Super Sweet Weekend

Wow I was hoping against hope that RPI went 1-0-1 this weekend but to do so by beating UP on Yale and then tying with Brown, I would've never guessed that is how it would play out.

I mean, what an amazing game Friday night. I watched it via the live Yale feed and RPI was quick. They were beating Yale to most of the pucks, had good movement out of the defensive zone and the frosh goalie made the saves he was called upon to make. You watch something like the Yale game and you get pumped for what this team might be able to do during the second half of the season (where has the time gone) and what might happen next year when all of these kids get a season or 2 under their belts.

The Brown game was a bit more depressing as RPI gave up a 1-0 and 2-1 lead to end the game tied to the second worse team in the ECAC but with some of the most important offensive players (Laliberte and Rogic) contributing assists and Kasdorf contributing yet another solid game, I can't complain with a tie.

Heck I am not going to complain at all, I am so stoked with how the lads responded this last weekend Now all they have to do is keep it up! :P

The YB Swing

I always enjoy the familiarity of the ECAC schedule. I enjoy RPI playing Union, chanting Clarkson still sucks, and watching the Cherry and White play the rest of their ECAC schedule. There were rumors a few years back that RPI was contemplating a jump to Hockey East. I was excited by this naturally but in reality I would have missed playing Brown, playing the Big Green doing the geographic swing of South Jersey (Princeton) and oddly Western Connecticut (the Q).

So it is with great nostalgia that I look forward to RPI playing Yale and then Brown this weekend. I have seen many a game in the HFH against these two teams. As for the actual contests this weekend, Yale is having a pretty good season, Brown not so much. Will it play out last weekend with RPI going 0-1-1? I think RPI has plenty of jump in its step and will come away with a victory at Brown.

As for Yale, well we will see. I personally think SA should keep starting the frosh in net and see where that leads us. I am expecting RPI to come away 1-1 this weekend but would be tickled pink if they pulled off a 1-0-1 weekend.

I will be cheering for the lads, win or lose!

As always, here is USCHO's picks

Rensselaer at Yale

The last time RPI was at Ingalls, the Engineers were in the midst of  last season’s mini-second half turnaround. This year’s first half has been just as disastrous as last season’s, and I’m not sure RPI has enough to derail a Yale team that has  won four straight. Yale 5-1

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/ecac-blog/#ixzz2ENpfrBEA

Rensselaer at Brown, 4 p.m.

The Engineers and the Bears enter the weekend as the only two teams without a league win. Something’s got to give. I’ll take the home team here. Brown 4-1

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/ecac-blog/#ixzz2ENpoIMt7

About Right

The thing about this RPI team this year is that they will always surprise you. At the beginning of the year they start with a hard NC games and actually play the teams well, winning some, tying some. It makes you think they are running on all cylinders.

Then they begin the ECAC season and start getting blown out. Neither goalie is good and they start relying on a frosh goaltender. Key players get hurt but somehow, RPI starts playing better. They are not going 2-0 on weekends but last weekend finishing 0-1-1 surprised me and in a good way.

It is hard to believe it is only December but the lads have but me through so many ups and downs it feels like they have played a full season already. The tie last weekend felt like a win, the lads played hard, skated well, outshot the heck out of Princeton and while they should have won, we will take the tie.

The Q is clearly one of the best teams in the country (having stomped on Union the night before) so losing to them is no big deal.

RPI is settling into the .500 team that they typically are under Appert, which is much better than how they were looking earlier this year. Hopefully they will keep winning some games to get a bit better playoff seeding but for now I will take win some/lose some. As always, I am cheering for wins and for dear old RPI!

Back At It

RPI gets back into the swing of things hosting Princeton and the Q. Princeton has been having around a .500 season so far and is the more beatable of the traveling pair. Of course, as you probably know by now, RPI will be severely understaffed as CJ Lee and others will be out for this weekend's contest.

The Q is playing lights out with a perfect ECAC record and a great overall record, not the type of team RPI will do well against as of late. Sadly, I am predicting an 0-2 weekend for our lads. This is due to RPI playing with one hand behind its back due to all the injuries but perhaps they grab a tie on Friday night. No matter what happens I will be rooting for the Cherry and White!

