Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

[cornellgradyalefan]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

Pecknold's decision to pull the goalie down 5-1 with a two-man advantage and five minutes to go is, to say the least, eccentric. I suppose his theory was to get a goal to jump-start the team for today, but that seems, at least to me, idiotic, and Kearney's 170-foot goal (which was quite pretty, by the way, even if probably really lucky) shows that decisions like that have almost no risk-return balance.

But enough about QU strategy. This game had me really nervous, probably because of last year. And you're right, the first SHG really changed the whole tenor of the game.

But we're not out of the woods yet by any means for a one seed in the NCAAs, though all the other top games helped. The Cleary Cup is still in sight, although Union climbed to 4th in RPI with Denver's shocking loss. When was the last time the ECAC had two of the top four teams in RPI?

Just win, baby, and everything else takes care of itself. I'm headed down to Princeton tonight for my first trip ever to Hobey Baker Rink. The remaining TUC games are crucial.

Not that it matters because I doubt will see the Bobcats again this year, but how good is QU? They have some quality wins this year, but the team I saw last night was thoroughly outclassed and borderline dirty in their play as if they knew the only way they could beat Yale was to get them into a street brawl.

I am happy that Union pulled into the Top 4 in RPI. Imagine what the ECAC haters will have to say if 2 ECAC teams get 1 seeds? And I agree, just win and everything else takes care of itself. If Union wins out, it doesn't bother me, because the ultimate goal is the NCAA championship

 

[goblue78]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

you don't think this team is as good offensively as last year's team

Through 26 games: 2010--108 goals 2011--115 goals Goals allowed: 2010--75 2011--56. A consistent Rondeau (as well as fewer odd man rushes allowed by the defense) is the difference. Yes, the scoring is better balanced, and that may be a factor as well. But last year Yale lost a 1-0 game, and this year they won one.

 

[cornellgradyalefan]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

Through 26 games: 2010--108 goals 2011--115 goals Goals allowed: 2010--75 2011--56. A consistent Rondeau (as well as fewer odd man rushes allowed by the defense) is the difference. Yes, the scoring is better balanced, and that may be a factor as well. But last year Yale lost a 1-0 game, and this year they won one.

Thanks for the statistics. I guess that I intuitively knew that those numbers would be in that range, but did not know exactly what they were. I think that LT's comment about the offense not being as good was born of the frustration from the lost weekend in the Capitol district several weeks ago where Yale out-shot both Union and RPI, especially RPI, and lost both games. I think that the feeling was that Yale was just as effective as last year's team in getting shots on goal, but much less effective in potting goals. In any case, I like the orientation of this year's team far better-a little less offense, but markedly better defense, although judging by the last 2 games played, the offense looks to be rounding into peak form again.

 

[cornellgradyalefan]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

One other though that I had is that I am glad that the Laganierre/Balch platoon on the Mason line has now become Laganierre only. While I like Balch, Yale has many players like him, but few like Laganierre with his size and especially his reach. I understand that Anderson is rehabbing intensely and pointing toward a return in the ECAC playoffs. While I assume that Anderson will reclaim his spot if healthy, having Laganierre ready to step in if Anderson should falter is a nice insurance policy.

 

[licwinko]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

If Lags can just learn to play a bit more of a physical game in the coming years he's going to be a great weapon. He's certainly gotten much more comfortable at this level and he was great last night. But really the whole freshman class has been great when they've had ice time.

Liffey's will show the game tomorrow if anyone's interesting in meeting up.

 

[LTsatch]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

Comment is spot on that I was frustrated after that NY weekend, I witnessed too many open nets missed and shooting on the 7th pass when they should have shot on the 3rd pass, not every shot has to be a wide open look, goals occasionally do get scored on deflections or rebounds, although I admit our front of net presence is lacking. I was really impressed by how they went about the game in a business like manner last night, like the crowd was not even there. I did not have the advantage of seeing a replay of the Martin goal, did it really go through the net? I had a good view and thought it just sprung back really quickly off of the twine. Channel Eight story I came across.

 

[goblue78]

On TV you never saw the puck at all... Just a rippling net. But the puck clearly came back without going through the net. It never hit the back boards. The referee behind the goal line instantly signalled no goal, but, as the announcers pointed out, there was no sound of puck hitting post, so it almost had to go in, unless it somehow violated the laws of physics and hit silently.

 

[yalehockeyfan]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

If Lags can just learn to play a bit more of a physical game in the coming years he's going to be a great weapon. He's certainly gotten much more comfortable at this level and he was great last night. But really the whole freshman class has been great when they've had ice time.

Liffey's will show the game tomorrow if anyone's interesting in meeting up.

Liffey's for lunch tomorrow it is then....A good game for Yale yesterday. Q hit hard (although not always legally) and slowed Yale down a little, but we were still a much more talented team. Speaking of Little, his struggles have me concerned, as I thought for much of last year he was out best player, and certainly at the beginning of this year he was simply a stud. Recently, he just hasn't looked himself at all. I too suspect a lingering injury.

 

[LTsatch]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

Little walked off the ice directly to the tunnel with a knee problem earlier in the middle part of the season at a home game. I though I saw him grab at the thigh/groin area last night but who knows. Martin's goal would have made a loud noise if it hit backboard or glass, it surely bounced back off of the tight high net twine, the funny thing was that it bounced back directly in the direction that it came from. I also did not notice if they added the time after the goal back on the clock. What would happen if another goal was scored or a penalty happened during the 1 to 2 minutes that play continued?

 

[Boola]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

They did put the time back on the clock. Anything that would have happened after the goal before the next whistle would have been nullified. The sad thing is that QU does not have video review camera's yet, had the game not been on on TV that would never have been reviewed and would never have been a goal. In the grand scheme that goal didnt mean much to the outcome of the game, but imagine if it had. I guess by the beginning of next season all D1 rinks must have the video review in place.

