Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

Harvard could have easily lost that game. Puck should have been whistled dead on Harvard's 2d goal, Cornell missed a wide open net in 2d, and a quick whistle saved another Cornell goal. Harvard looked so good early in the season but has gotten progessively worse.

Perhaps. But Harvard had their chances as well, none better than Moy's. In fact if he pulls the trigger just a bit faster, we're not having this conversation. The Crimson have definitely not looked like NCAA shoo-ins in the second half of the season but they didn't look great last year in the second half until they started their run in March. And March is what counts.

 

[bothman]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

Perhaps. But Harvard had their chances as well, none better than Moy's. In fact if he pulls the trigger just a bit faster, we're not having this conversation. The Crimson have definitely not looked like NCAA shoo-ins in the second half of the season but they didn't look great last year in the second half until they started their run in March. And March is what counts.

This is true, but last year, Harvard's swoon also came at the same time when McNally went down with an injury and then he came back against Yale in the playoffs and the rest is history. Yes, Newell is hurt, but he is hardly the same player that McNally was.

 

[bothman]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

The bottom line is that up at Lynah, Harvard played its style and used its speed which forced the skating pylons to take penalties, be largely outpossessed, and not be able to get the puck out of its zone. Subsequently, Cornell had to try and take runs at Harvard guys (see Newell injury) and try to turn the hockey game into a football/rugby match.

Good teams make other teams play their style and with that, comes discomfort.

Last night, Harvard decided that they wanted to play Cornell hockey which made the teams look much more evenly matched than they are.

Very disappointing. Harvard consistently did this to opponents earlier in the season and something has come undone without any real change in personnel

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

The bottom line is that up at Lynah, Harvard played its style and used its speed which forced the skating pylons to take penalties, be largely outpossessed, and not be able to get the puck out of its zone. Subsequently, Cornell had to try and take runs at Harvard guys (see Newell injury) and try to turn the hockey game into a football/rugby match.

Good teams make other teams play their style and with that, comes discomfort.

Last night, Harvard decided that they wanted to play Cornell hockey which made the teams look much more evenly matched than they are.

Very disappointing. Harvard consistently did this to opponents earlier in the season and something has come undone without any real change in personnel

If tonight's game is any indication, Harvard has completely abandoned their system in favor of physical undisciplined hockey. I don't know what happened up at Hamilton in January but the second period was as chippy a period as I have seen from Harvard in a while. At least when they are not playing Cornell. There was a lot of trash talking and Harvard was taking runs at Colgate on almost every shift. I mean when you see Alexander Kerfoot take a cross check penalty nailing a defenseless Colgate D man along the boards, you know something is wrong. Even Seb Lloyd was getting physical for cripes sake.

Every time we took a lead, Colgate came back to score. Our D was pathetic and Madsen couldn't stop a beach ball. We are going nowhere in the ECACs if we play like we did tonight. The team has morphed into something that is going to bring more misery than joy. They are consistently out of position, making poor decisions with and without the puck and are too individualistic.

That said, the seniors stepped up in the third period with Kyle Criscuolo getting the winner with 2:47 left on a nice feed from Vesey near the goalmouth. The two combined on the first goal with Criscuolo dishing a behind the back pass to Vesey who fired a wrist shot home on the PP.

Nice moment before the game as Criscuolo was honored as one of five finalists for the Hockey Humanitarian award for his volunteer work with the Boys and Girls club of Somerville. Good kid, great wheels and a motor that never quits.

Congrats to the seniors on Senior Night. The photo of tonight's program featured the seniors. In the photo, Vesey is at one end next to Traber looking at his classmates. Everyone else is facing the camera. Maybe his way of acknowledging his classmates - it was a nice gesture if that is what it was.

Now the bad news. I saw Sean Malone before the game and he was on crutches. It's his right leg. Looks like he might not be back until the ECAC semis if at all. Tough loss if that's the case. I'm hoping that he'll be back by the quarters and that we'll get a bye in two weeks. But I'm not optimistic based on how he looked tonight.

We need one win next weekend to clinch the bye. If we beat Clarkson, I'd rest some guys the next night against SLU.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

This is true, but last year, Harvard's swoon also came at the same time when McNally went down with an injury and then he came back against Yale in the playoffs and the rest is history. Yes, Newell is hurt, but he is hardly the same player that McNally was.

I wasn't comparing Newell to McNally. Would never do that. McNally was a beast last year and more so in the playoffs. Newell is a nice player and has some offensive skill. But he is not a cornerstone D man. We are missing that this year and it is showing up in a big way since the beginning of January.