As always, here is USCHO's take:

Princeton at Rensselaer

The Tigers are in the midst of a seven-game road trip, but are facing an Engineers team that might be shorthanded this weekend.  Ed Weaver of The Troy Record reports that a number of players are questionable, including captain C.J. Lee.  It’s early, but a win would help RPI immensely – they’re the only team without a point in league play. RPI 4-3 (OT)

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/ecac-blog/2012/11/30/ecac-hockey-picks-week-9-2/#ixzz2DirOR7pm

Quinnipiac at Rensselaer

The Bobcats have been rolling along nicely lately. Not sure if a gritty, but shorthanded, Engineers’ squad will be up to the task. Quinnipiac 4-1

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/ecac-blog/2012/11/30/ecac-hockey-picks-week-9-2/#ixzz2DirXe25Z

Wowee Wow Wow

Well well well, just when I thought the season was going sideways for our boys in the Cherry and White they come up with a HUGE weekend against Mercyhurst. After getting outscored, outshot, just basically outworked in the previous few weekends, RPI put up 8 goals over the weekend and only letting up 3.

Goaltending was key as Merriam and rook Kasdorf both looked up to the challenge. The forwards kept up pressure and the D was good at (mostly) clearing the zone. I mean, there was so much goodness this weekend, it is tough to sum up in a blog post.

Needless to say, I am VERY high on the lads after this weekend. This was a NC game so whether this translates into ECAC play remains to be seen but that being said, if the guys put forth the effort they gave this last weekend, they should be a very tough team to contend with for the remainder of the regular season.

GO WHITE!

Mercyhurst

This weekend, RPI hosts Mercyhurst in back to back games at the HFH. I have a soft spot for Mercyhurst, they of the cool uniforms and surprising NCAA appearances, coming out of a little conference to play with the big boys.

Mercyhurst would be a tough opponent in any year and RPI is meeting them at a bad time because after starting this year slowly, they have won their last 3 games. Also, for some reason all of Mercyhurst's games so far have been on the road so RPI cannot really claim any home ice advantage for this weekend's contests.

RPI is getting back their leading scorer but it really comes down to whether the goaltending steps up or not. I thought RPI would be stacked deep at the position this year but it seems rather thin so far in ECAC play. If there is a turnaround in the crease, there will be one in the standings. Go Red!


As always, here is USCHO's take:

Mercyhurst at Rensselaer

The Engineers have seen a promising opening weekend dissolve into a mess. RPI has been outscored 19-5 in four league games and is on a five game losing streak overall.  The good news? Leading scorer Jacob Laliberte is set to return this weekend, per Ken Schott of the Schenectady Daily Gazette.  That should at least help the offense, although it might not matter if the Engineers continue to give up close to five goals a game, as they have since starting league play. Mercyhurst 4-1

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/ecac-blog/#ixzz2COzVoAbc

Mercyhurst at RPI

Four-point weekends are tough in college hockey. I think the Engineers prevent one here. RPI 2-1

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/ecac-blog/#ixzz2COzQGqOe

Well, That Happened

Ouch, what a roadtrip. RPI was outscored 8-0. They were consistently outshot by their opponent. I was worried about rotating goaltenders, especially if one was "hot" but over the last few weeks, neither has done the job. We have a frosh goalie in the wings but knowing nothing about him from the limited play he has seen this season, I am not advocating for a wholesale change...yet.

RPI fans on the message boards and the listserv are insisting there is something rotten in the state of Denmark. What is the fix, is it getting everyone back healthy, is it the D stepping up and playing better, is it the goaltenders stepping up and playing at all?

I am not offering any solutions but considering how feisty and competitive RPI was during non-conference play to start the season lo those 4 weeks ago, things have gone downhill in a hurry since Union. PLENTY of games left to be sure, it is a long season. At some point you just wish all the talk about the potential of this team and SA's recruiting will pay off. Considering the youth on this team, that payoff might be next year and I always remain hopeful!

Ivy Roadtrip!

