Harvard Crimson 2022-2023

[Skate79]

So, I'll leave the Michigan discussion to those in the know. Hoping the Crimson comes out with a split.

Last night's game against RPI was a typical Harvard-RPI grind-it-out game. Nothing ever comes easy against the Engineers although Harvard looked like it was asleep for the first two periods. Fortunately, they woke up in the third with Austin Wong's greasy goal that had RPI questioning goaltender interference. From what I could tell watching the game on ESPN+, the RPI defender pushed the Harvard player into Watson, the RPI goalie, allowing Wong to pick up the puck and stuff it home. Then came the Alex Gaffney show. The tying goal was a thing of beauty - a wrister from the middle of the offensive zone, above the shoulder. The winner in OT was one of those innocent plays where Gaffney circled behind the net, then moved in between the circles and put the puck on goal hoping for what he got: a goal. May have been tipped. Hard to tell. We'll take the points.

On to Union.

 

[bothman]

So, I'll leave the Michigan discussion to those in the know. Hoping the Crimson comes out with a split.

Last night's game against RPI was a typical Harvard-RPI grind-it-out game. Nothing ever comes easy against the Engineers although Harvard looked like it was asleep for the first two periods. Fortunately, they woke up in the third with Austin Wong's greasy goal that had RPI questioning goaltender interference. From what I could tell watching the game on ESPN+, the RPI defender pushed the Harvard player into Watson, the RPI goalie, allowing Wong to pick up the puck and stuff it home. Then came the Alex Gaffney show. The tying goal was a thing of beauty - a wrister from the middle of the offensive zone, above the shoulder. The winner in OT was one of those innocent plays where Gaffney circled behind the net, then moved in between the circles and put the puck on goal hoping for what he got: a goal. May have been tipped. Hard to tell. We'll take the points.

On to Union.

Completely agree. Thought RPI dictated tempo, played their game, and frankly, deserved to win the game. Harvard was sluggish, sloppy (pucks bouncing off sticks all night), and I feel some of our younger defenseman were exposed with decision making. Harvard was lucky to be down only 2-0 after 2.

On Harvard's 1st goal, the puck was in the net long before the RPI goalie tried to move to his right so regardless of whether that was interference / RPI defender push hindered Aucion from leaving the crease, it did not effect the goalie. I am biased, but I thought it was the right call.

It was encouraging to get a win when the top line really had no juice all night and the PP generated next to nothing. Like to see them tighten things up tonight and make a statement early.

 

[Skate79]

So last night's game left me a bit confused. Where did the bad blood between Harvard and Union come from? Last year's game on the final regular season weekend? The rough stuff was unusual and the chirping (Farrell giving it to Connor Murphy the Union goalie after he scored to make it 3-1 was over the top) seemed out of character. Maybe not. Fortunately, we don't see the Dutchman until the last weekend of the season so maybe cooler heads will prevail.

As to the game, Harvard played better than Friday night's come-from-behind win. The Crimson had control of the game even after Union made it 2-1 (Mullahy should have had it) and the first line had its way with Union all night. Coronato's goal sealed the deal.

Looks like Teddy will be rotating goalies. Guessing he will do it depending on the opponent. Next up is UNH on Tuesday so we'll probably see Gibson with Mullahy taking BC.

 

[bothman]

Good win against UNH. Should have probably won 6-1. Missed several break aways and the goal UNH scored was a bad rebound by Gibson on a initial shot he should have smothered. Harvard gets a real test next weekend against Michigan on the road. I think a split would be great, but we will see. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

 

[Skate79]

Good win against UNH. Should have probably won 6-1. Missed several breakaways and the goal UNH scored was a bad rebound by Gibson on an initial shot he should have smothered. Harvard gets a real test next weekend against Michigan on the road. I think a split would be great, but we will see. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

Don't forget we've got BC on Tuesday before the trip out to Michigan. Agree about the UNH game. We should have won by a wider margin. The second and third lines need to pick up the scoring slack and not leave it entirely to Farrell and Coronato. And I'd like to see Jack Bar show some maturity and not take so many stupid penalties. Teddy should have a sit-down with him.