 

[H60Hockey]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

Lipstick on a pig. Until 2:47 left we played down to Cogate's level. D disappeared - no challange to any of the goals. Awful clearing patterns, center ice transition disjointed, most shots from the outside and wide. All individuals out there. Where is the fire that characterized this team mid-season? Ted?

What a weekend. Will we get out of the quarters?

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

Lipstick on a pig. Until 2:47 left we played down to Cogate's level. D disappeared - no challange to any of the goals. Awful clearing patterns, center ice transition disjointed, most shots from the outside and wide. All individuals out there. Where is the fire that characterized this team mid-season? Ted?

What a weekend. Will we get out of the quarters?

That's a good question. Right now based on their most recent play, I would have a hard time picking them to advance to Lake Placid. They are on scary thin ice (no pun intended) at the moment. It is baffling to see them morph into a team that has abandoned the system that got them into the national rankings in the first place. The physical play last night and against Cornell goes against everything that plays to their strengths.

The D and the goaltending are subpar and will be their undoing unless Teddy and his staff can get them refocused and playing their game. They look so disorganized and lost out there.

 

[bothman]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

That's a good question. Right now based on their most recent play, I would have a hard time picking them to advance to Lake Placid. They are on scary thin ice (no pun intended) at the moment. It is baffling to see them morph into a team that has abandoned the system that got them into the national rankings in the first place. The physical play last night and against Cornell goes against everything that plays to their strengths.

The D and the goaltending are subpar and will be their undoing unless Teddy and his staff can get them refocused and playing their game. They look so disorganized and lost out there.

A lot of it is just details. When Madsen banged his stick, Bergin has to respect the Colgate player (Dauda) about to leave the box but he did not and bang, Dauda goes in alone. On the Colgate goal to tie it up at 4-4, Horton loses his stick (by the way, how many times recently has a Harvard player - think Vesey in Yale game - lost a stick and it ends up in the back of the Harvard net - and fails to clear the puck out of the zone and next thing you know, puck is in the back of the Harvard net.

Jaw (he has not been the same since his injury) made some really poor pinches last night that gave Colgate odd man rushes. In fact, if it were me, if Newell comes back, I would insert Newell in for Jaw even though he is a senior. Jaw has really struggled. And Anderson continues to make questionable decisions.

Harvard needs to keep it simple. It's a long season and guys are clearly tired (boy they could use the break). But as I type this, keeping it simple and just getting the puck out of the zone, also can negate Harvard's speed and ability to use it to attack. Harvard really struggled to attack in transition and it seems as though while the forwards are trying to do much individually, a part of this is because there aren't other options. The Harvard forwards are not working together and positioning themselves to allow for options on the transition / rush. Where has the trailing forward been?

I hope I am wrong, but this is a brutal road trip to finish the season up in the North Country. I would love to be wrong, but I think Harvard grabs 1 point (which would give them the buy), but will hurt them in the national rankings and put more pressure on them to have to get to Placid and probably get to the Semis.

Harvard has had an uncanny ability to turn it on in the ECAC playoffs. Let's hope that happens again.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

A lot of it is just details. When Madsen banged his stick, Bergin has to respect the Colgate player (Dauda) about to leave the box but he did not and bang, Dauda goes in alone. On the Colgate goal to tie it up at 4-4, Horton loses his stick (by the way, how many times recently has a Harvard player - think Vesey in Yale game - lost a stick and it ends up in the back of the Harvard net - and fails to clear the puck out of the zone and next thing you know, puck is in the back of the Harvard net.

All true. The other problem is that the D is giving too much room allowing the opposition to come barreling in with little or no resistance. That combined with losing battles along the boards is really hurting us.

Jaw (he has not been the same since his injury) made some really poor pinches last night that gave Colgate odd man rushes. In fact, if it were me, if Newell comes back, I would insert Newell in for Jaw even though he is a senior. Jaw has really struggled. And Anderson continues to make questionable decisions

.

I agree with substituting Newell for Jaw if Newell comes back. Jaw simply makes poor decisions with the puck and I don't think injury is the only reason. However Teddy is loyal to some extent to his seniors and I can't see him benching Jaw this late in the season. I would but that's me.

Harvard needs to keep it simple. It's a long season and guys are clearly tired (boy they could use the break). But as I type this, keeping it simple and just getting the puck out of the zone, also can negate Harvard's speed and ability to use it to attack. Harvard really struggled to attack in transition and it seems as though while the forwards are trying to do much individually, a part of this is because there aren't other options. The Harvard forwards are not working together and positioning themselves to allow for options on the transition / rush. Where has the trailing forward been?

