RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

[ServinisScores]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

Tough game last night. My son and I left with 1 minute to play - something we never do but we had seen more than enough and we also wanted to get out before the teams were coming off the ice (Merrimack blocks the aisle when teams are coming on and off the ice). The compete level was there but the execution was just off. My takes on the game:

- Their goalie outplayed ours by a wide margin
- They clogged up the middle down low on D and we couldn't get shots through nor get to 2nd chances when shots did get through
- We seem to have a soft spot in the high slot on D - coach needs to fix that
- Reilly had a bad night - on the ice for 4 GA, including the first one 30 seconds in. Shot the puck into legs on the PP... just seemed to force things. Too focused on O.
- The PP seemed too reliant on setting up the D for one timers rather than looking for other options. They need to mix things up a little more here and there.

I'm curious about the new rule that allows teams to dress 7 D (or 13 F) and wonder if it trips up some coaches and teams. If all 7 are rotating then it has gotta be confusing to have rotating partners out there. Perhaps the extra never skates, or you use it to have one guy who is a specialist on the PK or PP. It seems like a change that wasn't really needed (IMO).

Good summary jmh, wish i knew you would be there, interested to meet you. I'm wondering if Smith's tinkering with the lineup is confusing or demotivating them. After last night, I can't understand why guys like Babichuk and Lee wouldn't dress every game. The other concerning development is this yet another year where the upperclassmen seem to fade - it's one game, but Zieky and Burgess looked like passengers out there. This issue seemed to go away with the new coach, but it was back last night. Hope it's the one game I saw in person; Burgess has looked good in other games.

 

[jmhusker]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

Good summary jmh, wish i knew you would be there, interested to meet you. I'm wondering if Smith's tinkering with the lineup is confusing or demotivating them. After last night, I can't understand why guys like Babichuk and Lee wouldn't dress every game. The other concerning development is this yet another year where the upperclassmen seem to fade - it's one game, but Zieky and Burgess looked like passengers out there. This issue seemed to go away with the new coach, but it was back last night. Hope it's the one game I saw in person; Burgess has looked good in other games.

I'm always a little hesitant to meet others for fear that I'll end up getting in arguments with them on this board when I see their game day manners... Just kidding but it's funny to see the way some people's personalities change at games. My son and I like to be good supporters for RPI but in games like last night we tend to get a little snarky. We were in section 11 not too far from an older RPI fan who was whining about the calls and a few rows behind a younger kid that was yelling for the coach to pull the goalie during the 5 minute major (he was trying to be funny while getting his point across). I agreed with him to a point. If you can't practice 6 on 4 when you are behind by 4 goals and have a 5 minute major when can you?

It's funny you mention Lee and Babichuk. My son's big takeaway from the night was that Babichuk is a player. He's a bit small but he has real potential. My incredible input at the beginning of the game was to say that I didn't think Lee had much talent and that he tended to do something dumb in almost every game I've seen him play. And then I said... "now watch.. he'll probably get a hat trick." And in the next 60 seconds of play he had 2 or 3 really good bids. He then played well the rest of the night. And my son then said.. you know dad .. I doubt Lee is as bad as you think or else he wouldn't be on the PP. OK kid.. I admit it... it was a bad take!

Maybe next game... if so I'll be glad to buy you a beer and say hello. Harvard game is a long way off... but happy to say hello if you head to that one.

 

[ServinisScores]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

I'm always a little hesitant to meet others for fear that I'll end up getting in arguments with them on this board when I see their game day manners... Just kidding but it's funny to see the way some people's personalities change at games. My son and I like to be good supporters for RPI but in games like last night we tend to get a little snarky. We were in section 11 not too far from an older RPI fan who was whining about the calls and a few rows behind a younger kid that was yelling for the coach to pull the goalie during the 5 minute major (he was trying to be funny while getting his point across). I agreed with him to a point. If you can't practice 6 on 4 when you are behind by 4 goals and have a 5 minute major when can you?

It's funny you mention Lee and Babichuk. My son's big takeaway from the night was that Babichuk is a player. He's a bit small but he has real potential. My incredible input at the beginning of the game was to say that I didn't think Lee had much talent and that he tended to do something dumb in almost every game I've seen him play. And then I said... "now watch.. he'll probably get a hat trick." And in the next 60 seconds of play he had 2 or 3 really good bids. He then played well the rest of the night. And my son then said.. you know dad .. I doubt Lee is as bad as you think or else he wouldn't be on the PP. OK kid.. I admit it... it was a bad take!

Maybe next game... if so I'll be glad to buy you a beer and say hello. Harvard game is a long way off... but happy to say hello if you head to that one.

I'll take you up on a beer before or after CAmbridge.

My middle daughter and I were also in Section 11, behind and just to the right of the kids yelling to pull the goalie. I have a hard time being snarky with these guys because they seem to play hard for each other. Way different than a few years ago. But this was a tough weekend. Cheers!

 

[25+years]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

I'll take you up on a beer before or after CAmbridge.