Fun moment the other night on the Carolina Hurricanes TV broadcast. Tripp Tracy '96 is the 'Canes color analyst and he shared a great story about his former teammate Ted Drury '93 who is Jack's dad (Jack is up with the Canes and is making a good impression on Rod Brind'Amour). Ted would invite Tripp over for dinner when Tripp was playing in the AHL. Tripp's broadcast partner started giving him a hard time about his Harvard connections, all in good fun. But you could tell Tripp has a ton of respect for the Drury family and why not? They are terrific (I got to know Ted's dad and mom during his time at Harvard).

 

[HUJFKLINE]

Don't forget we've got BC on Tuesday before the trip out to Michigan. Agree about the UNH game. We should have won by a wider margin. The second and third lines need to pick up the scoring slack and not leave it entirely to Farrell and Coronato. And I'd like to see Jack Bar show some maturity and not take so many stupid penalties. Teddy should have a sit-down with him.

Fun moment the other night on the Carolina Hurricanes TV broadcast. Tripp Tracy '96 is the 'Canes color analyst and he shared a great story about his former teammate Ted Drury '93 who is Jack's dad (Jack is up with the Canes and is making a good impression on Rod Brind'Amour). Ted would invite Tripp over for dinner when Tripp was playing in the AHL. Tripp's broadcast partner started giving him a hard time about his Harvard connections, all in good fun. But you could tell Tripp has a ton of respect for the Drury family and why not? They are terrific (I got to know Ted's dad and mom during his time at Harvard).

Other than the Beanpot, BC doesn't appear on the schedule this year.

 

[Skate79]

Other than the Beanpot, BC doesn't appear on the schedule this year.

I whiffed. The women are playing BC, not the men.

 

[Dutchman]

Great first period !!! Hope it continues ....

 

[bothman]

I thought Harvard played a very good game overall - against a very good opponent in a packed barn on the road. Controlled play for much of the 1st and 2nd period before withstanding a Michigan onslaught in the 3rd. Harvard did not get the puck deep (too much finesse) which allowed Michigan to come the other way with speed.

Was very impressed with Fantilli, Hughes, and Brindley. The speed and skill was off the charts.

Harvard did prevail in the shoot out, but this game goes in the books as a tie. Not sure how that effects the PWR, but overall a very good result on the road.

Bar did not dress (not sure if injured or sick) and Farinacci still out.

 

[Skate79]

I thought Harvard played a very good game overall - against a very good opponent in a packed barn on the road. Controlled play for much of the 1st and 2nd period before withstanding a Michigan onslaught in the 3rd. Harvard did not get the puck deep (too much finesse) which allowed Michigan to come the other way with speed.

Was very impressed with Fantilli, Hughes, and Brindley. The speed and skill was off the charts.

Harvard did prevail in the shoot out, but this game goes in the books as a tie. Not sure how that effects the PWR, but overall a very good result on the road.

Bar did not dress (not sure if injured or sick) and Farinacci still out.

I'm guessing Bar sat because he has been taking some dumb penalties lately and Teddy wanted to send a message. Farinacci hopefully will return for Northeastern on New Years Day.

 

[bothman]

Don’t be confused by the 4-1 score. Game was very similar to last night. I actually thought Michigan had fewer Grade A chances tonight. Harvard missed the net all night which was odd. Gibson, who was great all weekend, gave up a bad angle goal on Michigan #3 goal and that was it.

A couple of thoughts:
- never seen Harvard miss the net so much. So much high and wide.
- freshman really struggled all weekend. Thought both Healy and Miller and Tresca (though less so) looked small and struggled with the physicality. Was not ECAC hockey
- Gibson was great. Clear #1 on this team
- laferriere needs to work on skating. Struggled to create chances against Michigan’s speed
- Karpa needs to work on shot. So many over the net and wide

i thought Harvard played great overall and this weekend will serve them well. On to Lynah. LFG!

 

[bothman]

Good win last night at Lynah. As the game wore on, the skill and speed of Harvard was undeniable. Cornell had 1 SOG in 3rd and were completely outclassed once the OT started with more space. You have to wonder when Cornell will start to recruit more speed and skill?

Let’s hope for no letdown against Colgate

 

[Skate79]

Good win last night at Lynah. As the game wore on, the skill and speed of Harvard was undeniable. Cornell had 1 SOG in 3rd and were completely outclassed once the OT started with more space. You have to wonder when circle will start to recruit more speed and skill?

