Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

[The Real Georgia Peach]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

plattsburgh needs to take a l-o-n-g look at themselves after the last few games and figure out why there is no chemistry. Tonight showing was brutal

 

[norm1909]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

Middlebury blocks Card comeback (Excerpt from the Plattsburgh Press-Republican article from 2/3/10)

"Once again, we didn't get outplayed," said Plattsburgh State head coach Bob Emery. "But, we didn't play smart.

"I give Middlebury a lot of credit. They must have blocked 20 shots in front of their net. We played hard, but we still have to fine tune our game. And, playing smarter is the bottom line."

"It's tough to come back from a 3-0 deficit on the road," Emery said. "We made a Grade A mistake in our own end and it was 1-0 them right away."

Josh Leis took over for starting goaltender Ryan Williams at the start of the second period and his strong play gave the Cardinals (13-4-4) an opportunity to try and come back. Leis stopped all 13 shots he faced in the second.

"Leis played well when he went in, just like Williams did in the Oswego game when he went in," Emery said. "But, there's more pressure on the starting goaltender."

The Cardinals, however, turned the puck over deep in their own end two minutes later and Martin Drolet tallied to put the Panthers back up by two.

"We had a turnover in the slot and their best player scored," Emery said.

"Ryan Corry, to his credit, stood up in the lockerroom after the game and took the blame on the play. But, we lost the momentum we had on that goal and lost any chance of a comeback."

"We're in a rut right now," Emery said. "We had a good meeting after the game. We're not going to make any excuses, but this has been a tough month for us.

"Tonight, we didn't show a lot of emotion early on. And, we somehow need to find a way to put the pucks away."

 

[nysportsfan29]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

Middlebury blocks Card comeback (Excerpt from the Plattsburgh Press-Republican article from 2/3/10)

Here's a question: do you think that Emery continually saying that his team isn't getting outplayed is good for their psyche? I mean, if he keeps saying that, maybe some of the players will think they can continue to play the way they've played against top teams this year.

Considering the results, I'm kind of surprised he won't say they got outplayed even if it's not true. Maybe that way, there's a slight bit more of a flame stoked in the Cardinals for those big games. Just seems they may want to change the culture a bit right now considering the only top 15 team they've beaten this year is when they beat Midd in the Primelink and since then have only won 6 of their 13 games.

 

[ColdInRomney]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

"with a goalie who has a .720 Save% and a 4.98GAA"

"our freshman goalie. Who, by the way is a having a great year. (.928 save% and 1.66 GAA)"

I believe Remy was only referring to Leis's stats in games vs. Oswego.

Right, that's what I thought. But isn't that cherry picking stats? You select out a player's statistics against one team and suggest he's not so hot, but his overall stats suggest otherwise- just maybe there were factors in that game other than the play of the goalie? Either he just had a one-off bad game, or...............

 

[spwood]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

Williams: 3 goals allowed on 4 shots.

Yup, looks like it is all Leis's fault.

It's a team game, and perhaps now that Williams has fallen flat on his face, can we stop crucifying our freshman goalie. Who, by the way is a having a great year. (.928 save% and 1.66 GAA)

Stop the whining about Leis and realize the problem with this team is the lack of offense. Perhaps we should stop worrying about benching our freshmen goaltender and worry more about why Dylan Clarke, Phil Farrow, and Ryan Corry have been absolutely awful all season long. Perhaps we should bench the three of them, might not be a bad idea.

And in the length of time it has taken me to post this, Leis is now in net tonight and is the reason it is not 6-0 Middlebury just 5 minutes into the 2nd period.

My thoughts exactly...

 

[spwood]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

Right, that's what I thought. But isn't that cherry picking stats? You select out a player's statistics against one team and suggest he's not so hot, but his overall stats suggest otherwise- just maybe there were factors in that game other than the play of the goalie? Either he just had a one-off bad game, or...............

Especially Leis' showing in that first Oswego game. I thought the defense in front of him was just awful on the goals that night. In fact, it's the same argument made below to defend Williams making one save on four shots last night - it's all the defense's fault.

From the Plattsburgh @ Middlebury thread:

Defense in front of him just layed an egg that period.

 

[CARDS_rule_the_Burgh]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

Especially Leis' showing in that first Oswego game. I thought the defense in front of him was just awful on the goals that night. In fact, it's the same argument made below to defend Williams making one save on four shots last night - it's all the defense's fault.

From the Plattsburgh @ Middlebury thread:

Yes, I said that. But never once did I say that it was a justification for what Williams did. They layed an egg that period, and the whole game pretty much. That's why every shot Midd got on goal was a quality one. But those shots are going to come, that's why you have the goalie. Williams layed his own egg. a .250 sv% and 9.00 GAA for the game... absolutely unacceptable for any goalie who doesn't play for LVC, Northland, or Finlandia.

