UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

[5IslandsWildcat]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

And for Cats fans who can't make the trip out to Albany, does anyone want to meet at a local spot to watch the game on ESPN? I think it's on ESPNU. I was thinking about The Page in Portsmouth. Any thoughts?

Current ESPN sched has UNH-Cornell on ESPNU HD. Guess that includes ESPNU w/o HD for us po-folks. See http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?page=10frozenfoursked (accessed 7:08 p.m., 03/21/2010).

Plan to watch in Bath ME if anyone wants to join me.

 

[unh1982]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

come on, you guys have been brain washed by barry Mullet melrose , cornell very beatable , they took on brown , last place team , than a poor union team , sorry brown and union just trying to make a point.if there so good why are they a two seed

 

[RockTheWhit]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

While the fact that Cornell has the best/hottest goalie in the country is certainly not lost on me, I am a believer that numbers like the ones tCBG quoted are less useful when looking at a single elimination hockey tournament. Let's take a look back to last year. The hottest team with the hottest goalie going in was UMD, and they needed a miracle to get past their opening round game and then couldn't beat a 4 seed to get to DC. That 4 seed was Miami, who had just gotten knocked out in the CCHA quarters. We also saw dominant CCHA champion Notre Dame fall to 4 seed Bemidji State as well as #1 Michigan losing to #4 Air Force. Anything can happen in this tournament, so I've been saying all year long that if we just get there, we have a shot. I'm glad we do, and I can't wait for Friday!

 

[WILD E WOLVERINE]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

Agree whit - momentum is only as good as the next goal and it can come out of nowhere. It's not about how you lay before you get there, but what you do when you get there.

 

[Nifty16]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

While the fact that Cornell has the best/hottest goalie in the country is certainly not lost on me, I am a believer that numbers like the ones tCBG quoted are less useful when looking at a single elimination hockey tournament. Let's take a look back to last year. The hottest team with the hottest goalie going in was UMD, and they needed a miracle to get past their opening round game and then couldn't beat a 4 seed to get to DC. That 4 seed was Miami, who had just gotten knocked out in the CCHA quarters. We also saw dominant CCHA champion Notre Dame fall to 4 seed Bemidji State as well as #1 Michigan losing to #4 Air Force. Anything can happen in this tournament, so I've been saying all year long that if we just get there, we have a shot. I'm glad we do, and I can't wait for Friday!

Well said!!! I agree 100%, a new season starts on Friday, and I hope that is how the team is looking at it. Those stats don't mean anything now. I would say that the way Foster played the last 2 games he is just as good as anyone. If the boys pull it all together and play a hard game and don't quit, and I think they have more then proven that all year, then they should be in the game, and that is all you want in a 1 game situation. This is one UNH fan who is going into Friday with some optimism.

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

I'm just guessing this won't be a 10-9 double overtime (!) win like the one we caught at The Gahden vs. the Big Red decades ago (thankyou, Bobby Gould).

I thought of that game last night as I watched Maine & BC score 13 goals. When's the last time that happened in a Hockey East final? UNH scored 10 on that night (and another 6 the following night, but BU scored 8) back in '77. I'll always remember the UNH crowd after that win, they filled almost half the balcony of the old Garden and were in a frenzy at the end. The only other playoff game I can remember that came close to that emotional high was when Haydar (from Krog) scored in OT against Michigan in '99 at the Centrum.

As for Cornell, and this is from memory, the teams have met in the playoffs five times - 1972 ECAC semis (Cornell win), the aforementioned '77 semis (UNH win), '79 semis (UNH win), '02 NCAA regional final (UNH win), and '03 NCAA national semi-final (UNH win). As the financial advisors always say, past performance is not an indicator of future results. But we do have a history there.

 

[Whalers]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

I seem to remember a few years back when LeNevue (SP?) played for Cornell and he was a finalist for the Hobey, Cornell was unstoppable and UNH wasn't going to be able to score even 1 goal. Can we ask Saviano and Sean Collins if they were able to get a shot past the brick wall?

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

While the fact that Cornell has the best/hottest goalie in the country is certainly not lost on me, I am a believer that numbers like the ones tCBG quoted are less useful when looking at a single elimination hockey tournament. Let's take a look back to last year. The hottest team with the hottest goalie going in was UMD, and they needed a miracle to get past their opening round game and then couldn't beat a 4 seed to get to DC. That 4 seed was Miami, who had just gotten knocked out in the CCHA quarters. We also saw dominant CCHA champion Notre Dame fall to 4 seed Bemidji State as well as #1 Michigan losing to #4 Air Force. Anything can happen in this tournament, so I've been saying all year long that if we just get there, we have a shot. I'm glad we do, and I can't wait for Friday!