I hope I am wrong, but this is a brutal road trip to finish the season up in the North Country. I would love to be wrong, but I think Harvard grabs 1 point (which would give them the buy), but will hurt them in the national rankings and put more pressure on them to have to get to Placid and probably get to the Semis.

Harvard has had an uncanny ability to turn it on in the ECAC playoffs. Let's hope that happens again.

It's a long season for a lot of teams. Yale has been hit with injuries but that hasn't stopped them from rising in the rankings. We have the depth to withstand the grind.

I think the attack has been limited because of the problems in the D zone. Last night, forwards were having to go behind the net and work to free the puck and get it up into the neutral zone. The D hold the puck a second or two longer than last year and that hampers our ability to create pressure in our offensive zone. And opposing teams aren't shy about pressuring us in our D zone. If our D were more mobile and skilled at puck movement, this wouldn't be such a problem.

The North Country trip is never easy but we owe Clarkson big time. I expect two points for us from that game. Once we have that secured, we've got third place and we can rest some players on Saturday. Yes, the rankings matter but I'm of the mindset that we will have to get to the ECAC tournament final and perhaps win it to ensure we're in. Anything less and its white knuckle time until the Selection Show.

 

[bothman]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

This may be one of those years where we look back and say, man, if we only had a defense that could move the puck. And that's the irony. Next year, we have two of the best puck moving defenseman in the soon to be NCAA in Adam Fox and John Marino.

 

[LTsatch]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

All true. The other problem is that the D is giving too much room allowing the opposition to come barreling in with little or no resistance. That combined with losing battles along the boards is really hurting us.

.

I agree with substituting Newell for Jaw if Newell comes back. Jaw simply makes poor decisions with the puck and I don't think injury is the only reason. However Teddy is loyal to some extent to his seniors and I can't see him benching Jaw this late in the season. I would but that's me.



It's a long season for a lot of teams. Yale has been hit with injuries but that hasn't stopped them from rising in the rankings. We have the depth to withstand the grind.

I think the attack has been limited because of the problems in the D zone. Last night, forwards were having to go behind the net and work to free the puck and get it up into the neutral zone. The D hold the puck a second or two longer than last year and that hampers our ability to create pressure in our offensive zone. And opposing teams aren't shy about pressuring us in our D zone. If our D were more mobile and skilled at puck movement, this wouldn't be such a problem.

The North Country trip is never easy but we owe Clarkson big time. I expect two points for us from that game. Once we have that secured, we've got third place and we can rest some players on Saturday. Yes, the rankings matter but I'm of the mindset that we will have to get to the ECAC tournament final and perhaps win it to ensure we're in. Anything less and its white knuckle time until the Selection Show.

You might want to consider the pairwise in your statement. every game you play from here on out means something. Two upsets in other conference tourneys and Harvard is out of the NCAA's. I don't think Donato will rest anyone except possibly the goalie.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

This may be one of those years where we look back and say, man, if we only had a defense that could move the puck. And that's the irony. Next year, we have two of the best puck moving defenseman in the soon to be NCAA in Adam Fox and John Marino.

I've been muttering to myself all year the following "If only the Ivy League had allowed McNally, Everson and Michalek to return for one more season." It's getting to be a broken record.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

You might want to consider the pairwise in your statement. every game you play from here on out means something. Two upsets in other conference tourneys and Harvard is out of the NCAA's. I don't think Donato will rest anyone except possibly the goalie.

I did. So should you guys. So should every team in the ECAC that is a TUC. Personally, I think it will take an ECAC tourney win that includes beating Quinnipiac to get us in at this point. The BU and Clarkson losses are particularly egregious at this point. To say nothing of that disaster at home against RPI. They have cost us dearly. Since Lackey is even worse at this point than Madsen, I'm not sure we have that option.

 

[LTsatch]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

I did. So should you guys. So should every team in the ECAC that is a TUC. Personally, I think it will take an ECAC tourney win that includes beating Quinnipiac to get us in at this point. The BU and Clarkson losses are particularly egregious at this point. To say nothing of that disaster at home against RPI. They have cost us dearly. Since Lackey is even worse at this point than Madsen, I'm not sure we have that option.