I must say, Leis did a nice job of redeeming himself from Saturday's game. The Drolet GWG was horrendous giveaway from Corry... In the defensive zone... in the slot... no chance for any defense... no hope for any goalkeeper. Give a player like Drolet a giveaway like that, and I guarantee you there's only a handful of NHL goalies who could keep the puck out of the net.

Williams played horrible in that first period. It was almost like the net was empty that whole time. If the Williams I've seen play most of this year shows up to that game, the Cardinals win. But at the same time, if the Defense the cardinals are usually known for shows up to that game, they compensate for Williams' failure, and they win. It's a convenient system of checks and balances on the defensive side of the puck. Unfortunately for the cards, both sides of that scale went on vacation last night.

 

[PSUChamps2001]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

As Bob always says

"It's not about how many saves you make, its when you make them"

Not trying to compare Hince to either, but it just seemed like he made (almost) every big save. Not saying Hince would have stopped that 2-0 in Oswego, but we've seen him make them. It always seemed when Plattsburgh needed a big play he was there.

And I am still a firm believer that the "team" played better in front of Hince and could focus more on offense. Reminds me more of the Cribbie/Neilson era...

 

[Matt Rennell]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

As Bob always says

"It's not about how many saves you make, its when you make them"

Not trying to compare Hince to either, but it just seemed like he made (almost) every big save. Not saying Hince would have stopped that 2-0 in Oswego, but we've seen him make them. It always seemed when Plattsburgh needed a big play he was there.

And I am still a firm believer that the "team" played better in front of Hince and could focus more on offense. Reminds me more of the Cribbie/Neilson era...

Alright, I'll bite...

If the team is so busy worrying about defense to the point where they can't play offense, why have we seen horrible defensive turnovers and mistakes by veteran players seemingly every game since the Cardinal Classic?

BTW, Hince's stats his freshman year? .915 save% and 2.06 GAA. Keep in mind, this was with a much better supporting cast in front of him, and a team that could score.

2007-08 (Hince's freshman year) Plattsburgh outscored their opponents 140-62 in 30 games. (It was 106-40 through 21 games)

2008-09 PSU outscored opponents 135-54 in 28 games. (It was 99-39 through 21 games)

This year, they are outscoring teams 93-40 through 21 games.

So, comparing this year's squad with those of the Hince "era", The goals allowed through 21 games has been the same (40-39-40). You can't get closer than that if you tried. The offense on the other hand is 13 goals behind the pace of Hince's freshman season and 6 goals behind the pace of last year.

Also, for all of the non-wins that there are this year, here are the scores of each of those games.

PSU-Opponent
2-5
1-1
3-3
1-4
1-1
1-1
2-3
3-5

You will not win many games by scoring less than 3 goals.

Case in point, in 2007-08 there were 5 games in which Plattsburgh scored less than 3 goals. PSU's record in those games? 0-5, yet all we hear is Hince made the saves when we needed him to.

Last season there was only 1 game where the offense scored less than 3 goals and they did win that game.

Again, as far as Hince coming up big when we needed him, he sure showed that when he decided to mail it in vs. Neumann and <del>making it big in the pros</del> fading away into oblivion.

 

[Dyce]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

Alright, I'll bite...

If the team is so busy worrying about defense to the point where they can't play offense, why have we seen horrible defensive turnovers and mistakes by veteran players seemingly every game since the Cardinal Classic?

Truncated due to the length of the post, but agreed entirely on pretty much everything you wrote. Plattsburgh's defense since around the time Hince arrived has been more fundamentally sound in protecting the goaltender than it has at any point under Emery. I think people react so strongly when lapses occur nowadays because it's such a deviation from the status quo, whereas past teams would regularly allow opponents to pile up both shots and quality chances.

Actually, I think this sort of gets back to your mention of Sundberg earlier in the thread: it's really pretty much impossible to compare Sundberg's career with that of either Hince or the current goalies because Sundberg played behind a team whose entire gameplan was based on the fact that Nik Sundberg was in net. Plattsburgh's defensemen were far more aggressive offensively and relied on Sundberg to pick up the slack (the 50-save UWS semifinal being the classic example).

The primary concern, then, is exactly as you stated it: this team can't score goals against quality opponents. Satim's return would absolutely be a good thing, but nothing he's done this year would indicate he's the remedy for Plattsburgh's offensive anemia. In fact, I'm pretty sure I posted in an offseason thread somewhere that he had the potential to be a huge impact player if he developed a nose for the net; that simply hasn't happened.

