Men's Hockey January Review

Where We Are Now
This post comes a little later than promised, but also at an optimistic time for the Crimson. The boys just ended their two-month winless streak this past Wednesday with a fantastic 6-5 overtime triumph over #8 Boston University, despite trailing 5-2 with less than 14 minutes to play. The win moved the team's overall record to 5-7-1. The Crimson still haven't seen conference points since mid-November however, currently at 3-5-0 and in 9th place. Six teams are within three points, however, and every one of those teams has played eight conference games just like Harvard, except for Yale and Clarkson at seven each. The men play five conference games in the next sixteen days alone, so opportunities abound to right a wayward ship.

The Forwards
I'll try a different format for this post, analyzing the team by position instead of good/bad. The Crimson are delighted over the return of Jimmy Vesey from Russia, our team MVP back in November, where he exceeded everyone's expectations at the World Juniors. Vesey looked a tad disoriented against the Terriers on Wednesday, but yours truly can speak to the brutal jetlag after such a trip, and the freshman should be back to speed soon. He remains the team leader in points per game, and more importantly, his presence allows Coach Donato to play the line combinations he wants all the way down the depth chart.

In Vesey's absence, Harvard's touted seniors have finally started to display the firepower they're capable of. Marshall Everson and Alex Fallstrom both had multipoint games against Princeton and teamed up with Luke Greiner for Harvard's first goal against Quinnipiac, against whom the Swede also scored on the powerplay. At BU, Everson and Fallstrom only recorded one point each but created half a dozen other scoring chances, and Greiner finished with three points, including a spectacular individual goal that made the score 5-4 in the third. That goal also came on the powerplay, which at long last appears to be working. The Crimson have found the net five times with the man advantage in the last four games, and while many kinks still need to be ironed out, the percentage is up to a respectable 13.5% and the streak of one powerplay goal in eight games is forgotten.

After missing a few games earlier, Colin Blackwell has returned and is skating as well as he did at any point in his fantastic rookie campaign, currently enjoying a three-game point streak. He has found a rival, however, for the team's most dangerous offensive threat in Tommy O'Regan, a total wizard with the puck. O'Regan is still a little eager to enter the zone 1-on-3 and put the puck through the legs of defensemen, but his visionary passing ability has him tied for the team lead in points with Fallstrom at 10. Against his freshman brother, Danny, the elder sibling stole the show at Agganis and assisted beautifully on Conor Morrison's game-winner. His +5 rating leads the team.

Kyle Criscuolo remains injured, and the Crimson miss his two-way play, as the freshman had established himself alongside Morrison and Greiner as Harvard's best defensive forward. In his absence, however, Donato has found an excellent replacement in sophomore Ryan McGregor, who missed most of his freshman campaign with injury and did not skate in several contests early this year. McGregor has played well in his own zone, won a number of key face-offs, and picked up two assists against BU for his first career multipoint game. When Criscuolo returns, it should surprise no one if McGregor remains in the lineup.

The Defensemen + Girard
Early in December, the Crimson learned they would be playing without Patrick McNally and Max Everson for the time being, and suddenly a deep group of blue-liners became anything but. To add to the trouble, games lost among the forwards have forced Donato to play John Caldwell up front. As a result, against Princeton and Quinnipiac, the Crimson iced five defensemen, and it showed.

Danny Biega and Dan Ford have played well and limited turnovers in their own zone, but with so many stressful minutes on the legs of both and the Crimson's inability to win high-scoring games until Wednesday night, the duo have seen their offensive production drop well below the paces they set last year. Neither has scored a goal, and they have seven assists between them. They have often been unable to join the rush, scrambling back as soon as they cross the red line to prevent a chance the other way.

Dez Bergin has played the role of McNally Lite and shows no fear of the puck or the offensive zone. He's picked up four points so far, and while he's committed a number of freshman giveaways in his own zone, Bergin stands at a -3 rating, the same as Biega and only one goal worse than Ford. His continued improvement is a promising story to watch for the Crimson and may make a big impact on the ECAC standings yet. Brendan Rempel has served as Bergin's capable and more conservative partner, and has also played solid and significant minutes on a penalty kill that's ranked fifth in conference games only at 86%. However, with so few men at the back, the pairings have been highly unstable, and no two outside of Biega and Ford have truly had the chance to develop any real chemistry, contributing to Harvard's breakout problems and conference-worst 3.11 goals against average. Moreover, Donato still has not trusted junior Dan Fick with major playing time even when undermanned. Fick is pointless on the year.

In net, Raphael Girard was irreproachable through the first two months of the year. Since then, he's been pulled several times and allowed a handful of soft goals, but it's hard to lay too much blame on his head Harvard has been regularly out-shot, and of the ten goals scored on the Canadian against the Bobcats and Terriers, he was truly beat on perhaps four at most. The Crimson have done a particularly poor job lately of clearing the crease, and against BU, Girard gave up three goals only after having already made a few stops. He hasn't been spectacular, in particular with finding the puck around his feet, but he hasn't given any games away either. Freshman Peter Traber has looked solid in garbage time.

