SLU Hockey 2011-2012

[40-Year Big Red Fan]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

We had three freshmen on top two lines at Lynah in November and almost came out of there with a win. I'm penciling in 2 pts vs a tough - though I think somewhat over rated - Cornell team.
Colgate is bigger challenge. You know they are going to score and I think I read they have more seniors than any other team in the league. Hopefully we pot one early and get them on their heels.
Go Saints. BELIEVE!

Although I'm not predicting the winner, it is amusing for SLU supporters to be "penciling" in 2 pts. Just remember that when the two teams last met Cornell had five freshmen attackmen and one freshman defenseman playing. The current KRACH is Cornell 146.8, SLU 68.6. Perhaps a little humility would be wiser than chutzpah. Even at Appleton, it would be best not to underestimate "overrated" Cornell.

GO BIG RED!

 

[W-force]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

"The current KRACH is Cornell 146.8, SLU 68.6." Further evidence of how overrated they are.
BUT...I'm sure it's gonna be a battle and SLU will have to play a great game to beat Cornell. I somehow think they will....that belief kinda comes with being a fan of a team.

 

[TimU]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

Although I'm not predicting the winner, it is amusing for SLU supporters to be "penciling" in 2 pts. Just remember that when the two teams last met Cornell had five freshmen attackmen and one freshman defenseman playing. The current KRACH is Cornell 146.8, SLU 68.6. Perhaps a little humility would be wiser than chutzpah. Even at Appleton, it would be best not to underestimate "overrated" Cornell.

GO BIG RED!

SLU has played Cornell very tough over the past several years, and we think with the way the team is playing they have a good chance to win. As far as lineups are concerned, SLU was without George Hughes and Flanagan for the 1-0 loss at Lynah. I think this'll be another very good game, and based on recent history I think it's the more obvious opportunity for SLU to get two points on the weekend.

 

[apple2k]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

Bad news--TSN is reporting Rich P will be out of action 4-6 weeks with a knee sprain.

 

[TimU]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

And the good news: the Saints win again, taking a big 2 points from Colgate. They made me sweat, but pulled out a good win.

 

[Wholin1]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

Congrats to Saints, on fire at the right time of season.

 

[freego]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

A very tough, hard fought victory. Every time I watch I lose a little respect for them. 2 very obvious attempts to knock Kyle out of the game. Smith may very well win the Hobey but was not even in the top 3 players in this game. Kudos to Essery/Doughtery and Gunnar Hughes for holding Colgate's top line scoreless. This was the key to the win tonight.

 

[vicb]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

.....Kudos to Essery/Doughtery and Gunnar Hughes for holding Colgate's top line scoreless. This was the key to the win tonight.

So who do you think is Colgate's top line??? Smith and Wagner get the goals.

 

[freego]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

Smith's goal was on the powerplay and he was not on the ice for the second Colgate goal.

 

[hockeyplayer1015]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

Huge win tonight, gotta love this run the boys are on. Special teams has been a force for us lately, and will need to continue if we want to have any success in the playoffs. Currently a 4 point cushion over Dartmouth and Yale, and only 1 point back of Qpac and Clarkson. A bye for the first round is just 2 points ahead of us, currently held by Harvard (who set a new NCAA record with 11 ties now).

 

[Got 6 Want More]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

Watching the Bruins game I thought they said torn MCL for Pevs, but 4-6 weeks is right. Too bad it had to happen early against his old Winnipeg / Atlanta team.

Yeah, they were running Flanagan all night. They called one a major but I think it was the wrong one. Way to go Saints for not returning the runs at Smith. Mihalik was very good or the Saints could have put it completely out of reach. Smith did get a goal but it was a bad bounce where the Saints would have been able to clear if the 'gate player didn't whiff on the pass. Wagner's goal was nice and made us all sweat a bit. SLU played a very good game but fell apart for about 3 minutes with about 5 left in the 3rd.

Flanny, Carey, Baker, Essery, Raley, Wenny, Doherty all had a good night. Really, the whole team played well.

Would like to have the games at Hamilton and Ithaca back to play with both Hughes and Flanny, but that is the way it goes. I must admit I am not as complimentary of Smith after that game as he was goal-hanging a fair bit including on the PK. But 33 goals is 33 goals...can't take that away from them.

Nice job by SLU. Here is my one gripe....WHEN will we see another EN goal? My word...you need to stop testing the tickers of some of us out of shape alums!

 

[critsports]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

Watching the Bruins game I thought they said torn MCL for Pevs, but 4-6 weeks is right. Too bad it had to happen early against his old Winnipeg / Atlanta team.

Nice job by SLU. Here is my one gripe....WHEN will we see another EN goal? My word...you need to stop testing the tickers of some of us out of shape alums!

Seems to be some confusion about Peverley's injury. The only thing that all the reports say is 4 to 6 weeks recovery. Some reports say MCL tear, others say MCL sprain. Not sure which it is but either way he is down for almost the rest of the regular season. The injury came late in the game against the Canadiens and I believe it was a knee on knee hit by Hal Gil that did not draw a penalty.