The Cards are a team chock-full of players who execute fantastically on the cycle, and that's going to allow them to pile up the empty-side gimmes against teams too slow to react. Against teams good enough to adjust, however, the Cards don't have a pure goal-scorer in the vein of Joey Wilson to catalyze the offense. I won't pretend to know whether that's just a handicap Plattsburgh will have to live with this season, or something that certain players are capable of resolving through adjustments to their game. But if the latter is going to happen, it's going to have to be sooner rather than later at this point.

 

[CardsFan91]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

Here's a question: do you think that Emery continually saying that his team isn't getting outplayed is good for their psyche? I mean, if he keeps saying that, maybe some of the players will think they can continue to play the way they've played against top teams this year.

Considering the results, I'm kind of surprised he won't say they got outplayed even if it's not true. Maybe that way, there's a slight bit more of a flame stoked in the Cardinals for those big games. Just seems they may want to change the culture a bit right now considering the only top 15 team they've beaten this year is when they beat Midd in the Primelink and since then have only won 6 of their 13 games.

Yeah man I was thinking about that after I read the quote. Apparently he doesn't understand that even though we "outplayed" them and had more "grade A scoring chances" WE STILL LOST. It's like Emery's comfertable with the good effort, regardless of the result of the game? I'll tell you what...after last night, I've thrown in the towel with this team. With the way THIS Plattsburgh State team is playing (being inconsistent) I can certainly see them falling to Potsdam on the road. Have fun beating Oswego in the SUNYAC Championship because that MIGHT be your only way in now...Do the people have a right to be upset? Yeah **** right!

 

[norm1909]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

Cardinals savor being at home (Excerpt from the Plattsburgh Press-Republican article from 2/6/10)

The Plattsburgh State men's hockey team is finally back home.

And, head coach Bob Emery can't be more pleased about it.

"Someone was asking me the other day if I was hungry for some home cooking," he said. "I told him I was starving for some home cooking."

The Cardinals haven't played a home game since Jan. 12 and have played eight of their last nine contests on the road.

"Our regular season is over in two weeks," Emery said. "It comes and goes fast. I'm hoping our seniors sense that and have a sense of urgency. Their four-year careers are coming to an end and they don't have many home games remaining.

"The players are relieved to be home. But that doesn't mean automatic success. These upcoming games are important for us as far as the SUNYAC standings and NCAA (Division III) Tournament qualifying are concerned."

Learn from adversity
"We need to learn from the tough schedule we've played on the road and hopefully it will make us a better team — a team that peaks at the right time," Emery said. "We've had to learn from adversity this year."

"Morrisville is one of the most improved teams in Division III," Emery said. "They will work hard and their coaching staff gets the most out of their players.

"Their goalie is a good one and we can't let him get in a groove."

Forward Eric Satim and defenseman Mike Kavanagh are still unable to play, while defenseman Cody Adams will be a game-time decision.

"We're hoping Adams will play in order to give us six defensemen in the line-up," Emery said.

 

[spwood]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

Have I been reading the comments here right? We have, statistically, the #5 and #6 goaltenders in the country, but nobody in the top 50 in scoring (including no one in the top 30 for goals or assists)....and that's the goaltending's fault???

Well, how about we examine the reverse? Maybe the goaltenders are gripping the stick too hard because they have to be afraid of losing every game they play 1-0...

Even the almighty Hince was capable of giving up a bad goal every so often. The difference? The team was scoring 6 or 7 goals a night - makes it easy to hide one softy. Poor Josh and Ryan don't have that luxury. Give up one bad goal with the 1 or 2 legitimate goals you will give up to good teams and you find yourself in a hole this offense doesn't seem capable of climbing out of.

Time to stop blaming the lack of offense on the defense and goaltending. This team, in the past, used to employ that the best defense was to pour on the goals and make the other team try and catch up. I think the lack of scoring this year has gone on long enough to not be a slump, but a very troubling trend. This team had better find a way to win on the road, because there aren't going to be many playoff games in Plattsburgh this year...

 

[nysportsfan29]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

Have I been reading the comments here right? We have, statistically, the #5 and #6 goaltenders in the country, but nobody in the top 50 in scoring (including no one in the top 30 for goals or assists)....and that's the goaltending's fault???

Well, how about we examine the reverse? Maybe the goaltenders are gripping the stick too hard because they have to be afraid of losing every game they play 1-0...

Even the almighty Hince was capable of giving up a bad goal every so often. The difference? The team was scoring 6 or 7 goals a night - makes it easy to hide one softy. Poor Josh and Ryan don't have that luxury. Give up one bad goal with the 1 or 2 legitimate goals you will give up to good teams and you find yourself in a hole this offense doesn't seem capable of climbing out of.

