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Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

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

bothman said:
Today is the 5 year anniversary of Tom Cavanagh's death. Such a great player and such a sad story.
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Both, thanks for this. Tom was a great player with a Harvard lineage that goes back to the late sixties and seventies. He was money on face-offs for the Crimson and was clutch in the playoffs. I'm sure this is a very tough time for the family. RIP Tom.
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

That was the worst 3rd period I've ever seen. And I called the games during the Dark Ages. Awful.
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

Maguire put on a show in the first period, he really kept BU in that game 100%. I really liked the efforts the 3rd and 4th line gave to give Harvard a constant grinding style for their play. It made it so that the pressure never let up. Has anyone ever gotten the blown lead vibe from Donato? I have felt for a number of years that as soon as his team gets up, they start playing way too defensively and give up a lot of leads. Tonight he isn't as much to blame as Blackwell. I don't think anyone is gonna talk to him tonight. I would love to bench him, but you're about to play Quinnipiac. Short leash for him maybe?
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

I've always enjoyed watching Blackwell play, hustles constantly; the first goal was a mistake, but to take a penalty in the third for saying something to the ref is an inexcusable mistake by a senior. He contributed to Harvard's loss of composure.

Game really made me angry, I've been a season ticket holder since Tripp Tracy was a freshman, sat through a lot of bad years, but thought they turned a corner. BU taught them a lesson tonight, that is why BU will always be BU and Harvard will always be a second tier program.
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

A complete and utter choke job. How do you blow a two goal lead with less than five to play when you are in control? I get that Blackwell's taking that utterly stupid penalty started the downfall but my God, where was the discipline and skating. It's like we thought the game was over when we went up 5-3.

The only lesson worth learning from this game is that you have to play 60 minutes regardless of the score. You can't just rest on your laurels. When Harvard skated and forechecked tonight, they were completely superior to BU. When they stopped doing what the coaches told them to do, the roof caved in. They need to look in the mirror and decide what kind of team they want to be going forward. This was totally unacceptable.
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

Crimson Faced said:
I've always enjoyed watching Blackwell play, hustles constantly; the first goal was a mistake, but to take a penalty in the third for saying something to the ref is an inexcusable mistake by a senior. He contributed to Harvard's loss of composure.

Game really made me angry, I've been a season ticket holder since Tripp Tracy was a freshman, sat through a lot of bad years, but thought they turned a corner. BU taught them a lesson tonight, that is why BU will always be BU and Harvard will always be a second tier program.
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A little harsh. We're not second tier. We had a meltdown tonight but it isn't like this is a regular occurrence. Look at how we came back to win in Minnesota over the weekend. Yes, we have problems on D and in goal but it isn't like we can't do something about it. If we learn from this and take it to the Bobcats on Saturday, all will be forgiven. Right?
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

bothman said:
I think Donato should let Blackwell sit a game to reflect on some of his decisions (2 goals against).
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Maybe but with the Bobcats on Saturday, I'd have to think about it. His skill is hard to replace.
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

first time i've been in bright since the re-do. very nice. took care of the biggest need there (space). didn't get a chance to go next door to the little pub for which my hand was stamped but will try to do so if i can make it back later this season.
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

Skate79 said:
A little harsh. We're not second tier. We had a meltdown tonight but it isn't like this is a regular occurrence. Look at how we came back to win in Minnesota over the weekend. Yes, we have problems on D and in goal but it isn't like we can't do something about it. If we learn from this and take it to the Bobcats on Saturday, all will be forgiven. Right?
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True it was a little harsh, it was an aggravating game to sit through and I posted too soon after I got home. Always worse losing at home where most of the crowd is made up by visiting team fans, which is every game. Absolutely no passion or energy by the small group of Harvard fans at the game.

It is a trend, though, dominate the game early and hang on for dear life in the third period. Even in the Minnesota game, they gave up two goals in rapid succession in the third period and if it were not for two excellent plays by Vecsey would have lost that game too. Lost a lead late to Yale at home.

It will take more than a competitive effort against Quinnipiac to make me start believing in this team.
 