As to the ENG I watched the highlights and couldn't believe some of the chances we missed on the open net. Yikes!!! Coaches must have been going nuts!!

Smith may very well win the Hobey but was not even in the top 3 players in this game.

The Smith for Hobey thing is interesting. I haven't watched the other top players from the rest of the country in person but I have seen Smith. He didn't get those goals by accident but as some have pointed out he is the hockey equivalent of a basket hanger in basketball. I watched him play at Q Pac and he seems to be one player with the puck and a totally different player without it and on defense. I'd dearly love to see someone from the ECAC win it but I don't think he will. Here is the criteria for the award and it speaks to both ends of the ice.

Hobey Baker Award Criteria

1. Candidates must exhibit strength of character both on and off the ice.

2. Candidates must contribute to the integrity of the team and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game.

3. Consideration should be given to scholastic achievement and sportmanship.

4. Candidates must comply with all NCAA rules: be full time students in an accredited NCAA college or university; and complete 50% or more of the season.

 

[TimU]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

I must admit I am not as complimentary of Smith after that game as he was goal-hanging a fair bit including on the PK.

I saw the same thing: he stood on the SLU blue line while the Saints had possession in the Colgate zone, waiting for a home-run pass, two different times while on the PK!!! I couldn't believe my eyes. I told Mike last night I haven't seen anybody cherry-pick like that since Martin St. Louis was at UVM.

 

[freego]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

I saw the same thing: he stood on the SLU blue line while the Saints had possession in the Colgate zone, waiting for a home-run pass, two different times while on the PK!!! I couldn't believe my eyes. I told Mike last night I haven't seen anybody cherry-pick like that since Martin St. Louis was at UVM.

Might explain why he has 6 SH goals.

 

[bothman]

Great run by SLU! Could make for a very interesting last weekend in Cambridge!

 

[TimU]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

Great run by SLU! Could make for a very interesting last weekend in Cambridge!

Just like the good old days.

Might explain why he has 6 SH goals.

He's obviously an excellent player and great scorer, but yeah, I'd be very surprised if a few of those shorties weren't scored that way.

 

[apple2k]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

"I couldn't believe my eyes. I told Mike last night I haven't seen anybody cherry-pick like that since Martin St. Louis was at UVM." Tim, I gotta say that since I'm a short trip across the bay from the Times Forum, I get to see MSL play quite a bit. If this Smith kid is ANYTHING like MSL, he's the best to come out of the ECAC since MSL. Cherry-picker or no. Not to mention--what would SLU's record look like today if Flanagan or Carey had 20 more goals? I'd take it!

 

[Marmot]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

I see some allusions above that seem to indicate that Austin Smith is a one dimensional player. But in addition to having almost twice as many goals as the 2nd highest goal scorer in the ECAC in league play, he leads the league in plus/minus. Isn't plus/minus a fairly reasonable indicator of overall play?

 

[TimU]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

St. Louis is a much more complete player in the NHL than he was in college. No comparison - except for his energy and speed.

I didn't say Smith wasn't a good overall player, and I didn't say I wouldn't want that kind of production on my team. I'm a big fan. But he is a big-time cherry picker.

 

[Got 6 Want More]

Re: SLU Hockey 2011-2012

I see some allusions above that seem to indicate that Austin Smith is a one dimensional player. But in addition to having almost twice as many goals as the 2nd highest goal scorer in the ECAC in league play, he leads the league in plus/minus. Isn't plus/minus a fairly reasonable indicator of overall play?

Allusions?? Your team is on the kill and he is circling out at the blue line. Maybe if he was in the zone they would not have given up three man advantage goals to SLU, which, incidentally, don't factor in plus/minus. And, since you ask, a lot of coaches have given up on plus/minus as a great indicator because a player can get dinged or credit without deserving it. A much better indicator is what end of the ice the puck is at the end of the shift. I won't take anything away from him, but Greg Carey had 23 goals as a freshmen last year and I don't ever recall him circling the opposing blue line on the PK and if he was doing that I am pretty sure Joe Marsh would have him circling the bench.

As for tonight. Only word that comes to mind is Wow. That officiating can't be tolerated. I counted 6 Cornell hits on Wenninger in the crease, two goals by Cornell player with a player clearly in the crease including the game winner, 5 times a Cornell player cross-checked the SLU defensemen to the ice in front of the SLU net. four blatant picks by Cornell, 7 various Contact to the Head hits (three by Craig alone) and obvious trip on a breakaway at the end of regulation, I don't know how many missed offsides calls, and I lost count of all the holds and hooks. Absolutely disgraceful. And how exactly did the Cornell player convince the refs to review the goal and call it a no goal. Only way that happens is if it is kicked in which it clearly was not. And, the other way, they call Wick for 5 for a clean hit. If Stewart can justify that, he should lay off the drugs.

As for the occasional clean play - tonight we needed Dustin Stevenson and Brandon Bollig. Lots of situations where Cornell used their size and strength to win battles. SLU did not play the best game but the officiating had a clear impact on the result. If Essery was in alone with under two to go, I doubt we would have seen OT. Another shining embarrassment ECAC!!