Clarkson played Yale very well last night but tired in the end. They are a team that takes advantage of defensive mistakes and are constantly IFO the net. Glad we got by them. SLU played well also, but was offput by the Yale forecheck. They still managed to put three by Lyon. Good luck the rest of the way, we expect to see you in the NCAA's

 

[Dutchman]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

Clarkson is 11-2-2 at home with their only two home loses coming against us and Qpac.

 

[HHockeyGuy]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

All true. The other problem is that the D is giving too much room allowing the opposition to come barreling in with little or no resistance. That combined with losing battles along the boards is really hurting us.

.

I agree with substituting Newell for Jaw if Newell comes back. Jaw simply makes poor decisions with the puck and I don't think injury is the only reason. However Teddy is loyal to some extent to his seniors and I can't see him benching Jaw this late in the season. I would but that's me.



It's a long season for a lot of teams. Yale has been hit with injuries but that hasn't stopped them from rising in the rankings. We have the depth to withstand the grind.

I think the attack has been limited because of the problems in the D zone. Last night, forwards were having to go behind the net and work to free the puck and get it up into the neutral zone. The D hold the puck a second or two longer than last year and that hampers our ability to create pressure in our offensive zone. And opposing teams aren't shy about pressuring us in our D zone. If our D were more mobile and skilled at puck movement, this wouldn't be such a problem.

The North Country trip is never easy but we owe Clarkson big time. I expect two points for us from that game. Once we have that secured, we've got third place and we can rest some players on Saturday. Yes, the rankings matter but I'm of the mindset that we will have to get to the ECAC tournament final and perhaps win it to ensure we're in. Anything less and its white knuckle time until the Selection Show.

I don't mean to be a pessimist, but I think Harvard is in real trouble. This weekend was more of the same, very disappointing. The way they are playing right now, I can't see them beating Clarkson. Clarkson dominated them in every phase of the game earlier this year, and that was at Harvard. Clarkson was much faster during that game, and Harvard's attack has slowed down considerably since then for all the reasons others have written about. Clarkson and Harvard are teams going in different directions. Then Harvard must beat or tie St. Lawrence at Appleton. Harvard only beat SLU last time because Vesey had the period of his career to save that game. You can't count on that. And goaltending isn't going to save Harvard. Madsen hasn't stolen a game all year, and right now he looks really shaky. So if Harvard doesn't dominate its opponent, they lose. And Lackey is obviously not an option now. He has barely played since he tore his MCL and he has not looked good in those games. And even if that weren't true, his knee was heavily wrapped after the Union game so it's not clear he's physically able to play. The offense clearly is not clicking, with far too much individual play. And with each subpar performance and loss, the pressure ratchets up more and they hold their sticks even tighter. Very depressing situation, especially in light of the high expectations going into this season.

 

[HHockeyGuy]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

Yes. What a season it could have been!

 

[Hokydad]

Yes. What a season it could have been!

Look back to last year and the way they finished in ECAC playoffs, not hard to see them getting on a run. I wouldn't bet against them in playoffs and have a shot at making NCAA tourn

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

I don't mean to be a pessimist, but I think Harvard is in real trouble. This weekend was more of the same, very disappointing. The way they are playing right now, I can't see them beating Clarkson. Clarkson dominated them in every phase of the game earlier this year, and that was at Harvard. Clarkson was much faster during that game, and Harvard's attack has slowed down considerably since then for all the reasons others have written about. Clarkson and Harvard are teams going in different directions. Then Harvard must beat or tie St. Lawrence at Appleton. Harvard only beat SLU last time because Vesey had the period of his career to save that game. You can't count on that. And goaltending isn't going to save Harvard. Madsen hasn't stolen a game all year, and right now he looks really shaky. So if Harvard doesn't dominate its opponent, they lose. And Lackey is obviously not an option now. He has barely played since he tore his MCL and he has not looked good in those games. And even if that weren't true, his knee was heavily wrapped after the Union game so it's not clear he's physically able to play. The offense clearly is not clicking, with far too much individual play. And with each subpar performance and loss, the pressure ratchets up more and they hold their sticks even tighter. Very depressing situation, especially in light of the high expectations going into this season.

Then I guess we should pack up and go home. Sounds like we have zero chance of coming away with anything next weekend. I'm enough of a realist to know that a scenario where we get nothing next weekend and have to play the first weekend in March is a possibility. I also think that having seen what Clarkson can do to us, the team will be more ready to play them this time around. They know what is at stake. We've gone into Cheel as decided underdogs and come away with two points. It can happen.

 

[bothman]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

Jack Drury (son of Ted Drury) commits to Harvard for 2018. Big pick-up!