Crimson Faced said:
...... and Harvard will always be a second tier program.
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This is no second tier program. Not this year. I've seen 14 different D1 teams play this season. Harvard has a lot of talent and is for real, notwithstanding tonight's loss. It was just as much BU turned scorching hot in the 3rd as it was any collapse by Harvard. The BU team Harvard played for the first two periods vanished and the other BU team took over and took all the momentum. Huge momentum shift tonight and Harvard let them do it.
 
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Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

Everyone can exhale. Just one game. Part of the process and s lot of coaching moments for Donato. No doubt Blackwell won't sleep very well tonight but that is also part of his own growth process as a player and person.

The white hat on me says this could be the best thing vs a Quinny team who is owed some pay back.

Bring on the Cats!
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

The third period notwithstanding, I was very impressed by the Crimson. Speed, size, gave BU fits with their forecheck. IMHO this team will be in Tampa.
 
defkit said:
The third period notwithstanding, I was very impressed by the Crimson. Speed, size, gave BU fits with their forecheck. IMHO this team will be in Tampa.
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I said the same thing last night watching periods one and two. They are certainly in the conversation for Tampa. One rub for Harvard is that Some are not sure they have a quarterfinal, semi final, final game level goalie.
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

defkit said:
The third period notwithstanding, I was very impressed by the Crimson. Speed, size, gave BU fits with their forecheck. IMHO this team will be in Tampa.
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HU is very good, is your goalie usually that sieve-y though? He seemed to be the only glaring weak link. That said, some of the first period enthusiasm would have to be tempered by the fact that a couple BU players stepped off planes that morning, two were coming off injuries for the first time in a couple months, and the team hadn't yet had a full practice in over a month so some cobwebs were to be expected. Of course, HU took that and pounded it down our throats early on, but I would say the first period was a bit of an aberration.
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

Lets keep in mind that before last night's game, Madsen was second in the country for goals against average. Now his save percentage was bad last night, but in reality Madsen got left out to dry on at least two of those goals. BU's first goal was caused by defender giving way too much space to the BU winger on the left side, he was able to wait out his pass and was redirected in the crease between Madsen's legs. Second, Blackwell's pass to the man stepping out of the box. He had a clear shot from mid slot that went top corner glove side. It would have been nice if he had saved that, but that's not going to be a .9+ save percentage shot by any means. The stat line looks a little rough, but I don't think he had a game that should make us reconsidering his talent.
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

Thisisahockeywebsite said:
Lets keep in mind that before last night's game, Madsen was second in the country for goals against average. Now his save percentage was bad last night, but in reality Madsen got left out to dry on at least two of those goals. BU's first goal was caused by defender giving way too much space to the BU winger on the left side, he was able to wait out his pass and was redirected in the crease between Madsen's legs. Second, Blackwell's pass to the man stepping out of the box. He had a clear shot from mid slot that went top corner glove side. It would have been nice if he had saved that, but that's not going to be a .9+ save percentage shot by any means. The stat line looks a little rough, but I don't think he had a game that should make us reconsidering his talent.
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Agreed, but I wouldn't be surprised if Lackey gets the nod against Quinny...
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

What a great game that was. Worth 3 flat tires on freaking I-95 in the Lyme area. God Almighty. We need road work here.

Must say, I was impressed with Harvard Stadium. First time I've ever been on campus. Harvard makes Yale look small time. Except when it comes to the hockey rink. Or say Yale owns New Haven.
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2015-2016 - All things Bright and Beautiful

So lots of questions coming out of last night's debacle. Mine are as follows:
1) How does this team respond to such a demoralizing and gift-wrapped loss?
2) What has becometh of Harvard's defense? Has it been masked by outstanding goaltending that had a bad night last night? Why is Braden Jaw not playing? Why is Aiken (walk on) playing and not some more heralded recruits (Dumbrovsky out of BCHL)
3) How will Donato manage games late with leads? What can be learned by what happened in the final 5 mins of the 3rd period last night with what was seemingly a cushy 2 goal lead?
4) How does Blackwell respond to what was a very tough game for him personally?

We will start to see some of this on display against the #1 team in the nation at MSG, in just over 24hrs from now. Doesn't get any easier for these guys.
 
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