Sorry bak, too busy dealing with the whiners from Middlebury still. OSWEGO SUCKS! (feel better?) No video this year from me. I might offend someone
In all seriousness I told the wife that all plans are canceled Friday and Goggle Chrome is ready to go on the big screen. Having to work at 6am Saturday morning for 16 hours, not thinking a quick 6 hour one-way trip to Plattsburgh is in the forecast. So its NSN, WIRY, WTOP, WNYO to the rescue. I'm still a firm believer in that you're not as good as they say you are when you win, and you're not as bad as they say you are when you lose. Having said that, a three point weekend is HUGE for Plattsburgh. Oswego really needs this game. Plattsburgh still has road trips to Buff State and Fredonia (who are a combined 0-3-0 and outscored 22-2 in the last 3 games combined) while Oswego still has to travel to the Ira and play those pesky Ponies twice. Yes it's still early, but I will feel much better going into the final weekend with a 4-5 point lead on Oswego.
Goaltending is up in the air on our end. Roli (outside of Norwich) has played well and Finney had an issue with rebounds (except against Middlebury) in a lot of his other starts. Its Roli's turn to start, but we shall see. Either way I am confident on either one giving Plattsburgh a chance to win. In the few games I've seen Oswego, win or loss, they've normally been the better team. If Plattsburgh thinks they are getting a 0-1-2 team in their last 3 they are mistaken. If they think "they (OSU) lost to Genny, we beat Genny" they will lose!
Don't even get me started on special teams right now. As we joked about last weekend, if hockey had the option to decline a PowerPlay, we should. At just around 11% it's just not there. I would be much more okay with 11% if Plattsburgh was getting high quality shots on goal on the power play, that's not happening. Several times a game Plattsburgh will get ZERO shots on goal during power plays. With the talent on the ice, it CAN be worked out.
As far as the green and gold, as I said last year, the success of Oswego was based on TEAM. Yes there is talent, but they played together as a TEAM last year. Sacrificed bodies, worked hard in the corners, and was gritty. (Titanic anyone?) They just seem to be missing something this year. Sure they can dipsy-doodle around, make cute passes, and a few snipe shots here and there but when the going gets tough they seem to be missing that spark. Someone will have to step up and carry the team in that regards. While Plattsburgh doesn't have the Jensen affect, I think this years Cardinal class is deeper and the defense seems a little more stable. If Plattsburgh could score a power play goal here and there their stats would right up there with the rest of the DIII world. They have no scorer in the top 75 Nationally, but do have 2 in the top 5 in SUNYAC scoring (playing Norwich and Middlebury might have something to do with that).
Prediction? No idea. To me like I said, Oswego needs this game more. They can not go down 5 points to Plattsburgh at the break (giving them still a full four points to Morrisville still). For some reason I'm thinking a sister kisser 3-3 Tie...
..
