Quick Hits: Harvard vs. Western Ontario

Some quick reactions to last night's game.

1. Raph Girard looked sharp in net for the Crimson, giving up 1 goal on 16 shots in 31 minutes of play. It was a slightly tougher day at the office for Steve Michalek who gave up 3 goals in quick succession on entering the second period. The first was a poorly directed rebound by him and the second was one that trickled through his five hole and got slammed home before he could reach back and find it. Tough to see, although ideally someone is tying up those forwards crashing the net. Third goal was a beauty by the Mustangs and it was impressive that Michalek almost got a glove on the one-timer. Harvard can't allow that pass through the slot, especially on the PK. Not too worried about Michalek though - it's always tough to come in halfway through a game and tougher still when it's your first collegiate action. He settled down nicely in the third period, though he had less to do.

2. Defensively, saw some good things all around. I was particularly impressed with the poise Patrick McNally showed on the point, especially on the power play. It's always good to see a freshman come in and play well and McNally was able to tally two assists from the point on the PP and get a few shots off, plus he looked comfortable defensively. That said, three goals from Harvard were on rebounds and another was a pass through the slot leading to a one-timer - Harvard needs the D-men to help out better there.

3. This offense certainly came alive last night. Obviously these types of comparisons are tough but Notre Dame scored only 4 on Western and Michigan State put up only 6 (though defensively, they gave up a goose egg and 1 respectively). Seven goals from the Crimson, 4 of which were PPGs. I think the ECAC has better goaltenders than Harvard faced last night but it was good to see a new emphasis on the cycle from Harvard and it was good to see them get shots on net and pucks in it. Tommy O'Regan grabbed a few assists tonight, again, something good to see from a freshman. Colin Blackwell dominated the face-off dot and also displayed a lot of wheels. He had a great chance on the breakaway that he just put wide on the backhand but he's going to score some goals for the Crimson.

4. Hopefully the Crimson were able to avoid the injury bug last night. Ryan Grimshaw got hit into the end boards pretty hard last night and looked slow to get up but after getting some helmet repairs was able to return to the game. There was also the CTH-elbowing major by Western on either McNally or O'Regan that shook the freshman up but he looked no worse for wear after it. The fact that both players returned after the big collisions, plus having two weeks until the first official game, hopefully means they'll be fine going into the start of the season.

Harvard travels to Brown tonight for a scrimmage. Any information we get (we usually don't get much) will get put up on twitter.com/whrbsports. Western plays Dartmouth today at 4pm.

Harvard Gets Elusive Beanpot Win

Peter Starrett (left, 14) celebrates his first collegiate point while teammate Danny Biega (center) celebrates his game tying goal in the 3rd period of the Beanpot consolation game. Photo courtesy of the Harvard Department of Athletics.

In years past, the consolation game of the Beanpot used to be a chance to test out the kids coming up through the ranks. Tales of the JV squad taking to the early game abound in Beanpot legend but JV has given way to club hockey (complete with its own club Beanpot) so the practice is no longer continued. Still, Ted Donato would have been forgiven if, in a not tremendously important nonconference game in front of friends and family at the TD Garden, he had gone with a youth movement and let players like John Caldwell, Dan Fick and Raphael Girard see the ice. The starting line-up, though, showed that would not be the tactic, as Donato mixed his starters to trot out a mostly senior starting line-up. Among the first six for the Crimson, it was the two co-captains, Michael Del Mauro and Chris Huxley, as well as P.O. Michaud and Michael Biega, with Ryan Carroll tending the net. The lone non-senior was underused Peter Starrett, with the junior making just his 17th appearance for the Crimson. It was clear that instead of a youth movement, Donato wanted to give his seniors one last chance for a Beanpot win. That decision ultimately delivered.

Head below the jump for more

View From the Booth: Men's Hockey vs. Sweden U-20

On Monday night, the Harvard Crimson skated in an exhibition game against The Swedish Junior National Team. The result, a 2-1 win for the Swedes, still was a good one for the Crimson. (Sweden lost to Merrimack at 12 noon on Tuesday, a 4-1 L. They play D-III Williams College tonight at 7pm, and UMass on Saturday at noon) Here's my take from the game.

1. If I have to pick just one thing clicking for the Crimson, it has to be their forecheck. Harvard did a great jump of pinning Team Sweden in their own zone for stretches of the game, particularly in a first period where the Crimson outshot Sweden 15-5. Harvard played aggressively and won the battles in the corners. Harvard's lone goal came as the result of a turnover just outside the Swedish blue line, forced by the pressure the Crimson applied in the zone.

2. On the opposite side, the glaring negative for right now has to be the power play. This is not too worrisome because it's early in the season and the PP needs time to figure itself out. On the other hand, Harvard's power play never really got going last season after a slow start either, with the Crimson converting 17% of their chances, good for 39th in the country. In this game, the Crimson were 0-9, though some PPs were abbreviated, but 0 goals and 8 shots in 16:33 of PP time isn't going to cut it. Harvard's first PP unit (Killorn, M. Biega, Moriarty up front, Morrison and D.Biega on the point) generated some pressure, particularly in the 3rd. Harvard did not show a 2nd PP unit though, with Coach Donato just cycling his lines to see who would earn PP time. A good PP could be a boon on Saturday- RPI is averaging 15.4 PIM/game.

Below the jump, I have the rest of my five thoughts, the lines from Monday, and an audio game recap.

Thoughts from the Booth: Questions Abound After Deflating Loss at Brown

by Scott Reed

The Harvard Crimson took a step back Saturday night in Providence, Rhode Island, losing 29-14 in disappointing fashion to a Brown team that, while talented, was predicted to finish behind Harvard in the preseason. The game was dominated by Brown from the outset yet at the same time was maddeningly within reach, as Crimson mistakes in the second half halted any semblance of a comeback. After the jump, we look at some of the causes in Harvard's poor performance.

View From the Booth: Harvard sputters at the end

Harvard and Boston University skated an exciting back-and-forth overtime game on Tuesday evening, and we've got our five thoughts from the booth after the jump. Also you'll find some news on Crimson NHL prospects courtesy of the Western College Hockey Blog.