Let’s hope for no letdown against Colgate

Agree with your assessment. If Laferriere buries his break-in chance in the first period, the game doesn't go to OT. I think Schaefer knew that his only chance to win was to turn the game into a tractor pull and have four men back in his D zone at all times. Cornell did hold us to our lowest shot total of the year so far, but their offense is nothing to write home about and Schaefer's strategy is more about playing not to lose.

Also noticed that Teddy shortened the bench quite a bit in the third period as well as holding Healey and Langenbrunner out for much of that period. The team might be fatigued heading into Colgate tonight as a result. Caught a bit of the Colgate-Dartmouth game. We need to pay attention to Manderville of Colgate. If that name rings a bell, his dad played for Cornell.

 

[bothman]

Agree with your assessment. If Laferriere buries his break-in chance in the first period, the game doesn't go to OT. I think Schaefer knew that his only chance to win was to turn the game into a tractor pull and have four men back in his D zone at all times. Cornell did hold us to our lowest shot total of the year so far, but their offense is nothing to write home about and Schaefer's strategy is more about playing not to lose.

Also noticed that Teddy shortened the bench quite a bit in the third period as well as holding Healey and Langenbrunner out for much of that period. The team might be fatigued heading into Colgate tonight as a result. Caught a bit of the Colgate-Dartmouth game. We need to pay attention to Manderville of Colgate. If that name rings a bell, his dad played for Cornell.

Agree. Frosh up and down as expected. Tresca, Healy struggling a bit. Miller and Healy have to put on some more muscle. last game before a long break. May see mullahy guven that Gibson got dinged up last night.


Farinacci hopefully back and ge interesting to see how that changes up lines.

 

[Skate79]

Well, last night was a disaster. The team stopped skating after Hejduk made it 3-1. That and the stupid penalties (will the coaching staff please step up and address this??) let Colgate back in the game. Also, and I know this is excuse-making, but the team has been on the road for three weeks and this was the last game before exams. I believe they stopped skating because they a). thought they had the game won at 3-1 and b). they were thinking about going home and the forthcoming exams. I expect a far different result in Cambridge.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

 

[bothman]

Yup. Defense was so sloppy and the offensive cohesion was not there. And kudos to Colgate for making us pay. Break is coming at a good time. What do u think the lines will look like when Farinacci comes back?

 

[Skate79]

Yup. Defense was so sloppy and the offensive cohesion was not there. And kudos to Colgate for making us pay. Break is coming at a good time. What do u think the lines will look like when Farinacci comes back?

Was thinking about line combinations just yesterday. Here’s my take:

Farrell-Coronato-Miller
Gaffney-Farinacci-Laferierre
Karpa-Tresca-Hejduk
Deveaux-Shore-Wong

The reason I drop Wong to the fourth line is that Hejduk provides more of a scoring threat. Wong is a more physical player and I think he gives the fourth line some more grit and physicality.

 

[ICECAT1811]

Was thinking about line combinations just yesterday. Here’s my take:

Farrell-Coronato-Miller
Gaffney-Farinacci-Laferierre
Karpa-Tresca-Hejduk
Deveaux-Shore-Wong

The reason I drop Wong to the fourth line is that Hejduk provides more of a scoring threat. Wong is a more physical player and I think he gives the fourth line some more grit and physicality.

You have 15 NHL draft picks which is more than any team in recent history….you can put anyone anywhere in your lineup.

 

[Skate79]

You have 15 NHL draft picks which is more than any team in recent history….you can put anyone anywhere in your lineup.

Not necessarily true. The Jersey boys line is much better with Farinacci than Karpa. And I think if Abruzzese had stayed in school, the first line would be even stronger. Nothing against Joe Miller or any of the freshman but they are still acclimating to the ECAC and college hockey in general.

 

[ICECAT1811]

Not necessarily true. The Jersey boys line is much better with Farinacci than Karpa. And I think if Abruzzese had stayed in school, the first line would be even stronger. Nothing against Joe Miller or any of the freshman but they are still acclimating to the ECAC and college hockey in general.

Ok I don’t follow Harvard so I can’t speak of the chemistry on your squad…..my point was simple…YOU HAVE 15 NHL DRAFT PICKS