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Vort Doen.....Heija Heija Heija
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
That is like visions of Da Dolphins vs Da Bears in week 14 of 1985.
That is like visions of Da Dolphins vs Da Bears in week 14 of 1985.
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Harvard Hockey 2010-11
- Thread starter alslammerz
- Start date
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
I missed seeing the women this past weekend as I went to Bright for the men's games. Sounded good in the recaps and box scores though.
Watson Rink: I agree that it was really nice seeing the former Olympian alumnae there and that they did an autograph session for the kids afterwards. Only odd thing was that someone in the athletic department either cannot spell or is unaware of the gender of the women's team as the photo they handed out said "Alumni Weekend 2011". Nice they gave the pictures out though.
I missed seeing the women this past weekend as I went to Bright for the men's games. Sounded good in the recaps and box scores though.
Watson Rink: I agree that it was really nice seeing the former Olympian alumnae there and that they did an autograph session for the kids afterwards. Only odd thing was that someone in the athletic department either cannot spell or is unaware of the gender of the women's team as the photo they handed out said "Alumni Weekend 2011". Nice they gave the pictures out though.
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
As we head into the home stretch with four of the next six at Bright, we should be in good shape for the #2 seed in the conference. Since we own the tiebreaker against Dartmouth (sweeping them this season), if we can take four points this weekend, it should leave us with a pretty solid hold on second place. In fact, the Cornell game might not mean anything in terms of the standings except to ruin the Big Red's undefeated regular season in the ECAC.
I have to admit that after watching the Crimson earlier this season, I didn't hold out much hope for a top four finish. I don't know if that means they are better than I thought or the rest of the league is less than stellar. Maybe somewhere in between.
As we head into the home stretch with four of the next six at Bright, we should be in good shape for the #2 seed in the conference. Since we own the tiebreaker against Dartmouth (sweeping them this season), if we can take four points this weekend, it should leave us with a pretty solid hold on second place. In fact, the Cornell game might not mean anything in terms of the standings except to ruin the Big Red's undefeated regular season in the ECAC.
I have to admit that after watching the Crimson earlier this season, I didn't hold out much hope for a top four finish. I don't know if that means they are better than I thought or the rest of the league is less than stellar. Maybe somewhere in between.
alslammerz
Harvard Hockey Broadcaster '09-'12
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
Here is a look at the playoff picture. Assuming Cornell sweeps, Harvard needs to match said sweep to not see Cornell clinch first place this weekend. Harvard would face RPI if the playoffs ended today.
Also (not entirely relevant to us) Union is, I believe, the first team officially eliminated from the ECAC playoff picture.
Feel free to check my math on any of these portions and provide corrections (I'm a humanities person. Something about the college student with the 12 cans in the 10 item or less line- either you go to MIT and can't read or go to Harvard and can't count, as the joke goes.)
Here is a look at the playoff picture. Assuming Cornell sweeps, Harvard needs to match said sweep to not see Cornell clinch first place this weekend. Harvard would face RPI if the playoffs ended today.
Also (not entirely relevant to us) Union is, I believe, the first team officially eliminated from the ECAC playoff picture.
Feel free to check my math on any of these portions and provide corrections (I'm a humanities person. Something about the college student with the 12 cans in the 10 item or less line- either you go to MIT and can't read or go to Harvard and can't count, as the joke goes.)
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
After last night's disappointing loss and staring at a 0-2 deficit after two periods, it looked the like the Lady Crimson were headed for an ohfer weekend. Fortunately they pulled it out today with a strong third period. I don't want to see either of these teams in the playoffs. They play the Crimson tough.
I hope that Kalley Armstrong starts getting some serious ice time because she is starting to put the puck in the net and that is what we desperately need. Coach Stone's line combinations leave me scratching my head wondering what is going on. Let's hope they settle on three strong lines and stick with it the rest of the way. It's a little late to be trying out new combos.
After last night's disappointing loss and staring at a 0-2 deficit after two periods, it looked the like the Lady Crimson were headed for an ohfer weekend. Fortunately they pulled it out today with a strong third period. I don't want to see either of these teams in the playoffs. They play the Crimson tough.
I hope that Kalley Armstrong starts getting some serious ice time because she is starting to put the puck in the net and that is what we desperately need. Coach Stone's line combinations leave me scratching my head wondering what is going on. Let's hope they settle on three strong lines and stick with it the rest of the way. It's a little late to be trying out new combos.