RPI looks to get back on the winning horse after getting shellacked by Union last weekend. Some bad news going into this weekend is that Laliberte (RPI's top dog) is out this weekend with basically a concussion which means everyone else on the squad will have to step up. Perhaps Neal or Haggerty will continue their nice starts with some more offensive fireworks this weekend.

I think that it will come down to goaltending. Can the hydra of Diebold and Merriam work or should one get the start for both games? It is tough to tell, while Merriam's GAA is double Diebold's, their save percentages are both under .900 so its still kinda a toss up in my mind.

Dartmouth will be a tough test to start the weekend, they are off to a 3-0-1 start with an impressive 15 goals for in the first 4 contests. Harvard is slightly more "middle of the pack" scoring 9 but giving up 7. I think RPI won't be able to overcome the Big Green but will give the Crimson all they want and more and coming out of the weekend 1-1.

As always, here is USCHO's take:

Rensselaer at Dartmouth
Things unraveled a bit for RPI in last weekend’s sweep by rival Union. The Engineers will be without leading scorer Jacob Laliberte for both games thing weekend, and possibly longer, according to Ed Weaver of The Troy Record. RPI will also be without defenseman Luke Curadi, who sits out after receiving a game disqualification in Saturday’s game.  Dartmouth has ridden solid goaltending from freshman Charles Grant and junior Cab Morris, along with timely scoring from Eric Robinson (three game-winning goals) to a 3-0-1 overall mark and first-place tie with Union.  Dartmouth 5-2

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/ecac-blog/#ixzz2BjsT22T0

Rensselaer at Harvard
This marks the third straight road game for the Engineers, who as I mentioned before, will be shorthanded this weekend.   RPI let last weekend slip away thanks to some penalties that gave Union’s power play increased ice time. They can’t do the same here.  Harvard 4-1

St. Lawrence at Yale

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/ecac-blog/#ixzz2BjsZeEP2

Blow Out City

Yeesh, that was an ugly weekend eh? Union outscored the lads 11-5 (9 to 2 alone in the second period). Union went 5 for 13 on the powerplay, RPI 1 for 10. You could say that was the difference between the 2 teams but unfortunately it just seems that Union got out ahead in the first, stepped on the gas in the second and just cruised to an easy weekend.

This team is young so will be the scoring and the defense. That being said, the goaltending is not "young" and despite the youth on this team, they should be playing better against the top rival.

I don't know what it is about SA's teams. They start off the season so....middling. This year I thought, well going up against top national teams a 1-1-2 record was awesome and bodes well for the ECAC. Well its clear that Union has stepped it up above the usual ECAC hockey and is playing like an elite national team. RPI, not so much.

Of course, I think the talent is there for RPI. SA is a great recruiter and it will take a bit for all of the pieces to gel together but to be blown out by Union just hurts for this Ripppeee fan.

The boys look to get healthy against the Ivys this weekend (preview coming on Friday) which I hope they do in a hurry. As always, go RED!

RPI Hockey Is BACK!

Whew, that was a long bye week wasn't it? Sure the lads went out to Minnesota but having a week without RPI hockey really left a big gaping hole in my hockey soul.

The Cherry and White are back in action and whoo dilly are they! 2 games against the dreaded Union and tonight is Black Friday nonetheless! My "dislike" of Union is well documented on this blog but for those new to the rivalry, well this is the big one. Say what you want to about Clarkson, Union is the rival we care about, which we measure ourselves against.

I personally can't wait for RPI to take it to em. While I think this might be another split weekend, I think RPI will come out guns a blazin tonight and get the W. So what if Union is ranked 10th in the country with a 3-1-1 record? That all goes out the window when playing your rival and I expect RPI and its young guns to step up to the challenge.

Saturday night is at Union and I expect the reverse outcome but still the lads to give Union all they have.

USCHO sees it a little differently but no matter what happens, Go Red, Go White!