Thanks for taking tCBG off the ledge. I am very skeptical of ECAC goalie stats. Every year Cornell has the best goalie. They haven't won the whole enchilada since 1970 (Cropper not Dryden) and haven't been to the FF since '03 (like us). As much as we complain about the drop off in HE this year, the fact that a bottom feeder like Brown (who have as an assistant coach Mark White) could beat Yale then have to face the likes of St. Lawrence and Union has to make you wonder how good the league is. Yes, we lost to RPI (6 months ago), but we beat Dartmouth, who beat Cornell.

Look, I have no illusions about the game on Friday. Cornell looked awfully good against us, especially that 2-3 minute stretch when we could not get the puck out of the zone for the life of us (duplicated last weekend by UVM?). We have to come with our best game, we have to transition well and get some offensive zone presence for sure, but if Foster plays up to the way he has the last month (singlehandedly getting us the regular season title), and the d doesn't treat the puck like a hot potato, we can win. Of course, Denver might be a different story, but play them one game a time. I'm sure that's what the players are doing. Keep the faith.

 

[CarlS]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

Greg - thanks for mentioning that Haydar goal at the Centrum. Was one one of my favorite UNH games of all time. Had great seats, great company and great result.

 

[snively]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

I thought of that game last night as I watched Maine & BC score 13 goals. When's the last time that happened in a Hockey East final? UNH scored 10 on that night (and another 6 the following night, but BU scored 8) back in '77. I'll always remember the UNH crowd after that win, they filled almost half the balcony of the old Garden and were in a frenzy at the end. The only other playoff game I can remember that came close to that emotional high was when Haydar (from Krog) scored in OT against Michigan in '99 at the Centrum.

As for Cornell, and this is from memory, the teams have met in the playoffs five times - 1972 ECAC semis (Cornell win), the aforementioned '77 semis (UNH win), '79 semis (UNH win), '02 NCAA regional final (UNH win), and '03 NCAA national semi-final (UNH win). As the financial advisors always say, past performance is not an indicator of future results. But we do have a history there.

Great post, Greg. I was lucky enough to be seated right behind the Cornell goaltender's left shoulder -- was it Napier? -- in the lower loge seats when Gouldie's shot on the fly put an end to that amazing nineteen goal game.

Age corrupts memory, but I seem top remember we were down 9-7 fairly late in regulation in that one?

Truth be told, the folks from Ithaca brought an awesome crowd to that game as well. I remember their beautiful singing of Cornell's haunting alma mater -- great stuff.

One last thing about Bob Gould -- he wasn't a huge "numbers" guy like, say, Ralph Cox -- but he got some very, very key goals for us. I'll always remember #17's GWG at 17:17 of the third to give us the ECAC crown (also at the Garden) against Dartmouth in '79. The 'tender he beat is now their coach.

As you can see from the photo below, I was lucky enough to actually be at "the" game in 1980 -- call me twisted, but even that win didn't make me any more happy at the time than that '79 title did.

 

[JB]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

Thanks for taking tCBG off the ledge. I am very skeptical of ECAC goalie stats. Every year Cornell has the best goalie. They haven't won the whole enchilada since 1970 (Cropper not Dryden) and haven't been to the FF since '03 (like us). As much as we complain about the drop off in HE this year, the fact that a bottom feeder like Brown (who have as an assistant coach Mark White) could beat Yale then have to face the likes of St. Lawrence and Union has to make you wonder how good the league is. Yes, we lost to RPI (6 months ago), but we beat Dartmouth, who beat Cornell.

Look, I have no illusions about the game on Friday. Cornell looked awfully good against us, especially that 2-3 minute stretch when we could not get the puck out of the zone for the life of us (duplicated last weekend by UVM?). We have to come with our best game, we have to transition well and get some offensive zone presence for sure, but if Foster plays up to the way he has the last month (singlehandedly getting us the regular season title), and the d doesn't treat the puck like a hot potato, we can win. Of course, Denver might be a different story, but play them one game a time. I'm sure that's what the players are doing. Keep the faith.

#1 key for UNH, remember hockey is a contact sport, to stop a low cycle you must to hit. UNH just seems to forget that in the mens game checking is legal. They remember from time to time (the good periods) but forget too often. I honestly don't know why they have forgotten, it is what made them good from about Nov 1 till that January game against BU.

 

[snively]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

By the way -- congrats to Cornell's men's basketball team for also making the Sweet Sixteeen, after knocking off Wisconsin. Has to be eons since a generally-non-hoops-oriented Ivy made it through that far. [EDIT: more specifically, Penn was the last -- in 1979!]

The funny twist is that they now also now face a blue Wildcat squad -- in this case, Kentucky...