Watson Rink
Registered User
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
Seems like rolling all twelve forwards today produced good results. Armstrong had 2 goals, Baumgartner was a plus 3, Sperling a plus 2 with an assist on the winning goal, Parker and Kennedy were positives as well. After Wheeler left the second period limping, Gina Mac played up with the big girls, prompting me to quote this from DC 78-82's prescient November 18 post "I've seen Dempsey and Buesser play with Gina Mac on several summer occasions, and they had some super chemistry." If all twelve forwards see significant ice time, it should give the top six more zing in their skating and, if a strong opponent chooses to focus on clamping a lid on the top six (who, apart from Gina, were a collective minus for the game), may result in some heroics from the other six, as it did today
Seems like rolling all twelve forwards today produced good results. Armstrong had 2 goals, Baumgartner was a plus 3, Sperling a plus 2 with an assist on the winning goal, Parker and Kennedy were positives as well. After Wheeler left the second period limping, Gina Mac played up with the big girls, prompting me to quote this from DC 78-82's prescient November 18 post "I've seen Dempsey and Buesser play with Gina Mac on several summer occasions, and they had some super chemistry." If all twelve forwards see significant ice time, it should give the top six more zing in their skating and, if a strong opponent chooses to focus on clamping a lid on the top six (who, apart from Gina, were a collective minus for the game), may result in some heroics from the other six, as it did today
alslammerz
Harvard Hockey Broadcaster '09-'12
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
Tuesday's game will be on WHRB, by the way.
Tuesday's game will be on WHRB, by the way.
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
I'd like to see Coach Stone going with six D on a regular basis. It cost us against Princeton because we started to run out of gas especially in the third period. Princeton's forwards are big and they wore us down. We could have used more depth on the blue line. Something to consider as we head towards March.
I'd like to see Coach Stone going with six D on a regular basis. It cost us against Princeton because we started to run out of gas especially in the third period. Princeton's forwards are big and they wore us down. We could have used more depth on the blue line. Something to consider as we head towards March.
Watson Rink
Registered User
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
I omitted mention of how the team showed exceptional offensive and defensive versatility at critical moments of the match (mercifully averting my eyes from the questions how did they rack up so many penalties and what went awry in the first six minutes of the second period):
1. Killing a total of 2:53 of five-on-three within a 3:35 span of the first period, and then not allowing a shot while playing six-on-four in the final 27 seconds of the game
2. Getting the three required comeback goals, all at even strength, in the first ten minutes of the third period
3. Playing carefully with the puck over the final ten minutes, cycling it down low in the offensive end without risky passes back to the point, ragging it to eat up the clock, having lone forecheckers force face-offs in the Q end
I omitted mention of how the team showed exceptional offensive and defensive versatility at critical moments of the match (mercifully averting my eyes from the questions how did they rack up so many penalties and what went awry in the first six minutes of the second period):
1. Killing a total of 2:53 of five-on-three within a 3:35 span of the first period, and then not allowing a shot while playing six-on-four in the final 27 seconds of the game
2. Getting the three required comeback goals, all at even strength, in the first ten minutes of the third period
3. Playing carefully with the puck over the final ten minutes, cycling it down low in the offensive end without risky passes back to the point, ragging it to eat up the clock, having lone forecheckers force face-offs in the Q end
Watson Rink
Registered User
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
The league tables make clear that it was beneficial to have won against Quinnipiac rather than Princeton this weekend, if a split of one-goal games was in the cards. Q now has 20 points for the season and P 19, whereas if the split had gone the other way, Q would have had 22. Since Q and/or P might well amass as many as 8 points over the next two weeks, given their schedule, having a 6-point lead in the standings, rather than a 4-point lead, means that H needs only 3 points against Clarkson, St Lawrence, Colgate and Cornell to secure home ice for the first round of the ECACs (Dartmouth is very unlikely to rack up 5 more points than Harvard does against those same four teams).
Given the degree of parity in the ECAC this year (sans Cornell), having home ice in a three-game series should be very important.
The league tables make clear that it was beneficial to have won against Quinnipiac rather than Princeton this weekend, if a split of one-goal games was in the cards. Q now has 20 points for the season and P 19, whereas if the split had gone the other way, Q would have had 22. Since Q and/or P might well amass as many as 8 points over the next two weeks, given their schedule, having a 6-point lead in the standings, rather than a 4-point lead, means that H needs only 3 points against Clarkson, St Lawrence, Colgate and Cornell to secure home ice for the first round of the ECACs (Dartmouth is very unlikely to rack up 5 more points than Harvard does against those same four teams).
