Where We Are Now
The first month of the 2012-2013 campaign has brought both
promise and worry to Crimson nation. After easily defeating McGill and Bentley
at home, the Crimson struggled to a win over Brown before losing to Union and
Yale by a combined score of 11-3. A shutout of bottom-dwellers RPI momentarily
stopped the bleeding, but Harvard faces a big test this weekend as they go on
the road for the first time to visit Cornell and Colgate. The Crimson are tied
for fifth in the ECAC with a conference record of 2-2. Princeton and Quinnipiac
also have four points each, but only through two games. Regardless, if Harvard
is going to continue to struggle against better-skating teams with multiple
scoring lines, they need to get every possible point from this weekend.
The Good Through Five Games
Harvard’s top-ranked recruiting class has been phenomenal.
It is no exaggeration that Jimmy Vesey and Kyle Criscuolo have been the team’s
best forwards so far. Vesey leads the team in scoring with five goals and
Criscuolo has stood out defensively while also finding the net twice. Not to be
outdone, second round pick Brian Hart has picked up three points and been the
most physical Crimson skater so far. Finally, Coach Donato moved Desmond Bergin
up to the second pairing across from Patrick McNally this past weekend, as the
freshman has demonstrated good patience and decision-making in all three zones.
Speaking of McNally, he and Tommy O’Regan have spearheaded a
sophomore class that continues to build on solid seasons last year. The flashes
of creative brilliance we saw last year have become a game-by-game occurrence
from both players, who have come into the year with an infectious confidence to
match their talent. Colin Blackwell has also been among Harvard’s best forwards,
although a head injury has kept him out of the last two games as a precaution.
Finally, and most importantly, Raphael Girard’s play in goal
is a welcome sign for Harvard fans after last year’s inconsistencies. The vast
majority of the ten goals scored by Union and Yale were not the fault of number
30, without whom both games would’ve been much more lopsided. In his first two
career shutouts against Bentley and RPI, Girard made several all-world saves.
The Crimson have found their goaltender.
The Bad Through Five Games
The breakout looked nonfunctional against Yale and Union.
Pinned in their own zone for shifts on end, the Crimson could not gain the puck
on their sticks in neutral ice, either losing it along the boards or wasting
clearing attempts. The few times that Danny Biega or McNally got fed up and
brought the puck up themselves, their rushes were closed off at center and the
cycle would begin again. Harvard needs to find a solution against those teams
that have experienced defensemen and several lines of capable forecheckers. Part
of the problem is inexperience. With so few upperclassman forwards, it’s been
difficult for Coach Donato to find reliable line combinations for all
situations. As a result, Biega and Dan Ford have been on the ice protecting the
net way too much for their own good, only compounding the problem.
More surprisingly, the powerplay is at a pitiful 10 percent
for the year and only 1-18 in conference play. Even more dumbfounding, the
Crimson return four of five players from last year’s first unit, and Alex
Killorn has been replaced by Jimmy Vesey. Opponents have been content to play
conservatively and simply take away the front of the net from the Crimson, and
the one-timers from the perimeter have not been on target. Fortunately, the
poor conversion rate is also a matter of luck, as the Crimson have seen some
fantastic saves made on otherwise strong possessions. This team has too much
talent for these numbers to continue.
MVP So Far
Jimmy Vesey. There isn’t even a debate. He’s been the most
consistent and most prolific player in a Crimson sweater bar none.
Forecast
Cornell is a huge test for the Crimson. Ranked No. 10
nationally, the Big Red are always a tough opponent on the road, but they play
a much slower and less skilled game than Union or Yale do. If Harvard can
exploit its offensive advantage, the Crimson will pick up their first marquee
win of the year.
In the long run, the play of Girard and a powerplay that has
the laws of probability on its side bode well for the Crimson in terms of a
top-4 finish, provided that Blackwell returns soon and the other skilled forwards
stay healthy. If the Crimson want to compete for the conference title, however,
they’re going to have to rapidly improve their defensive and neutral zone play against
aggressive and skilled teams. Whether this maturation can occur over the course
of a single season with so many fresh faces getting big minutes is an open
question.
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