My middle daughter and I were also in Section 11, behind and just to the right of the kids yelling to pull the goalie. I have a hard time being snarky with these guys because they seem to play hard for each other. Way different than a few years ago. But this was a tough weekend. Cheers!

I did not watch or listen to the game, but followed the score, shots, etc. The combination of 5 goals against on 15 shots against coupled with one goal for in 2 games tells you all you need to know. We can't look at travel distance between games as a contributor. I said earlier in the season we would know what we have by the end of November. Next weekend they have to get at least 3/4 points because after that it's U Mass, Cornell, and Colgate. Points then will be much harder to come by. They are 1-5-1 in their last 7 and goal production is headed in the wrong direction.

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

I did not watch or listen to the game, but followed the score, shots, etc. The combination of 5 goals against on 15 shots against coupled with one goal for in 2 games tells you all you need to know. We can't look at travel distance between games as a contributor. I said earlier in the season we would know what we have by the end of November. Next weekend they have to get at least 3/4 points because after that it's U Mass, Cornell, and Colgate. Points then will be much harder to come by. They are 1-5-1 in their last 7 and goal production is headed in the wrong direction.

Not only is goal direction headed in the wrong direction, but team defense has gone out the window.
Earlier in the season we were playing very tight defense and keeping opponents to the outside regularly. In the last 5 games, we have been setting up the opposition with passes in front of our own net and sloppy coverage in our defensive zone.
Scoring can't be taught, but defense can be and we better address it now.

 

[Waite21]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

Yes, now is the time for our guys to get their act together.

Two four-goal losses are not pleasant, but at least they did not occur in league games.

I figure Cornell, Harvard, and Clarkson are shoo-ins to finish in the ECAC top four. Dartmouth and Quinnipiac seem likely to fight it out for fourth and fifth - maybe they won't finish that high, but it's hard to see either of them dropping out of the top eight.

That leaves seven teams. In order to gain home ice for the first round of the playoffs, RPI needs to finish ahead of four of them.

This weekend is the only time RPI will have home games against two of those other six. It would not be good to let this opportunity slip by.

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

Not only is goal direction headed in the wrong direction, but team defense has gone out the window.
Earlier in the season we were playing very tight defense and keeping opponents to the outside regularly. In the last 5 games, we have been setting up the opposition with passes in front of our own net and sloppy coverage in our defensive zone.
Scoring can't be taught, but defense can be and we better address it now.

You think maybe that teams have scouted us and figured out what we did and continue to try to do defensively? In this day and age of film and technology i doubt we surprise anyone any more. Perhaps we need to change things up a bit? I have no clue what you do or how you would do it but if we have become predictable on defense and on the power play then we obviously need to change something.

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

Early line predicting 3-3 on Friday against Yale with us being a micro favorite of 48% to 42%. Saturday also predicting a tie at 2-2 with Brown a slight favorite at 46% to our 42%. No doubt about it, we need all 4 points this weekend and perhaps our last and best chance to do something like that.

 

[troyboy]

You think maybe that teams have scouted us and figured out what we did and continue to try to do defensively? In this day and age of film and technology i doubt we surprise anyone any more. Perhaps we need to change things up a bit? I have no clue what you do or how you would do it but if we have become predictable on defense and on the power play then we obviously need to change something.

Defense is a 5 man process and were not even close it's not the amount of shots you give up it's the amount of grade A chances you give up and we give them up all night long its like the nationals against the globetrotters it also doesn't help that our best offensive player is a defenseman #24 so if we need to stretch out he's the only one that can do it and that leaves us wide open.Like I said we are a goalie dependent team if he is not outstanding every night we have trouble winning against anybody.

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

Defense is a 5 man process and were not even close it's not the amount of shots you give up it's the amount of grade A chances you give up and we give them up all night long its like the nationals against the globetrotters it also doesn't help that our best offensive player is a defenseman #24 so if we need to stretch out he's the only one that can do it and that leaves us wide open.Like I said we are a goalie dependent team if he is not outstanding every night we have trouble winning against anybody.

Your assessment is absolutely correct. But for the first part of this season, we were playing very good five man defense and holding down those grade A chances.
The last three weekends, we are running around and no one is covering anyone. We have set up at least three goals against with great passes to the opposition in the slot.
What happened? We seem to have lost all of our confidence and poise in our defensive zone, and that is on the players.
They had a system that they played well at the beginning of the season, I don't think we changed that system, so why the reversal?
We have two games this weekend that we should be able to win if we go back to playing defense.

 

[puckit717]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

we need 3 points this weekend.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

Yale is 2-7 overall and is coming off of losses to BC (6-2) and CCT (4-1). Brown is 3-7 and also coming two losses to Bentley (1-0) and Providence (4-2).

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

Yale is 2-7 overall and is coming off of losses to BC (6-2) and CCT (4-1). Brown is 3-7 and also coming two losses to Bentley (1-0) and Providence (4-2).