As for Broc, QU definatly targeted him Friday night, taking several cheap shots on him. I think it is known he can be rattled.

 

[yalehockeyfan]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

Miller, O'Neill, and Cahill line looked absolutely unstoppable today. Miller is a special player - SHG and 3 Assists on the day.
If Little and Kearney can get back rolling, those two lines can give us a chance against anyone.

2 games left to go in regular season- we play Colgate and Cornell at home this weekend while Union hosts Quinnipiac and Princeton. Trailing Union by a single point in the standings, we a little help from our CT neighbors on Friday would be most appreciated.

 

[Eph72]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

yalehockeyfan:

I think you're right about Miller, O'Neill and Cahill. Their hustle, shooting, stickhandling and puck control today were exceptional and the scoring line (below) bears this out. Miller, especially, was outstanding. Little and Kearney were not so effective, which is a little worrisome. Hope there are not any injury issues lurking beneath the surface. Always a possibility this late in the season.

Laganiere 0-0-0 3/E
Mason 0-1-1 1/+1
Brockett 1-0-1 1/+1
Cahill 1-0-1 3/E
Miller 1-3-4 4/+3
O'Neill 1-1-2 3/+3
Agostino 1-0-1 3/-1
Root 0-0-0 1/-1
Ziegler 0-0-0 1/-2
Kearney 0-0-0 3/-1
Limbert 0-0-0 0/-2
Little 0-0-0 1/E
Matczak 0-1-1 1/+2
Martin 0-1-1 2/+2
Rondeau 0-1-1 0
Young 0-0-0 0/-1
Peel 0-0-0 2/-1
Trentowski 0-0-0 1/E
Jaskowiak 0-0-0 2/E

 

[BigDEli]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

Couldn't agree more...he controls the pace out there better than any Yale player in a really long time.

 

[LTsatch]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

I only caught the third period on tv today and was impressed by what I saw. Yale played to it's strength by outhustling the tigers. I was wondering how the three quick goals against happened and if it was worriesome to those who were able to see it. Was Rondeau at fault or the defense

 

[goblue78]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

The first goal came on a giveaway low. It wasn't really Rondeau's fault. The second goal was all his fault -- a not very hard shot that he batted into the slot where it was punched in. The third goal was a ridiculously unlucky bounce off the boards right behind the net. He lost sight of the puck and had no chance. That said, he made a lot of very good stops later in the game, although he several times failed to control the puck and allowed a lot of rebounds. The fourth goal was all the defense's fault. They were caught out of position right after the expiration of a penalty. He didn't seem to see the puck very well. He did get an assist on the fourth Yale goal, though, with a great outlet pass.

 

[yalehockeyfan]

I am happy that Union pulled into the Top 4 in RPI. Imagine what the ECAC haters will have to say if 2 ECAC teams get 1 seeds? And I agree, just win and everything else takes care of itself. If Union wins out, it doesn't bother me, because the ultimate goal is the NCAA championship

Given that Union is currently tied for 8th in Pairwise it is unlikely they end up a #1 seed. Then again a Yale-Union ECAC Final could produce that- but only if Yale lost and that shouldn't happen.

 

[cornellgradyalefan]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

That was one of the most exciting games I have seen in quite some time. Yale made a similar comeback at Princeton last year-down 4-1 after 1 and ultimately winning 7-4-but that game was over after the 2nd period. This game was much different in that Princeton didn't wilt, which they easily could have done, after giving up 2 shorties and 3 total in a span of a little over 5 minutes. Princeton is a good team, they skate well, and stick-handle well, although not as well as Yale, but then very few teams do. The 4 goals against made it look as though Rondeau had a soft game, but at least two of those goals were not his fault, and he was very good in the third where Princeton had some Grade-A chances. Regarding Broc, I now agree with LT that something is physically wrong. There were several plays where he couldn't reach leading passes that he should have corralled and there were a number of rushes into the Princeton zone where he passed the puck back to Denny rather than attempt to carry it in. The Miller-O'Neill-Cahill line was on fire today, but we are going to need the Broc-Denny-Limbert line to play like they should if we are going to win the NCAAs. Actually Denny played well, but without Broc converting the passes that Denny is so adept at, his skills are negated.

 

[cornellgradyalefan]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

I am happy that Union pulled into the Top 4 in RPI. Imagine what the ECAC haters will have to say if 2 ECAC teams get 1 seeds? And I agree, just win and everything else takes care of itself. If Union wins out, it doesn't bother me, because the ultimate goal is the NCAA championship

Are the PWR and RPI updated in real time, or do they only update after the weekend games are concluded?

 

[goblue78]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

They update as scores are posted. So they're accurate now.

 

[yalehockeyfan]

Re: Yale Hockey 2010-2011 thread

Some preliminary calculations show Yale and North Dakota have clinched NCAA bids. In fact, they finish no worse than 8th in worst-case scenarios I've run. I have managed to get Denver and BC down to 13th, which means they can be caught. Merrimack I have gotten down to 14th. Union and Michigan can still miss the tournament completely.
Conversely, I have been able to get every current TUC into the tournament as an at-large team. I have not tried to calculate AHA but it seems safe to say RIT and RMU will not both be getting berths. .

On that note, a congrats to Yale for what appears to be a third straight NCAA tournament appearance. When you take a moment and realize that this means Yale will have made the NCAAs more in the last 3 years than in all other years combined (only other 2 NCAA appearances were in '52 and '98), that is quite an acheivement.

But for now, the focus is on the Cleary Cup....

see y'all at the Whale this weekend!