 

[WildShawn]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

By the way -- congrats to Cornell's men's basketball team for also making the Sweet Sixteeen, after knocking off Wisconsin. Has to be eons since a generally-non-hoops-oriented Ivy made it through that far. [EDIT: more specifically, Penn was the last -- in 1979!]

The funny twist is that they now also now face a blue Wildcat squad -- in this case, Kentucky...

And Cornell's women's hockey team, who had never had a winning season, I believe, made it to the Frozen Four championship game and lost to UMD in 3ot today.... impressive run

 

[unh1982]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

By the way -- congrats to Cornell's men's basketball team for also making the Sweet Sixteeen, after knocking off Wisconsin. Has to be eons since a generally-non-hoops-oriented Ivy made it through that far. [EDIT: more specifically, Penn was the last -- in 1979!]

The funny twist is that they now also now face a blue Wildcat squad -- in this case, Kentucky...

to top it off the womans team lost in 3 ot in finals of ncaa , the big red is on a roll , can they be derailed.

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

#1 key for UNH, remember hockey is a contact sport, to stop a low cycle you must to hit.

This, dropping to block shots and fighting to the offensive goal are indicators of the UNH mindset and how the game will play out. Easy for a fan to post, much harder for a player to do.

 

[Carmine Scarpaglia]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

Thanks for taking tCBG off the ledge. I am very skeptical of ECAC goalie stats. Every year Cornell has the best goalie. They haven't won the whole enchilada since 1970 (Cropper not Dryden) and haven't been to the FF since '03 (like us).

Well, Greg, we finally agree on something. And there is not one part of what I'm quoting that I can disagree with.

Let's be honest, this happens every year. Cornell goalie with a .940 save %, OMG he is the greatest EVAH!!!!!!!!!!!! And in this span Cornell has made 1 FF.

It's the system, guys. Their system isn't conducive to making a run in the NCAAs. I truly believe that. Look at your winners. BC, Denver, Minnesota, BU. Those weren't teams that bunkered in and wanted to win 1-0 like Cornell wants to do every night.

Also throw in the fact that they are an ECAC team... that league doesn't prepare their teams well for NCAA tournament play.

Don't be worried because Barry Melrose saw one game of them and he's all over their junk.

Of course, on the other side you guys have Umile and ... ya know... I'm not going to go there. But I'm sure Cornell is right now on the flip side of things.

 

[snively]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

to top it off the womans team lost in 3 ot in finals of ncaa , the big red is on a roll , can they be derailed.

Thanks to both you and WildShawn. Amazing roll indeed.....

 

[unh1982]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

Well, Greg, we finally agree on something. And there is not one part of what I'm quoting that I can disagree with.

Let's be honest, this happens every year. Cornell goalie with a .940 save %, OMG he is the greatest EVAH!!!!!!!!!!!! And in this span Cornell has made 1 FF.

It's the system, guys. Their system isn't conducive to making a run in the NCAAs. I truly believe that. Look at your winners. BC, Denver, Minnesota, BU. Those weren't teams that bunkered in and wanted to win 1-0 like Cornell wants to do every night.

Also throw in the fact that they are an ECAC team... that league doesn't prepare their teams well for NCAA tournament play.

Don't be worried because Barry Melrose saw one game of them and he's all over their junk.

Of course, on the other side you guys have Umile and ... ya know... I'm not going to go there. But I'm sure Cornell is right now on the flip side of things.

well said , something i wanted to say but didnt want to offend the ecac , but all that commentary is accurate , they try to win there games 2-1, yes they avg 3 plus goals agame but look at some of the teams in ecac , it would be like if we added 3 more teams to hockey east , certain that our record would be better but our goals for and goals against would be higher and lower respectively.

 

[OvahInDovah]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

By the way -- congrats to Cornell's men's basketball team for also making the Sweet Sixteeen, after knocking off Wisconsin. Has to be eons since a generally-non-hoops-oriented Ivy made it through that far. [EDIT: more specifically, Penn was the last -- in 1979!]

The funny twist is that they now also now face a blue Wildcat squad -- in this case, Kentucky...

I laughed about this today - undergrad degree is from UNH, grad degree from UK. So....I'm really anti-Cornell this week.

 

[d.gerry]

Re: UNH Wildcats - '10 Playoff Edition

The only other playoff game I can remember that came close to that emotional high was when Haydar (from Krog) scored in OT against Michigan in '99 at the Centrum.

Another emotional win was the '98 Regional in Albany. UNH's short-handed goal to beat BU in OT. If my memory serves me it was a pass from Bekar to Mowers (and Krog was sitting in the penalty box for a high stick).

Ah the memories, let's hope Albany is just as friendly this year!