USCHO's Take:

Union at RPI
Like Cornell and Colgate, these rivals and travel partners get started early, as this is the league opener for both. They’ll only meet once more in the regular season after this weekend, a non-conference matchup at the Times-Union Center in January. Neither can be too happy entering the series: Union settled for a 2-2 tie at Connecticut last Saturday, while RPI blew two third-period leads at Minnesota State two weeks ago. Union is looking for its ninth straight Capital Skates Trophy, awarded to the team that accumulates the most points in the season series. Union 3-2

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/ecac-blog/#ixzz2B4sNFYR2

RPI at Union
This is the first home game for the Dutchmen since season-opening 4-1 loss to Merrimack on Oct. 6. I don’t see them starting 0-2 at Messa. Union 4-2

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/ecac-blog/#ixzz2B4saqteS

Not Too Shabby

Well the lads went 0-1-1 on their trip out to Minnesota. Considering that both games went to OT and RPI only being on the short end of the stick once, I say that is a good result.

Diebold was in net for the tie and Merriman was in net for the loss. I thought both played well so I am not going to rant about the rotation...yet.

The young guns continue to contribute adding in assists and goals over the weekend. If you said to me, after playing Minnesota State and Ferris State that RPI would be 1-1-2, I would take that in a heartbeat. As much as I love SA modeling himself after Tom Izzo and playing a really tough non-conference schedule to start the year, I find that the team can be put in a hole psychologically before ECAC play. This year, to be at .500 (and even "better" with the ties, which I consider wins against these teams) I think augers well for ECAC play.

Keep it up Cherry and White!

10,000 Lakes, 2 Wins?

RPI has to be feeling good after last weekend, going 1-0-1 against an elite team like that. I know I sure am!

This week, Minnesota State, a tough test for RPI, they don't do well against WCHA teams but I think the lads might be feeling a little pumped up after last weekend and can certainly split the series, maybe even take it. At this early stage in the season with so many underclassmen at the forward positions, it really comes down to the veteran D and the goaltenders to help RPI through this weekend.

I have railed against SA's choices of rotating goalies over the years but I didn't realize until last weekend through WRPI's interview with him that this was what gave the University of Denver its success while SA was there. Still, with 3 goaltenders on the roster, I have a sneaking suspicion SA will be rotation heavy again. Whether that strategy serves the team in the long run or not, I am not sure.

I think RPI will split the weekend since its the first away series for such a young team but still if RPI can start the season 2-1-1 against these teams, I see a bright season ahead for them.

As always, here are USCHO's picks:

Rensselaer at Minnesota State 7:37 pm CT
Brian: 1-0-1? How’s that strike you, Engineers fans? Believe it or not, it has been six years since the ‘Tute made it to Game 3 without a loss (2006-07, also 1-0-1). Next up is a taxing road trip to Mankato, where the home side is also 1-0-1 after a double-dip at Alabama-Huntsville. RPI may have played a tougher opponent, but those games were in Troy. This is a whole new ball o’ wax. I’m taking MSU-M in the opener, 3-2 Mavericks.

Nate: Not much more to add to Brian’s insight.  These two met for the time ever last season, splitting a series in Troy. Think that’s the same here, with the hosts taking the opener. Minnesota State 3-2.

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/ecac-blog/2012/10/18/ecac-hockey-picks-week-3-2/#ixzz29krx1abZ

Rensselaer at Minnesota State 7:07 pm CT
Brian: I’m tempted to pick the Mavs again – home-ice advantage and all – but I’m going to put a little mostly blind faith in RPI to step it up a level and improve to 2-1-1 (or better). 3-2 Engineers.

Nate: Engineers should sneak home with a win Saturday night.RPI 3-1.

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/ecac-blog/2012/10/18/ecac-hockey-picks-week-3-2/#ixzz29ks2mc3P

I Will Take It

A 1-0-1 start to the season against last year's runner up NCAA champion? HECK YEA!

Friday night was a revelation, the boys were skating hard, got the lead and in my mind, never looked back. Diebold only made a mistake on the first goal and after that was rock solid.

Saturday was a different game. RPI looked lost, couldn't clear zones to save their lives and had too many "just get it out" passes that ended up being intercepted. However, the Sophomore Sensation line (dubbed by the WRPI crew) stepped up with 2 tallies and the game ended in a draw which was the best result RPI could've hoped for, given how they were playing on Saturday.