Given the degree of parity in the ECAC this year (sans Cornell), having home ice in a three-game series should be very important.
goaliedad35
Registered User
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
Nice job minding your P's and Q's (and H's)!
Nice job minding your P's and Q's (and H's)!
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
I think it is exactly that parity which makes it difficult to predict who is going to win their first round series, Cornell being the exception. I can see any one of the teams from second place to seventh taking their series. Just too close to call. Harvard used to be a lock on home ice but ever since their loss to RPI two years ago, I'm taking nothing for granted.
I still would like to see the Crimson finish second to get home ice in the semis.
I think it is exactly that parity which makes it difficult to predict who is going to win their first round series, Cornell being the exception. I can see any one of the teams from second place to seventh taking their series. Just too close to call. Harvard used to be a lock on home ice but ever since their loss to RPI two years ago, I'm taking nothing for granted.
I still would like to see the Crimson finish second to get home ice in the semis.
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
Well things changed quickly. I believe Philip-Poulin was out (and hadn't been scoring at the same rate anyway, hurt?). BC was clearly playing better than BU in the weeks prior to the Beanpot, and that continued tonight.
We'll see how much progress Harvard has made in another week.
Well things changed quickly. I believe Philip-Poulin was out (and hadn't been scoring at the same rate anyway, hurt?). BC was clearly playing better than BU in the weeks prior to the Beanpot, and that continued tonight.
We'll see how much progress Harvard has made in another week.
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
Dave, talk about being prescient! Great call on yesterday's results. I'm hoping the Crimson will give BC a much better game than the one in December.
Dave, talk about being prescient! Great call on yesterday's results. I'm hoping the Crimson will give BC a much better game than the one in December.
UCONN FAN
New member
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
I was at the game and did not see BC playing better than BU. BU out shot BC almost 3-1. BC hung on to win that game. Poulin is out for at least 3 weeks with a broken hand suffered blocking a shot last weekend and will be evaluated then.
I was at the game and did not see BC playing better than BU. BU out shot BC almost 3-1. BC hung on to win that game. Poulin is out for at least 3 weeks with a broken hand suffered blocking a shot last weekend and will be evaluated then.
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
Boston Globe coverage: http://www.boston.com/sports/colleg...and_bc_move_on_to_final/?p1=Well_Sports_links
Boston Herald: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...mson_rally_to_final/srvc=sports&position=also
Boston Globe coverage: http://www.boston.com/sports/colleg...and_bc_move_on_to_final/?p1=Well_Sports_links
Boston Herald: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...mson_rally_to_final/srvc=sports&position=also
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
BU meanwhile was not getting as much scoring in recent weeks from its two best forwards, even prior to Philip-Poulin's injury. Without her, they were clearly going to be in trouble, esp. with so little time between games to adjust. Though yes, BU is still deeper than BC (see last season) and they were going to outshoot BC and "play better" than BC in the sense that you've defined the concept.
So I don't think I've misinterpreted anything.
Yes, I can see that from the box scores too. During this 5 game win streak, BC has frequently been outshot, but they've won because they've been carried by the best goalie and the best forward in Hockey East, and without those two players they're not very good (see Princeton vs. BC this season, see BC last season).
BU meanwhile was not getting as much scoring in recent weeks from its two best forwards, even prior to Philip-Poulin's injury. Without her, they were clearly going to be in trouble, esp. with so little time between games to adjust. Though yes, BU is still deeper than BC (see last season) and they were going to outshoot BC and "play better" than BC in the sense that you've defined the concept.
So I don't think I've misinterpreted anything.
Watson Rink
Registered User
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
So, do we expect the following game plan for next weekend, to keep building inexorably on the team's current momentum:
"Okay, gang, on Friday we need to get down 4-0 before we come back, and then on Saturday let's make sure we come back from 5 down....otherwise it'll be too dull....and in the Beanpot let's remember just to tie with our 6 unanswered goals because shootouts are more exciting than overtime periods....
More seriously, looking at the rest of the season, in addition to the now realistic prospect of a top 10 finish nationally, there are also at least three wonderful upset opportunities. Upset opportunities, however unlikely, are always fun to think about. But the difference between finishing #10 or #9 and an NCAA berth appears to be huge. I wonder if even a couple of upsets would be enough (other than earning an autobid by defeating Cornell in the ECAC title game), given the earlier losses to Minny, BU and BC? Is it too early for Dave's crystal ball to tell us?
