Yesterday's opening round

Friday, March 26, 2010

NCAA East Regional

RIT 2 vs. Denver 1 --- The Denver Pioneers looked listless and uninspired and pathetic against the upstart RIT Tigers from the AHA. The Pioneers body language made them look as if they didn’t want to be there and they looked tight and frustrated all day. Going into the game Denver University was the heavy favorite against an undermanned opponent, some had suggested that there was no way DU would lose this game. RIT made the NCAA Division 1 hockey tourney in their 5th season of existence. this season by winning their league tourney.

Analysis: First off DU was a good team this past season and won the league with relative ease, congrats on a good season. That being said, I was on records as saying the DU pioneers were a one line team their top line of Rakhshani-Ruesgegger-Colborne and they had fourty five percent of the Pioneers offense you have got to have balance to win a NCAA title or at least advance to the Frozen Four. This season the Pioneers had no balance what so ever. Also DU won a lot of games when they had left their goaltender out to dry. It’s no mystery that the Pioneers relied heavily on their goaltender Marc Cheverie.
[Box Score]

New Hampshire 6 vs. Cornell 2 --- UNH and Cornell University had met earlier in the season and the Big Red ran the Wildcats out of their own building 5-2. Last night’s game was a totally different result as the UNH Wild cats made Cornell look like a bunch of pylons and the Big Red didn’t resemble the team that came into the game ranked 2nd defensively in the nation. Coming into the game Cornell hadn’t give up more than 5 goals the whole season.

Analysis: If you would have told me that UNH (University of No Hardware) would have won the game against Cornell I would have told you to put down the pipe. Coming into the game Cornell Senior goalie Ben Scrivens had and impressive record of 21-9-4 and a GAA of 1.87 and Save Percentage of .934 and had an impressive 19 shutouts for his career.
[Box Score]

NCAA West Regional

Vermont 2 vs. Wisconsin 3 --- This game was a bit of a snooze feast and the Badgers really poured it on in the second period but the UVM goalie Rob Madore kept the Catamounts from getting shelled and run out of the half empty building. If Wisconsin has a weakness this season it’s their goaltending and they were lucky that Scott Gudmandson’s questionable play didn’t cost them the game and he will have to be on his game tonight against the now 1-8 for the NCAA tourney the SCSU Huskies. Line for Line Wisconsin was the much better team and even when they went down by a goal you had a feeling they were going to pull it off.

Analysis: This past season I thought that Wisconsin was the better team in the WCHA; even when the Pioneers were wrapping up the regular season title. The Badgers have a very talented blue line that is stocked with first and second round draft choices. I don’t see any weaknesses in this team other than their two questionable goaltenders.
[Box Score]

Northern Michigan 3 vs. St. Cloud State 4 (2ot) --- If I had to bet money on this game I would have lost some money because the smart money said SCSU 0-8 for the NCAA tourney and now they are 1-8. I watched some of this game on delayed broadcast and listened to the overtime periods on the KVSC 88.1 yesterday.

Analysis: I am surprised that Bob Motzko keeps insisting on coming back with Mike Lee in net, from what I can see in my humble opinion that Dan Dunn is the better of the two goalies. I have watched Mike Lee play against the Fighting Sioux 3 times this season and he was God awful and gave up 14 goals in three games. I am just not getting the hype this season I have not been impressed with the freshman goalie. Is Lee a good goaltender? Well yeah, I think he has a lot of potential to be very good; but he is not a world beater. I thought Lee was unimpressive in the WJC tourney as well and had to be pulled from the WJC final.

[Box Score]