That being said, wow 1-0-1, amazing way to start off the year. Can't wait to see how they play next weekend in Minnesota Makato!

GO RPI!!!!

I haven't really ramped up the blogging this year for the Cherry and White but just wanted to drop in with a few thoughts.

You can always tell its the preseason why RPI plays Arcadia. This is what the 53rd year in a row we have played them? Also you can generally tell the pulse of the team depending on how well they played. Certainly a 6-2 win augers well for the team going into the ECAC season.

RPI starts off their campaign against Ferris State at home. This is a tough early test, which is in keeping with SA's tough non-conference schedule. Ferris is 11th in the preseason polls, a tough tough test for a very young squad.

Seriously young, so many frosh and sophomores! And 3 goalies to boot!

To be honest, I have no idea what to expect from this team. I am hoping for .500 and then gelling to make a deep run in the playoffs but really they can come out guns a blazing or not, we will see.

As always, Go Red, Go White!

Playoffs Part Duex

This is what it is all about right here. Union has been the perpetual cross town rival of RPI's. They are the younger program and infuriatingly they have had more success over the last 15 or so years (or at least better seasons). They are also the number 1 team in the ECAC this year. No question about it. They also have beat up on RPI, going 3-0 and outscoring them in bunches (see USCHO's recap of the statistical horrors below).

However, RPI is peaking, they are riding high. They had a strong finish to the season and really put the pedal down against Clarkson. They are a team which every playoff team should fear, because they are a HOT team. Union meanwhile split their last 2 games against the C's and haven't played in 2 weeks. Yes, they are 14-4 in the ECAC but if RPI keeps up its hot play, they may fall in game.

Game 1 Prediction: RPI 3-1

Union is going to knock the rust off eventually, they are just too good so I expect them to bounce back and beat up on RPI, maybe 5-2 in the second game.

The third game, that is for all the marbles. Call me crazy but I have confidence that RPI will keep skating hard and because they ARE playing Union, will give them that extra edge and I think they will actually down the number one seed.

Game 3 Prediction RPI 3-2

I think the lads are really on to something and despite going up against one of the best teams in the nation, much less the ECAC they have momentum on their side. If they can keep up the intensity, they can definitely win.

GO RED, GO WHITE!

As always, here are USCHO's picks:

No. 10 Rensselaer at No. 1 Union

Both Union and RPI fell victim to Colgate’s playoff run last season, yet each team still made the NCAA tournament thanks to an at-large bid. There’s no way the Engineers get in this year without winning the Whitelaw trophy, and they’ll have to go through a Dutchmen team that’s gone 3-0 against them this season, outscoring them by an aggregate of 15-4.

Interesting to note that RPI is staying at a hotel, according to Ken Schott of the Schenectady Daily Gazette, despite the fact that Union is their closest league rival.  By doing so, they’ll look to avoid any distractions and focus solely on their play on the ice, something that’s helped RPI turn it around in the second half. But they’ll need more than that to take down a tough Union squad.  Union in 3. ( 4-2, 1-2 (OT), 4-1).

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/ecac-blog/2012/03/08/ecac-quarterfinal-picks-march-9-11/#ixzz1odSBYdqO

Wowy Wow Wow

Unreal, unbelievable, un(in)conceivable! RPI, my hat is off to you. You lads, you have been struggling all year. You might have read my disheartened posts or others on the blogosphere about the start to the season but man, you proved us all wrong over the last three days.

Your foot was firmly on the accelerator. All the games, all the periods, you lads came out firing and never let up. Game 1, 5-1 win. Then taking Clarkson to multiple overtimes, outshooting them all around but bitterly losing. Then, not taking any period off in the third and deciding game but winning in 4-1 fashion.

Whew! Applause, whistling, stomping of feet. No matter what else happens in this ECAC playoff, NO ONE can take this series, this weekend away from you. Bathe in it, enjoy it, you earned it.

Sincerely,

One VERY happy RPI fan!

Playoffs!

