OK. Back to reality. Seems like the defense continued to play well this weekend, but if you score 1 goal per game . . .
The Harvard - Dartmouth weekend is looming larger now.
Another note I forgot to address ... Friday, if we beat Harvard and Clarkson beats Dartmouth doesn't that clinch a first round bye? ... Correct me if I am wrong, but that's what I got out of looking at the standings and the upcoming games. Admittedly it was a brief look at the standings and the upcoming games, so I could easily be mistaken ...
Another note I forgot to address ... Friday, if we beat Harvard and Clarkson beats Dartmouth doesn't that clinch a first round bye? ... Correct me if I am wrong, but that's what I got out of looking at the standings and the upcoming games. Admittedly it was a brief look at the standings and the upcoming games, so I could easily be mistaken ...
Another note I forgot to address ... Friday, if we beat Harvard and Clarkson beats Dartmouth doesn't that clinch a first round bye? ... Correct me if I am wrong, but that's what I got out of looking at the standings and the upcoming games. Admittedly it was a brief look at the standings and the upcoming games, so I could easily be mistaken ...
Just a question but isn't that a "when you beat Harvard and if Clarkson beats Dartmouth"??
Just checking.....
Just a question but isn't that a "when you beat Harvard and if Clarkson beats Dartmouth"??
Just checking.....
I have another side note ... A friend of mine spoke with Drew Smolcynski's parents at the Princeton game last night and apparently Drew is out for the remainder of the year. I can't remember if that was mentioned here once before or not. I don't recall hearing this until last night at the game![]()
I actually found another scenario where we clinch a first round bye Friday without the Dartmouth/Clarkson game meaning anything. When (are you happy now?) we beat Harvard and if Colgate does not win then we also clinch a first round bye.
If we get at least three points or the scenario above happens we clinch a bye. With three points, we hold tiebreakers on Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth. Most teams would kill to be in our position. If we don't make it, we have no one to blame but ourselves and it would have to be a pretty major meltdown. At this point, it is almost impossible to catch Q for first so hopefully they can win their last four games which happen to be against Yale, Harvard and Dartmouth. They need to keep on winning because if they lost those games they will fall in the PWR probably out of of the top 15.
As for this past weekend, things are a lot tougher without the underdog mentality. We have success, make the top 20, and then play arguably our worst hockey of the new year. Yeah, we dominated both games in stretches but we did not look sharp for long stretches of both games as well. Princeton does have decent talent. Bob Prier recruited some very good kids. Unfortunately, he won't be the guy to turn them into a winner and, because of what transpired, they literally can't lose enough.
So because I just probably put some of you into shock suggesting I want Q to win their last four games, I take it back! I want us to win our last four games and then we also clinch a bye. It won't be easy, but if this is the year we turn the corner into a championship calber team, we can't expect it to be easy. These guys can do it.
Finally, I think we will have Hayton for at least a couple more years. As good as he is, he is smallish and light and is not what most NHL teams are looking for....as stupid as I think they are. The re are other kids I am not sure we can keep. Guys like Gluchowski and Sweetman are such good players I am sure teams will make offers.
From what I've heard, Hayton is attending at least one NHL camp this summer and probably two and there has been a number of other teams talking with him. You say he's too small and too light yet Ryan Miller, who seems to have a very similar body type, has had no problems being a superstar in the NHL.
I do think it would be great to have him around for a couple more years and hope he puts a lot of thought into what's best if and when he does get an offer. I think it makes sense for him to stay here, get bigger, stronger and better until the time is right.
I have talked to one scout personally and heard second hand from another scout that is based in the North Country who have both seen Hayton several times. They basically said no way since he is under 6 feet and 150 pounds there won't be a lot of teams willing to pursue him. I don't agree with them, but their vote counts more than mine. I thought it was all about stopping the puck and that being light is an advantage. I am sure there are teams out there that would love to get him and see if they can develop him in the AHL and when he doesn't make the show as most goalies don't, they'll hang him out to dry. SLU has had some extremely good goalies in the last 30 years and combined they have less than 30 games in the show. I think it would be a huge mistake for him to go until he gets a lot more solid. Plus, I think he has the chance to lead this team to a Frozen Four in his time in Canton and leave with a mess of hardware and a degree.
I have talked to one scout personally and heard second hand from another scout that is based in the North Country who have both seen Hayton several times. They basically said no way since he is under 6 feet and 150 pounds there won't be a lot of teams willing to pursue him. I don't agree with them, but their vote counts more than mine. I thought it was all about stopping the puck and that being light is an advantage. I am sure there are teams out there that would love to get him and see if they can develop him in the AHL and when he doesn't make the show as most goalies don't, they'll hang him out to dry. SLU has had some extremely good goalies in the last 30 years and combined they have less than 30 games in the show. I think it would be a huge mistake for him to go until he gets a lot more solid. Plus, I think he has the chance to lead this team to a Frozen Four in his time in Canton and leave with a mess of hardware and a degree.
Despite a disappointing weekend result, it sure is fun (and unexpected back in October) that we're talking what needs to happen to clinch a bye in mid-February, isn't it?
4 tough games left, and apparently we used up too many goals against Union, but the defensive effort and results are still there. I'm sure it will be a tough week of practice, but I trust Carvy and Co. will have the boys ready to go Friday.
While it did feel a little disappointing this past weekend results wise, I keep telling myself where this team was expected to be at this time of the year and it always seems to put a smile on my face. It's always been SLU's vibe to be the underdog and battle back from behind, this year they are following that trend.
It's looking like one more win out of the four games and the bye will be ours. Every other result would have to go 100% the other teams way for us not to get the bye and in this league that typically doesn't happen. I would be shocked if we don't get the bye, but hey you never know!![]()
Yeah, is it just me or is Lewis falling apart? I really hoped you guys would go in a pop Q, but no dice. I think you guys might be starting to miss Perry at the wrong time of the year.