2008 Woodie Awards
Analysis: Cardinals vs Soaring Eagles
Nick St. Denis
Issue date: 3/14/08 Section: Sports Updates
Originally published: 3/21/08 at 11:32 PM EST
Last update: 3/25/08 at 3:26 PM EST
Elmira and Plattsburgh playing in Lake Placid in the Frozen Four?
Classic.
This semifinal game has all the makings to be the game of the tournament, regardless of who takes home the championship on Sunday.
Elmira leads the series 36-32-3. Plattsburgh has won the last three out of four NCAA tournament meetings against the Soaring Eagles. Elmira won the only meeting this season, 3-2.
The advantage in Saturday's game is basically a seesaw going back and forth every time you try to decide who has it.
All season long the Cardinals have had a very similar trend in the majority of their games - feel out the other team in the first period, start attacking on offense in the second, and go for the jugular in the third.
After watching the quarterfinal game against Hobart, it became pretty clear why.
In the first period, PSUC forwards tried taking the puck by Hobart players, usually pushing it by the defender and skating around them. It didn't work because Hobart was playing the body all the way, keeping their eyes on the Cardinals' chests instead of following the puck.
The Cards made the adjustments in the intermission, using the time on the points Hobart was giving them. Hobart then seemed to cave right into their net, giving Plattsburgh even more time to shoot.
Phil Farrow's first goal to put the team up 3-1 was a prime example. He had some time skating across the point and roofed it by Hobart's Keith Longo, making it look pretty easy.
The big 200x100 Olympic-sized ice surface as opposed to the standard 185x85 at the Stafford Ice Arena will be a huge factor in Saturday's game as well.
PSUC's speed will most likely be the biggest dynamic relating to the bigger surface, because more space means more time to beat your guy to the outside. I can imagine length of shift-time may be slightly shorter, because the extra skating can make the players fatigue faster.
Based on my talking to some of the players this week and Friday's press conference it seems that they have taken the loss to Elmira as a learning experience. Like senior C.J. Tozzo said, "to fully appreciate the value of winning, you need to lose to know that feeling."
A bit cliché? Yeah, but pretty appropriate.
The Cardinals typically score the majority of their goals in the third period, but look for them to come out strong right out of the gate. Elmira is not a team you want to get an early burst in momentum, because they will take advantage of it.
Expect a classic Elmira/Plattsburgh match-up, and a decent Cardinal fan-showing. Barring an empty netter at the end, a one-goal game should be a safe bet.
Classic.
This semifinal game has all the makings to be the game of the tournament, regardless of who takes home the championship on Sunday.
Elmira leads the series 36-32-3. Plattsburgh has won the last three out of four NCAA tournament meetings against the Soaring Eagles. Elmira won the only meeting this season, 3-2.
The advantage in Saturday's game is basically a seesaw going back and forth every time you try to decide who has it.
All season long the Cardinals have had a very similar trend in the majority of their games - feel out the other team in the first period, start attacking on offense in the second, and go for the jugular in the third.
After watching the quarterfinal game against Hobart, it became pretty clear why.
In the first period, PSUC forwards tried taking the puck by Hobart players, usually pushing it by the defender and skating around them. It didn't work because Hobart was playing the body all the way, keeping their eyes on the Cardinals' chests instead of following the puck.
The Cards made the adjustments in the intermission, using the time on the points Hobart was giving them. Hobart then seemed to cave right into their net, giving Plattsburgh even more time to shoot.
Phil Farrow's first goal to put the team up 3-1 was a prime example. He had some time skating across the point and roofed it by Hobart's Keith Longo, making it look pretty easy.
The big 200x100 Olympic-sized ice surface as opposed to the standard 185x85 at the Stafford Ice Arena will be a huge factor in Saturday's game as well.
PSUC's speed will most likely be the biggest dynamic relating to the bigger surface, because more space means more time to beat your guy to the outside. I can imagine length of shift-time may be slightly shorter, because the extra skating can make the players fatigue faster.
Based on my talking to some of the players this week and Friday's press conference it seems that they have taken the loss to Elmira as a learning experience. Like senior C.J. Tozzo said, "to fully appreciate the value of winning, you need to lose to know that feeling."
A bit cliché? Yeah, but pretty appropriate.
The Cardinals typically score the majority of their goals in the third period, but look for them to come out strong right out of the gate. Elmira is not a team you want to get an early burst in momentum, because they will take advantage of it.
Expect a classic Elmira/Plattsburgh match-up, and a decent Cardinal fan-showing. Barring an empty netter at the end, a one-goal game should be a safe bet.
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