After blowouts suffered against the Q and Princeton, RPI bounced back last weekend with wins over Colgate and Cornell. Since January of this year, RPI's record has been 7-6-3, decidedly a .500 record but much, much better than most of the season.

In a similar timespan Clarkson, RPI's opponent in the upcoming ECAC playoffs, have gone 6-6-1, a very similar record. Head to head Clarkson has had the better of the Cherry and White going 2-0 and outscoring RPI 7-3. Still, it seems that RPI has at least righted itself in this storm of a season and will prove competitive against Clarkson, who any RPI fan knows, still sucks.

RPI also has some other bright spots to look at. This playoff series is on the road where RPI has had a much better record than at home (6-8-1 away, 4-10-2 at home). Clarkson, however has been dominant at home, 10-3-2. This dominance is surprising considering that Clarkson actually scores less goals than their ECAC opponents over the course of the season (Clarkson averaged 2.59 goals for but a crazy 2.79 goals against).

Looking at all of these stats can make you go cross-eyed but clearly Clarkson has the edge overall. Still, with RPI's improved play, you have to give them a puncher's chance in this series, especially with the goaltending and offense finally coming alive. I will never bet against RPI, I am officially predicting they will win this series but if they drop it 2-1, it wouldn't surprise me either.

As Always, Go Red, Go White!

Another Weekend

So what has happened over the last few days of RPI hockey? Well RPI got blown the heck out by Colgate, 8-3 (during the Freakout nonetheless) but bounced back to tie Harvard and beat Dartmouth. RPI is definitely leveling out to a .500 team but the terrible start (and let's face it terrible middle) of the season still has them near the bottom of the ECAC with very little opportunity to get home ice for the upcoming ECAC playoffs.

This weekend includes a Senior Night on Saturday as well as RPI hosting 2 teams, the Q and Princeton. Princeton has the same anemic win percentage as RPI (.317) and is definitely within RPI's sights given their better play recently. The Q is a .500 team and has motivation to try and leapfrog Harvard and Clarkson for the coveted 4th slot in the ECAC. Based on record alone, I am predicting a split weekend for the Cherry and White with a loss to the Q but rallying for senior night to beat up on the Tigers.

This has been a tough season for this RPI watcher but I will always be cheering on the lads no matter what. Next week is the end of the regular season, we will see if the guys can end on a high note!

As always, here are USCHO's picks.

Quinnipiac at Rensselaer

Nate: The last match between these two team’s was decided by a last-second goal by Yuri Bouharevich, who was left wide open thanks to mental lapse by the Engineers. RPI has turned it around a bit since then, while Quinnipiac has split the last two weeks. This is a big one if the Bobcats have their sights on a bye, but I like RPI on their home ice. RPI 3-2

Brian: Do I pick the stingy, low-scoring home team or the brutally inconsistent grab bag of offensive flair that is visiting Quinnipiac? Goodman’s suspension doesn’t hurt QU much on the stats side of things, but he’s a big boy who’s not afraid to mix it up every now and again. I think that may become a factor against RPI’s big, banging defense, and for lack of a better reason to pick ‘em, I’ll throw in that hockey karma might be against the Bobcats for the time being. 2-1 Engineers.

Princeton at Rensselaer

Nate: It’s at home, it’s senior night, and RPI has been playing fairly well over the last month. RPI 4-3

Brian: Princeton has surrendered 16 goals in its last five games. So has RPI. The distribution of those goals, however, has been far more consistent by the Tigers. I’ll take the Engineers’ frequently stalwart defense and goaltending in a tight one, 3-2.

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/ecac-blog/2012/02/17/ecac-hockey-picks-feb-17-18/#ixzz1mer5aIOt

Not Too Shabby

The lads seem to be playing with a vigor and some vim recently. The North Country swing led to a 1-1 result as RPI actually trounced St. Lawrence 4-0 and then lost a close one to Clarkson 3-2.

Last night was a hard fought tie against Cornell with RPI absolutely dominating the 3 period coming all the way back from a 2-0 deficit. Patrick Cullen who has been racking up a lot of points recently added a helper on the tying goal. Also in that third period, RPI outshot Cornell 12-4.