Time to stop blaming the lack of offense on the defense and goaltending. This team, in the past, used to employ that the best defense was to pour on the goals and make the other team try and catch up. I think the lack of scoring this year has gone on long enough to not be a slump, but a very troubling trend. This team had better find a way to win on the road, because there aren't going to be many playoff games in Plattsburgh this year...

This is a great point. I remember in the three times I saw Hince play Oswego, he gave up a couple of goals that you thought should have been routine saves - not an issue at all. Now in those 3 games, the Cardinals scored 11 goals, whereas this season they have only scored 4 against the Lakers. It certainly makes a huge difference.

 

[NUProf]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

Have I been reading the comments here right? We have, statistically, the #5 and #6 goaltenders in the country, but nobody in the top 50 in scoring (including no one in the top 30 for goals or assists)....and that's the goaltending's fault???

Poor Josh and Ryan don't have that luxury. Give up one bad goal with the 1 or 2 legitimate goals you will give up to good teams and you find yourself in a hole this offense doesn't seem capable of climbing out of.

Time to stop blaming the lack of offense on the defense and goaltending.

It sounds an awful lot like what NU was going through last year - getting outstanding goal tending, and not being able to score. We know how that ended - not well. You just gotta put the puck in the net, or you end up losing 1-0 in OT to a bottom feeder.

 

[nysportsfan29]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

It sounds an awful lot like what NU was going through last year - getting outstanding goal tending, and not being able to score. We know how that ended - not well. You just gotta put the puck in the net, or you end up losing 1-0 in OT to a bottom feeder.

Similar records to this point in the season as well.

Norwich 08-09 up until 2/5: 11-5-3
Plattsburgh 09-10 up until 2/5: 13-4-4

 

[PSUChamps2001]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

Have I been reading the comments here right? We have, statistically, the #5 and #6 goaltenders in the country, but nobody in the top 50 in scoring (including no one in the top 30 for goals or assists)....and that's the goaltending's fault???

Yet still 9th overall in scoring offense. While we may not have someone in the top 30, overall as a TEAM offense has been in the top 10. Over the past 7 years Plattsburgh is .03gpg below the average. While it may not be a lot, they are .315gpg behind the past two years, you would have to think that those .315gpg would have meant at least 3 more wins.

Leis and Williams are starting goaltenders at nearly every DIII college, no matter what happens this year Plattsburgh is pretty solid in the goaltending department for the next 4 years.

I think we've asked a lot out of a very young defense/goaltending tandum, of which I still believe that the forwards have put more emphisis on getting back. The team has goal scorers, as one opposing fan put it "It scares me every time I see Clark open in the slot". Between hitting posts and plain missing nets, the team has been getting chances. If they were only getting 1-3 great scoring chances a game I'd be worried.

Now that the Oswego game is over, and Middlebury gone by the wayside, maybe the fact of not having that #1 pressure will just let them relax. The chances of catching Oswego is 99% over, the chance of losing the #2 seed is pretty much 85% over. Get back home, get healthy, and get hungry. A lot of soul searching needs to go on for sure,

 

[norm1909]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

...Leis and Williams are starting goaltenders at nearly every DIII college, no matter what happens this year Plattsburgh is pretty solid in the goaltending department for the next THREE years.

Opps

 

[NUProf]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

Yet still 9th overall in scoring offense. While we may not have someone in the top 30, overall as a TEAM offense has been in the top 10. Over the past 7 years Plattsburgh is .03gpg below the average. While it may not be a lot, they are .315gpg behind the past two years, you would have to think that those .315gpg would have meant at least 3 more wins.

Leis and Williams are starting goaltenders at nearly every DIII college, no matter what happens this year Plattsburgh is pretty solid in the goaltending department for the next 4 years.

I think we've asked a lot out of a very young defense/goaltending tandum, of which I still believe that the forwards have put more emphisis on getting back. The team has goal scorers, as one opposing fan put it "It scares me every time I see Clark open in the slot". Between hitting posts and plain missing nets, the team has been getting chances. If they were only getting 1-3 great scoring chances a game I'd be worried.

Now that the Oswego game is over, and Middlebury gone by the wayside, maybe the fact of not having that #1 pressure will just let them relax. The chances of catching Oswego is 99% over, the chance of losing the #2 seed is pretty much 85% over. Get back home, get healthy, and get hungry. A lot of soul searching needs to go on for sure,

Just like last year at NU, it isn't problem of putting lots of goals on the board, it's more a problem of putting goals on the board in big games against hot goalies. I count 9 games that Plattsburgh has put up 3 or fewer goal, and only 1 of those was a win. They have won every game in which they put up 4 or more goals.

 

[PSUChamps2001]

Re: Plattsburgh State Hockey - 2009/2010

No Norm it wasn't a typo.....this year is far from over and just getting started....