So, do we expect the following game plan for next weekend, to keep building inexorably on the team's current momentum:
"Okay, gang, on Friday we need to get down 4-0 before we come back, and then on Saturday let's make sure we come back from 5 down....otherwise it'll be too dull....and in the Beanpot let's remember just to tie with our 6 unanswered goals because shootouts are more exciting than overtime periods....
More seriously, looking at the rest of the season, in addition to the now realistic prospect of a top 10 finish nationally, there are also at least three wonderful upset opportunities. Upset opportunities, however unlikely, are always fun to think about. But the difference between finishing #10 or #9 and an NCAA berth appears to be huge. I wonder if even a couple of upsets would be enough (other than earning an autobid by defeating Cornell in the ECAC title game), given the earlier losses to Minny, BU and BC? Is it too early for Dave's crystal ball to tell us?
Re: Harvard Hockey 2010-11
Though Harvard has risen quickly in the polls back to the 9/10 slots it occupied earlier in the season, the gap between 9 and 8 in the PWR is pretty huge right now.
For Harvard to get an at-large NCAA bid without winning the ECAC, it would require
(1) a collapse by one of the top 8, say UMD continues its mediocre play
(2) Harvard to perform exceptionally well next few weeks, much better than it's played all season
(3) no autobid conference champions from outside the top 8
Though Harvard's played better I don't think (2) is all that likely given what we've seen. The team is still losing games an NCAA at-large team needs to win, and even this result (draw) against Northeastern was not a positive from an NCAA at-large perspective.
Harvard's best chances of making NCAAs by autobid are still an order of magnitude larger than their chances of making NCAAs at-large. The Beanpot final will have more value from the pride of title in and of itself "playing for a championship in February", and for building momentum and confidence and postseason experience going into ECACs, then any implications for at-large selections. This is in contrast to past years, like 2006, 2007, 2009 where Harvard's Beanpot losses to BC all had huge NCAA implications. (though in 2006 the loss meant Harvard needed to win the ECAC to get in and did)
Though Harvard has risen quickly in the polls back to the 9/10 slots it occupied earlier in the season, the gap between 9 and 8 in the PWR is pretty huge right now.
For Harvard to get an at-large NCAA bid without winning the ECAC, it would require
(1) a collapse by one of the top 8, say UMD continues its mediocre play
(2) Harvard to perform exceptionally well next few weeks, much better than it's played all season
(3) no autobid conference champions from outside the top 8
Though Harvard's played better I don't think (2) is all that likely given what we've seen. The team is still losing games an NCAA at-large team needs to win, and even this result (draw) against Northeastern was not a positive from an NCAA at-large perspective.
Harvard's best chances of making NCAAs by autobid are still an order of magnitude larger than their chances of making NCAAs at-large. The Beanpot final will have more value from the pride of title in and of itself "playing for a championship in February", and for building momentum and confidence and postseason experience going into ECACs, then any implications for at-large selections. This is in contrast to past years, like 2006, 2007, 2009 where Harvard's Beanpot losses to BC all had huge NCAA implications. (though in 2006 the loss meant Harvard needed to win the ECAC to get in and did)
Watson Rink
Registered User
An Era of Good Feelings
An Era of Good Feelings
I really liked seeing Laura Bellamy's facial expression and body language while standing around the bench waiting for the shootout. She seemed to bubble with happiness. The other likely suspects for the shootout also appeared to be loose and confident.
Such nonchalence in a goaltender reminds me of seeing Joey Bertagna, after having come off the ice to give his backup some experience in a one-sided victory, sorting through a stack of bubblegum hockey cards on the bench, no doubt working on his fantasy NHL team. I've always wondered whether he secreted the stash of cards somewhere in his equipment, or had his backup hold them for him on the bench?
An Era of Good Feelings
I really liked seeing Laura Bellamy's facial expression and body language while standing around the bench waiting for the shootout. She seemed to bubble with happiness. The other likely suspects for the shootout also appeared to be loose and confident.
Such nonchalence in a goaltender reminds me of seeing Joey Bertagna, after having come off the ice to give his backup some experience in a one-sided victory, sorting through a stack of bubblegum hockey cards on the bench, no doubt working on his fantasy NHL team. I've always wondered whether he secreted the stash of cards somewhere in his equipment, or had his backup hold them for him on the bench?