This third period was a nice surprise because for whatever reason, SA's teams typically fold in the third period and to see them turn it on not just in the third period but over the last 10 games has been great to see. This team has a lot of grit to it and we are seeing it on display now.

Tonight is the battle against another ECAC "C" school as RPI plays Colgate. 'Gate is a solid home team but rather .500 on the road so RPI has a good chance at HFH. Their penalty kills is just under 80% and I think that's where RPI can take advantage and put in some goals.

Regardless of what happens, I will be cheering on the Cherry and White tonight!

Home Against The North Country

St. Lawrence and Clarkson (who still sucks) comes into the HFH this weekend. And what a weekend it could be. As everyone is aware in Cherry and White land, RPI is on a bit of a roll and going up against StL which has been mired in the ECAC's basement along with RPI and is 0-4-1 in its last 5. If RPI wants to keep its roll going, this is the team to do it against.

On Saturday, RPI faces off against Clarkson and this will be a tougher test. Clarkson is playing about .500 hockey but beat Yale last weekend. What is working in RPI's favor though is that the majority of Clarkson's wins this year have been at home and their record is pretty spotty away. If RPI really takes it to StL then I think they should definitely continue their roll over Clarkson for another 4 point weekend.

That is my prediction and I am sticking to it! Go Red!


As always, here are USCHO's picks:

St. Lawrence at Rensselaer

An RPI win would move them out of last place and into a tie with the Saints. The Engineers were the only team to get four points last weekend, while St. Lawrence is mired in an 0-4-1 rut. What the heck…make it three in a row for RPI. RPI 3-1

Clarkson at Rensselaer

Don’t look now, but another RPI four-point weekend couple with another winless Yale weekend would make the two teams dead even. Of course, that’s looking too far ahead, as the Engineers still have to get by the Golden Knights,  who emerged from a holiday slump to go 2-0-1 over their last three.  Clarkson 2-1

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/ecac-blog/2012/01/26/ecac-picks-jan-27-28/#ixzz1kftUMmIm

I Know I Know

I have been a bad RPI fan this month. Not many blog posts, not much analysis, not much of anything.

The reason is the 2011 version of this team wore me down. They struggled mightily against the non-conference foes and ECAC alike. So what have they done in the month of January? Only have gone 3-2-1 with a weekend sweep against Brown and Yale ON THE ROAD.

Is up down? Black white? I though RPI was about a .500 team this year and it seems like they are finally playing like it, and yes, that is a good thing!

There are some great positives to take away for the last few weeks. First and foremost, scoring. RPI is averaging 2.1 goals in wins and losses which is great. The juniors and seniors are starting to lead the team in points and while I am a firm believer in the future is now and we should play the youngin's as much as possible but having the tested Cherry and White step to the forefront midway through the season is welcomed.

Also welcomed is Merriam increasing his save percentage as well as lowering his GAA over the last few weeks. This team is rounding into form and makes me much more interested in the season. This is my 248th blog post over the last few years and I have to admit to some Engineers fatigue over the last few months. That being said, this team is re-energized and has re-energized me and I can't wait for this weekend. Previews coming up!

Halo RPI-Verse!

Well, I took a couple of weeks off for the holidays. What did I miss? Oh yea, 3 more losses. At least RPI is stepping it up in the offensive category and scoring a a 2 goal a clip game but the defense has completely abandoned the lads having let up 15 goals in 3 games.

We have to face facts as the team turns in January, it just isn't very good. The goaltending isn't helping either. Merriam is 2-11 but his save percentage is at least above .900 which is better than the frosh Diebold. The mantra should be "the future is now" when it comes to goaltending and the rest of the team. 4 of the top 5 scorers on the team are the freshmen and sophomores.

There are 16 games left and I am a diehard Cherry and White as you guys know but I think at this point we have to play for next year and that means major minutes for the youngs.

On the plus side, RPI will be on the NBC Sports Network this Friday night as they go up against the Big D. Also on tap this weekend is Harvard with both games at the HFH. Of RPI's 4 wins this season, 3 have come at home. I would love for the lads to suck it up and sweep the weekend. We will see if they do.

As always, GO WHITE!