RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

[rpi82]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

first win at the Big H since 2004 (?) IIRC the media guide correctly. Question for those who saw this game in person: what did you see in the 3rd period? Box score said RPI had two shots on goal the entire period...I'm wondering if that "killer instinct" thing (or lack thereof) is still an issue or whether the team has shown improvement in that area.

Also, see that collegehockeystats.net had Polacek, Pirri, and Conor Morrison from Harvard as the three stars of the game. Yet D'Amigo led all scorers with three points (1-2-3). Conor Morrison over D'Amigo? Hmmm.....

I suspect that they had the kids that do the Harvard radio broadcast make the selection because they picked the same 3 during the postgame.

Regarding the first goal:
I also listened to the Harvard broadcast on the way to the rink. I finally found it (haven't lived there for years so I couldn't remember the frequency) during the period when the refs were consulting with each other and the goal judge over the first goal. The announcers never came right out and said it didn't go in, but they said Harvard was lucky and that the goal judge never turned the light on. They clearly didn't see it go in and the broadcast positions at Bright are right over that net.

 

[Red Cloud]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

WRPI indicated that from their vantage point, they thought it was a goal.

 

[vicious]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

The announcers never came right out and said it didn't go in, but they said Harvard was lucky and that the goal judge never turned the light on. They clearly didn't see it go in and the broadcast positions at Bright are right over that net.

I remember listening to a game on WHRB about 15 years ago from HFH where they kept calling it "HOW-ston Field House." "Houston" never struck me as a tricky word to pronounce, unless you're a future Wall Street titan, I guess.

On the upside when broadcasting from Troy they had the PA announcements miked, so you'd get the full-volume PA over the radio, making Don Birkmayer sound as if you were right there at HFH. It also picked up the horn very well.

 

[vicious]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

I only caught parts of the game on WRPI last night while I was in the car, but did I hear something about another major hit on D'Amigo? I assume he's ok, but if true this seems to be a streak of seven or eight games where opponents have tried to level him.

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

I only caught parts of the game on WRPI last night while I was in the car, but did I hear something about another major hit on D'Amigo? I assume he's ok, but if true this seems to be a streak of seven or eight games where opponents have tried to level him.

I did not hear that-heard O'Grady limped off once during the game but no other significant hits.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

Here's my two thoughts on the game after pre and post game reviews at John Harvards...

Opening of the game - jmh captured it pretty well, very strange start. First goal didn't appear to go in, but the puck came out at a strange angle. The next 2 goals [one called off] we're just as bang-bang, and the boys look bewildered.

D'Amigo - He reminds me of my namesake as a freshman [right number too!]. Made a sick set of moves to score the first goal - from the red line to the net. He also made big plays on both of Polacek's goals. Fun player to watch.

Pirri - Seemed to be labored skating, or took shifts off, couldn't really figure it out. Has a great shot, great hands, great vision.

JFK/Burgdoerfer/Merth - Solid D play, especially moving the puck up the zone and getting plays started. Undeerrated skill in my book.

York - Seemed incredibly shaky. Letting rebounds bounce off his chest, reaction time a little slow, seemed low on confidence. Made big saves though at the end, and seemed to improve greatly after letting in 3 goals, which I don't think you could pin on him anyways. Would love to see him when he steals a game.

Seth - I was impressed w/ the overall game plan - forecheck and puck possession. Seth really outcoached Teddy on this and the goalie rotation -Seth kept York in, where Teddy D yanks his guy after a similar set of goals. Also gave a fist pump to the crowd at the end after the handshake line.

Only complaint - team D in their own zone. Not physical enough, too much running around. If they played positionally, at all, they could have eliminated minimum 2 goals. Harvard had a guy unmolested in front of the net most of the night.

ROTY - No way Leblanc gets this over D'Amigo. Leblanc starts plays, but couldn't finish. Plus he gets a TON of ice time. He's more physical, but I'd take D'amigo every time.

Overall - the boys have come a long way from 3-4 years ago, and were a lot of fun to watch. Guys like Lee and O'Grady can really skate and are going to get better w/ more time.

LETS GO RED

It sure sounded as if Allen was fighting the puck most of the night...it's been known to happen to keepers from time to time. I credit Seth for sticking with him, especially since it sounded as if the D never made it off the bus unitl 5 mins. had ticked off in the 1st. Appert let Allen prove to himself that he could overcome it. Sometimes as a player you learn more about yourself in games when you aren't at your best.

As has been said here, a few years ago, this team never would have made it off the mat in a game like this. Huge props to them for gritting their teeth and stealing one.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

...

On the 4th line, Helfrich was so so. IMO... He is hurt. Period. He was clearly favoring his right leg after crashing into the net. His shifts were short (he left the ice before his linemates usually). He has little speed.

No need to apologize -- we appreciate the 1st hand account.

I tend to agree with you -- I haven't seen Helfrich skate full speed in MANY games. It's very reminscient of last season when he fought the injury down the stretch.

Vassel has always skated like a bread thief... ....it's just more noticeable now that he is up front full time. That said, from the what the WRPI guys said (BTW -great job on the call last night guys...much improved!) Vassel was hitting anything that moved. Love it....we want more !

 

[jmhusker]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

I did not hear that-heard O'Grady limped off once during the game but no other significant hits.

