Re: Yale and New Hampshire at Denver and CC 11/23 & 11/24
I haven't seen either UNH or Yale this year, and I am really looking forward to these games. I, for one, LOVE it when we get a chance to see the eastern teams, even more so now after having lived back east and seeing so many teams play at home there.
DU is playing incredible hockey right now, far better than even the most optimistic DU fans probably expected after all of their losses from last season. I really don't see a weakness in their game at this point. I wouldn't be surprised if DU comes out of the weekend with two wins. That isn't meant in any way to disrespect Yale or UNH, that's just how good I think DU is right now. And anyone who knows the CC/DU rivalry knows that a CC fan wouldn't just say something like that!
As for CC, I think there are some good things in the works for his team this season, but they aren't quite there yet. The defensive corps is very good, 1-6. D-man Eammon McDermott is about as good an outlet passer as you'll see, and he helps CC push the tempo. The goaltending is generally solid, albeit a bit inconsistent. The Tigers are fantastic 5 on 5. They have two huge weaknesses so far this season: The first period has been god awful, and the penalty killing has been brutal so far. Just an example of the PK: All 5 goals CC gave up in the Cornell series were on Cornell's PP. So, as much as it is a key to every hockey game ever played, for CC it is even more of a key to stay out of the box.
For those who don't know, CC plays on the Olympic ice. Obviously this won't cause a problem for UNH, since they do as well. Two years ago, Yale had no problem adjusting to it due to the fact that they were (and I assume still are) a very fast team. I always look forward to fast opponents on the big ice, because CC loves an up-tempo game. So there should be great action both nights.