MVP So Far
Biega. If there was a statistic kept for racing back into your own zone to successfully snuff out a 2-1, Biega would be leading the nation. He's picked up two assists in the last two games, and while any chance of a renaissance rests on the scoring prowess of Vesey, O'Regan, and the seniors, none of it would even be thinkable without the captain.

Looking Forward
The Crimson travel to Dartmouth on Saturday. The Big Green, once the last undefeated team in the nation, have cooled off considerably, so the Crimson have a great chance to take a third win from a ranked opponent this year and prove that Wednesday was no fluke. Later this month, the Crimson travel to Yale, Brown, and Union for the second showdown of the year against each team. The Bulldogs and Dutchmen defeated Harvard by a combined 11-3 margin. Needless to say, the men's hopes for an ECAC bye cannot afford a repeat performance. Finally, on January 25th and 26th, the Crimson return to the Bright to play Clarkson and St. Lawrence for the first time this year.

ECAC December Power Rankings

As the winter break begins for the ECAC, it is time for WHRB’s December Power Rankings. Seven teams are ranked in USCHO.com’s Top 20 nationwide, while three points separate 2^nd and 9^th place in the conference standings. We’ll have a midseason review of the Crimson between their December 28^th showdown against Northeastern and the restart of conference action on January 4^th.

1. Quinnipiac      8-0-0, 16 Pts                     (12-3-2)            November: 5^th

After an unimpressive month of non-conference play, No. 9 Quinnipiac has run away with the ECAC lead, earning 100% of the points from eight games. The Bobcats have impressive wins over both Cornell and Union, and are allowing 1.12 goals per game against conference opponents while scoring almost four goals per game.

2. Union             3-2-3, 9 Pts                        (8-3-4)             November: 2^nd

The Dutchmen, ranked at No. 13 in the nation, weathered injuries to standouts Troy Grosenick and Mat Bodie well, but are winless in their last four games as the defense has not been as airtight as usual. They have too much talent not to turn it around, however, and are still third in the conference despite the recent slide.

3. Dartmouth      4-1-1, 9 Pts                        (7-2-2)             November: 1^st

Once the last undefeated team in the nation, No. 10 Dartmouth gained one point from Cornell and Colgate before a pair of easy non-conference wins. It is highly doubtful that their penalty kill percentage, first in the nation at 96%, is sustainable.

4. Cornell           3-3-2, 8 Pts                        (6-3-2)              November: 3^rd

The No. 11 Big Red earned two points from five games in the first three weeks of November. Memories of that stretch are gone, as Cornell has responded with big wins over Michigan, Clarkson, and St. Lawrence. Andy Iles has saved 87 of 91 shots over the last four.

5. Colgate          3-4-1, 7 Pts                        (9-7-2)               November: 11^th

The middle of the ECAC standings are a mess, and wins over Harvard, Dartmouth, and Clarkson earn the No. 20 earn the Raiders the fifth spot in our rankings as they’ve won 11 points from the last seven games. The freshman Spink twins have combined for 28 points.

6. Yale               3-3-1, 7 Pts                        (7-3-2)               November: 4^th

What to make of the No. 15 Bulldogs? They tied Union, lost to Clarkson by a goal, were spanked by contender Dartmouth and bottom-feeder RPI. A number of quality non-conference wins suggest that this team is better than their seven conference points.

7. Clarkson        3-3-1, 7 Pts                        (4-8-5)                November: 8^th

Outside of a 1-0 win over Yale, Clarkson has no impressive wins. Tied for fifth in the standings currently, this team doesn’t feel like a contender for an ECAC bye, and yet the Golden Knights beat Princeton 7-2 and have played much better than anyone trailing them in the standings. Clarkson has yet to play Dartmouth or Union.

8. Princeton        2-3-3, 7 Pts                        (3-6-3)               November: 9^th

Two losses to Quinnipiac by a combined tally of 6-1 have dulled an otherwise impressive start. Upcoming matchups against Dartmouth and Harvard will show how good the Tigers really are. It isn’t unreasonable to see them claw their way to a finish in the top half of the conference.

9. Harvard          3-3, 6 Pts                        (4-4-1)                  November: 6^th

Since winning against the Big Red in Ithaca, the Crimson has been mediocre at best, though a strange three-week rest may be partially to blame. With the loss of Patrick McNally and Max Everson, however, Harvard is suddenly short on defensive depth. Currently tied with Colgate for No. 20 in the national rankings, the Crimson will have to fight hard to stay in the picture for a bye.

10. St. Lawrence         1-4-2, 4 Pts            (7-8-2)                  November: 7^th

A promising season has taken a turn for the worse for the Saints. Losers of five of their last six, St. Lawrence is giving up too many goals 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill to compete with the cream of the conference. Outside of the dynamic due of Kyle Flanagan and Greg Carey, no one is scoring either.            

11. Brown         0-3-4, 4 Pts                      (3-5-4)                  November: 10^th

The Bears are the only winless team in the conference, but they get the nod over the Engineers thanks to gutsy performances against Harvard, Yale, and Union. Only one skater, Matt Lorito, has recorded double-digit points, but Brown is sixth in the conference in goals allowed.

