they should be more dominant in their conference games. We'll see how that played out, but after all was said and done, i talked to petrie and peper and they were in really good spirits and feeling like the weekend was an overall win.

thank you for this

 

[Still Eeyore]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

I was impressed with Harvard after watching them this weekend in Nashville.

I said my piece in the scores thread, but I talked to a bunch of people during and after the games, and among those people, your take on Harvard's performance is unique.

 

[D2D]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

I said my piece in the scores thread, but I talked to a bunch of people during and after the games, and among those people, your take on Harvard's performance is unique.

I questioned that also. It's a bit of a stretch to be impressed when they got outscored 9-1 and outshot 100-36 in their two games.

 

[thirdtime's . . .]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

I said my piece in the scores thread, but I talked to a bunch of people during and after the games, and among those people, your take on Harvard's performance is unique.

I’d like to somehow split the difference and say the players were psyched while being outmatched. Seriously, they didn’t feel routed, and they weren’t. . . just soundly defeated, and apparently they came away from that experience somewhat energized, given the opposition. I think this can happen in sports. That is the THIS I was responding to. Admittedly this is beyond x's and o's. But your standards are, understandably, very high, and H simply didn’t meet them.

 

[Still Eeyore]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

I’d like to somehow split the difference and say the players were psyched while being outmatched. Seriously, they didn’t feel routed, and they weren’t. . . just soundly defeated, and apparently they came away from that experience somewhat energized, given the opposition. I think this can happen in sports. That is the THIS I was responding to. Admittedly this is beyond x's and o's. But your standards are, understandably, very high, and H simply didn’t meet them.

If they feel encouraged, great. I wish them well and hope they win some ECAC games and the Beanpot.

 

[D2D]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

If they feel encouraged, great. I wish them well and hope they win some ECAC games and the Beanpot.

Likewise.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

Good four point weekend for the Lady Crimson to head into Christmas break. Yesterday's game was a bit weird in that there were four goals in the first period and then nothing until Della Rovere's game winner in OT.

 

[thirdtime's . . .]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

After Nashville, what’s the nature of motivation-generated-by-defeat? That was the question. It remains unanswered after this weekend’s victories. With a ho-hummer 4-0 lead against Yale narrowed to a 4-2 win, and a Harvard PP goal (KDR) in OT to beat Brown, there's not much to say. Maybe we should switch to “gut-check” as the operative term as the team pauses for the holidays.


Btw, I was looking forward to my annual Brown’s Mike Rubin play-by-play fest, when what to my surprise did I hear but the almost identical voice of his brother, Dan - - - equally candid, knowledgeable and entertaining. Uncanny. Both have to be real students of the game to bring those qualities to announcing Brown hockey these days. (But, then again, see above. Brown hockey almost skunked Harvard hockey yesterday.)

 

[ARM]

Re: Harvard 2019-20 (Moving On)

I said my piece in the scores thread, but I talked to a bunch of people during and after the games, and among those people, your take on Harvard's performance is unique.

Are you like me in that we last saw Harvard in person in 2015? Obviously, the Crimson have suffered through some lean times since then, so maybe a Minnesota fan's expectations for Harvard are too high. I know when I watch them I have to remind myself that they no longer send Kazmaier contenders over the boards with the same regularity that they once did.

 

[Reddington]

Are you like me in that we last saw Harvard in person in 2015? Obviously, the Crimson have suffered through some lean times since then, so maybe a Minnesota fan's expectations for Harvard are too high. I know when I watch them I have to remind myself that they no longer send Kazmaier contenders over the boards with the same regularity that they once did.

Is KDR still being snubbed by the Canadian National team?