Records comparable to that of Merrimack last weekend and that did not turn out as expected. Although every weekend series is important, playing at home, against two less than stellar teams, after our poorest weekend series of the season, with the long Christmas break coming very soon, this could be the make it or break games for this season.

 

[RPI67]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

Early line predicting 3-3 on Friday against Yale with us being a micro favorite of 48% to 42%. Saturday also predicting a tie at 2-2 with Brown a slight favorite at 46% to our 42%. No doubt about it, we need all 4 points this weekend and perhaps our last and best chance to do something like that.

Thanks Doc. Must do well against teams at the bottom of pair wise. The Canisius trip seemed to take a lot out of the team. Maybe it's the Patriot's Foxboro flu. I was at the Lowell game and watch most games on TV. This weekend will measure where the program is. Still hope for home ice.

 

[puckit717]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

to be fair appert played a lot harder schedule. this is one of the weakest schedules we have played in 10 years.

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

to be fair appert played a lot harder schedule. this is one of the weakest schedules we have played in 10 years.

And your point is?
We have to play the teams that are put in front of us. Winning is contagious, and so is losing. I think that Appert's schedules taught us how to lose. I know that playing a better opponent is supposed to make you stronger,but all it does is make you frustrated.
And this is handed down by the upper classmen from year to year.
We need to learn to win, and that has not happened yet.
I am convinced that we have the talent to compete with and beat any team in our league. Now someone has to convince the players of that.
The only reason that this weekend is any more important that any other weekend is the fact that it is the next one.
I thought that at the beginning of the season that Smith had them heading in the right direction, but the train has come off the tracks and he has to find a way to fix it.
JMO

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

And your point is?
We have to play the teams that are put in front of us. Winning is contagious, and so is losing. I think that Appert's schedules taught us how to lose. I know that playing a better opponent is supposed to make you stronger,but all it does is make you frustrated.
And this is handed down by the upper classmen from year to year.
We need to learn to win, and that has not happened yet.
I am convinced that we have the talent to compete with and beat any team in our league. Now someone has to convince the players of that.
The only reason that this weekend is any more important that any other weekend is the fact that it is the next one.
I thought that at the beginning of the season that Smith had them heading in the right direction, but the train has come off the tracks and he has to find a way to fix it.
JMO

I suspect that fact that our OOC schedule is now weaker than it was under SA is likely due to a different coaching philosophy. The fact that the ECAC may be weaker this year outside of Cornell, Clarkson, and Harvard is also a factor.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

It's time to ask for suggestions for a title for "RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Part II".

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

And your point is?
We have to play the teams that are put in front of us. Winning is contagious, and so is losing. I think that Appert's schedules taught us how to lose. I know that playing a better opponent is supposed to make you stronger,but all it does is make you frustrated.
And this is handed down by the upper classmen from year to year....

If losing a string of games to top competition is frustrating, then what does losing a string of games to "lesser" competition make us. (Given RPI's track record over the last 15+ years, I'm not prepared to say any team is lesser than the 'tute? )

Our reality is that we hired a career .500 coach who is now facing the challenge of recruiting and coaching against a far more competitive league and depending on who you believe, is doing so with limited institutional support.

No one should be surprised we are taking our lumps. The question that remains unanswered is can he turn the battleship around?...only time will tell. There have been glimmers of hope, mainly early in the year, but this upcoming stretch of games will go along way from separating the wheat from the chaff. A return to having 5 skaters on the ice who are committed to 200' team defense would be a good place to start.

As I've stated previously, we are all too often an "easy" team to play against - i.e. we don't consistently compete for pucks, we don't finish checks, we don't defend our crease, etc. We have plenty of flashy dmen who like to play offense, but not many who are interested in defending our zone with the necessary tenacity that a team like Cornell or CCT displays on a regular basis. My two cents.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI Hockey 2019 - 2020: Nordic Combined

If losing a string of games to top competition is frustrating, then what does losing a string of games to "lesser" competition make us. (Given RPI's track record over the last 15+ years, I'm not prepared to say any team is lesser than the 'tute? )

Our reality is that we hired a career .500 coach who is now facing the challenge of recruiting and coaching against a far more competitive league and depending on who you believe, is doing so with limited institutional support.

No one should be surprised we are taking our lumps. The question that remains unanswered is can he turn the battleship around?...only time will tell. There have been glimmers of hope, mainly early in the year, but this upcoming stretch of games will go along way from separating the wheat from the chaff. A return to having 5 skaters on the ice who are committed to 200' team defense would be a good place to start.

As I've stated previously, we are all too often an "easy" team to play against - i.e. we don't consistently compete for pucks, we don't finish checks, we don't defend our crease, etc. We have plenty of flashy dmen who like to play offense, but not many who are interested in defending our zone with the necessary tenacity that a team like Cornell or CCT displays on a regular basis. My two cents.

If we are indeed a battleship, we should be able to eventually turn it around. My concern is if we are actually the Titanic or a garbage scow.