O'Grady did take a hit and limp off but he was right back on and was also a key contributor to keeping Harvard pinned in their own end during the last minute of the game.

D'Amigo did not take any notable hit that I saw.

 

[knsmith]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

I only caught parts of the game on WRPI last night while I was in the car, but did I hear something about another major hit on D'Amigo? I assume he's ok, but if true this seems to be a streak of seven or eight games where opponents have tried to level him.

They were just talking about the hit from the Harvard game in Troy.

 

[ServinisScores]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

one last note about the third period... RPI came out a little flat, Harvard came out hard in the first 8 minutes, but balanced out. RPI took over in the last 3 minutes, and the kill at the end of the game awesome...the fans were mocking Harvard as O'Grady [I think] ragged the puck in the corner while 4 Harvard players tried to get it from him...

 

[Beman]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

Why would we take either team
lightly?

You tell me

 

[jmhusker]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

Just back and all I can say is that I can't believe we lost that one. I was ready to come type how CP is the man and we are surging to 2nd or 3rd. Twas not to be. I'm not going to go blow by blow this time. A few short points to note:

1. I hope York is OK (though Merriam was OK in relief)
2. Kerins and D'Amigo had golden chances to bury the 4th one in the 2nd. If they had done so the game was over.
3. The hitting from behind by Jerry was not smart. Even so it is so open to interpretation (5 vs. 2) that guys are all embellishing their injuries to get the five. We did a brilliant job killing it anyhow.
4. Cullen looked OK to me. Still, he made a dumb play when he got to play PP in place of Jerry. One step up and two back...
5. Halpern must feel awful about this loss (never make a blind pass at either blue line Scott and never ever turn it over).

 

[Red Cloud]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

Back from the suckfest.

1) Scotty... come on. You had the entire ice to do something with that puck.

2) The defense was trash after the call that ended the power play they got after the D'Amigo penalty was killed. Absolute garbage.

3) Jesus, Jerry, the way you get back at these jagoffs who are running you is you burn the hell out of them again and put it in the net (or give it to someone who is about to do that). Don't play their game.

4) Stephens is a whiny little ***** when he gets completely pwned. What a coward.

5) I forgot how much I hate Dartmouth fans. Well, hate's too strong of a word. Annoying is more like it. It really, really gets under my skin how they act like they aren't even watching the game while it's underway, and go absolutely ape**** when they score a goal. Act like you're interested in the game if you're going to go that bonkers for scoring.

 

[Section 22]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

With all the upsets this weekend, RPI had a great opportunity to gain some ground and help secure a 1st round bye. Now, with last nights loss, the standings are even more jam packed. Every game is a must win for any shot at a weekend off. One loss now could potentially put us in 7th place

I hope the playoff team from last year shows up real soon...

 

[jmhusker]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

I forgot how much I hate Dartmouth fans. Well, hate's too strong of a word. Annoying is more like it. It really, really gets under my skin how they act like they aren't even watching the game while it's underway, and go absolutely ape**** when they score a goal. Act like you're interested in the game if you're going to go that bonkers for scoring.

This point I will differ with you on RC. The fans near us were very nice to me and my family. That might have had something to do with the fact that we gave away the pizza that we won in the "Luck row gets free pizza contest". But overall they were very appreciative of RPI as a more skilled team - and stated as much continuously through most of the game. Even the ones we didn't give pizza to!

On another topic... Saw someone in the crowd with a JD #29 USA Junior jersey. I've been looking for that jersey style and haven't found anything that is a prefect match. Anyone here know who it was?

 

[Red Cloud]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

This point I will differ with you on RC. The fans near us were very nice to me and my family.

I didn't say they weren't nice.

 

[vicious]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

The WRPI announcers made a good point at the end of the Dartmouth game...that this might be "a wake-up call" of sorts, that is, a forceful reminder of the need to play the full :60 against every team. I can only go by what I heard on the radio and the box score and RC's first-hand account.

That said, third period play continues to suffer big time. Conference only goals by period we're +6 and +8 in the first and second periods but -1 in the third. By comparison SLU is +8, Yale is +9, Colgate is +5, and Union is +11. Even Clarkson is only a -2.

Dartmouth was a -14 entering last night's 3rd period. Bottom line: Red should not blow a 2-goal lead to a team that is -14 in third periods. IMHO this team will have to learn real quick to put opponents away in third periods if they're going to make a post-season run.

Any word on York's injury? From the radio it sounded like Merriam played really well and the PK did a good job, especially killing the 5x3 in the third.

 

[Red Cloud]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

Merriam did what he had to do, he was hung out to dry on the last two goals. Thought York might have stopped the first one there in the third.

 

[Wholin1]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

Any word on York's injury? From the radio it sounded like Merriam played really well and the PK did a good job, especially killing the 5x3 in the third.

In the TU today, SA was quoted as saying he didn't think the injury was serious.

 

[Beman]

Re: RPI 2009-10 Part IV: The Boys are Back in Town

good teams take care of business especially when the #2 goalie is called on. Gotta play better defense in the third.

You can't expect to be able to score goals at will after you let in a soft one. Like the 85 RPI players said the difference today is that defenses' are better more technically sound than in 85.

If you are not up to the task defensively you will loose the close ones.

How disappointing