12. RPI              1-5-2, 4 Pts                      (4-6-4)                 November 12^th

Even after a 6-1 shocking of Yale, the Engineers are last in the conference in goals scored and 10^th in goals allowed. A long season will only grow longer, as the Engineers face seven nationally ranked teams from now through February 2^nd.

Men's Hockey November Review

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.

ECAC November Power Rankings

An early-season review of the Crimson will be posted later today, but for now, we have our first ECAC Power Rankings of the year. The hockey-inclined members of WHRB dislike preseason rankings, but with a month of hockey behind us, it’s high time to make some controversial assertions.

1. Dartmouth                         4-0-0 (5-0-1)

The winners of the Ivy Showcase have shot to No. 12 in the national rankings after a convincing triumph over Yale and a close victory over Union. The last undefeated team nationally, Dartmouth is killing 96% of penalties, thanks in large part to the fantastic play of Cab Morris in net. Sophomore Tyler Sikura has emerged as one of the most dangerous forwards in the conference with 11 points through six games.

2. Union                         3-1-0 (6-2-1)

Outside of the loss to Dartmouth, no blemishes on the schedule so far for the defending champs. The Dutchmen destroyed Harvard and are ranked No. 7 in the country. Most importantly, an MRI this Monday revealed no serious damage to the leg of Hobey Baker finalist Troy Grosenick, who has plenty of time to return to his goaltending duties as the team does not play this weekend.

3. Cornell                        1-2-1 (3-2-1)

The poor conference record is a surprise for the Big Red, who’ve lost to Quinnipiac and Princeton. A 76% penalty kill might be to blame, especially given Cornell’s low-scoring style. Two wins over No. 14 Colorado College and a national ranking of their own at No. 10 keep Harvard’s top rivals high in these rankings for now.

4. Yale                                    2-2 (3-2-1)

The Bulldogs looked quite good against Harvard and St. Lawrence but were trounced by the Big Green and shut out by Clarkson at home. One thing is for sure – the talent is there to earn a conference bye. The upperclassmen forwards, led by Antoine Laganiere and Andrew Miller, are having stellar seasons, and Jeff Malcolm continues to hold down the starting job in net.

5. Quinnipiac                         2-0 (5-3-1)

The Bobcats garnered 22 votes in the national rankings this week after a win over Cornell and three points from two games against Ohio State. Scoring has not come easy, but that doesn’t matter much when Eric Hartzell has a 1.65 GAA in eight starts. A weekend at Clarkson and St. Lawrence provides a good opportunity to separate from the pack early in the season.

6. Harvard                        2-2 (3-2-0)

A hard team to judge so far, the No. 17 Crimson have looked great against bad teams and vice versa. The freshman forwards, led by Jimmy Vesey, are as spectacular as advertised, but a faltering powerplay and sloppy work in the defensive zone prevented Harvard from competing with Yale and Union. Raphael Girard has shushed any talk of a goalie controversy left over from last year.

7. St. Lawrence            0-1-1 (5-2-1)

Despite only one point in conference play so far, the No. 16 Saints stay in the middle of this ranking thanks to impressive out-of-conference play, including a win over No. 9 Western Michigan. Kyle Flanagan is averaging two points per game as St. Lawrence has converted a fourth of their powerplays, rendering an 0-7 night in a loss to Yale all the more confusing.

8. Clarkson                        1-0-1 (1-4-4)

The Golden Knights lost their first four games. They tied the next three, entering the ECAC season winless, before suddenly taking three points from Yale and Brown. This strange team has defied analysis so far, but they’re going to need to score more goals to be competitive.

9. Princeton                         2-0 (2-2)

The Tigers scored three goals in the last five minutes to steal a game from Cornell, then shut out Colgate 4-0. They did not look good in the Ivy Showcase or their exhibitions, however, and it remains to be seen whether this team will exceed its low expectations. Princeton was ranked 11^th in both the media and coaches preseason polls.

10. Brown                         0-2-2 (1-3-2)

The Bears came out with ties against St. Lawrence and Clarkson, and kept Harvard close till late in the third of a 3-2 loss. The team lacks scoring depth and life for Marco de Filippo in net has been difficult, as he is averaging over 30 shots against per game. So far, he’s performed admirably, and the Bears are once again displaying the never-say-die attitude that has become familiar to ECAC fans.

11. Colgate                        0-3-1 (4-6-1)

The Raiders tied Cornell and took Quinnipiac to overtime two weeks after beating the Bobcats in Cape Cod. The 4-0 loss to Princeton, however, might be more indicative of Colgate’s ability. They’ve been below average on special teams and neither Eric Mihalik nor freshman Spencer Finney look like viable answers in net to the ECAC’s best offenses.

12. RPI                        0-4-0 (1-5-2)

The Engineers have suffered from a difficult schedule, with their four losses coming to Harvard, Dartmouth, and Union twice. Unfortunately, easier opponents won’t necessarily improve RPI’s record, as the team has looked entirely lifeless in those games and ranks 10^th or worse in the conference in every major statistic.