Team Notes: Big Red Seek to Solidify Position Atop League
The following article appeared February 9 on the Cornell Web site.
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Entering the weekend in a three-way tie for
first place in ECAC Hockey, the Cornell men’s hockey team
will try to remain there when it faces Brown and Yale in a pair of
league games this weekend. Cornell and Brown will open the weekend
on Friday at 7 p.m. at Lynah Rink before the Big Red and Bulldogs
will meet in a matchup of two of the three teams tied atop the
league standings on Saturday at 7 p.m. Both games can be heard in
the Ithaca area on WHCU 870 AM with Jason Weinstein providing the
call, while live streaming video will be available through the
Cornell Redcast subscription service.
ABOUT THE BIG RED
Cornell split its two games last weekend, defeating Quinnipiac by
a 2-0 score on Friday in a game televised nationally by CBS College
Sports, before dropping a 5-3 decision at Princeton on Saturday
night in Princeton, N.J. Senior goaltender Ben Scrivens was sharp
on Friday, stopping all 32 shots he faced for his 15th career
shutout, but was pulled from the net on Saturday against Princeton
after allowing four goals in the first 26 minutes. Sophomore backup
Mike Garman came on and kept the Big Red in the game with 21 saves,
but Cornell could not tie the score after drawing to within one
late in the second period. Senior Blake Gallagher continued his
strong offensive production, tallying three points on the weekend,
including recording a goal and an assist on Saturday at Princeton,
while junior Patrick Kennedy chipped in a pair of assists against
the Tigers. On Friday against Quinnipiac, both senior defenseman
Justin Krueger and junior forward Tyler Roeszler scored their first
goals of the season as Cornell blanked the Bobcats at their home
for the second straight time. For the season, Cornell’s
offense is led by Gallagher’s 28 points in 22 games, while
fellow senior Colin Greening is averaging a point per game with 22
points in 22 contests. Gallagher has a team-best 14 goals and
shares the team lead with Greening in assists with 14. In goal,
Scrivens has been solid all season, posting a 2.00 goals-against
average and a .928 save percentage with three shutouts.
Cornell’s special teams units have been outstanding, with the
Big Red converting on 24-of-106 power-play chances (22.6 percent)
while killing off 95-of-107 short-handed chances (88.8
percent).
ABOUT BROWN
Picked to finish last in the ECAC Hockey preseason polls, the
Bears have had a strong season under first-year head coach Brendan
Whittet. The Bears currently hold down the ninth spot in the league
standings, just two points out of hosting a first-round series in
the ECAC Hockey playoffs. Brown has gone 2-1-2 in its last five
games, and has been streaky all season, first losing six straight,
then winning five in a row before losing another five games and
then embarking on the current stretch. Brown is paced offensively
by sophomore Jack Maclellan, who has 22 points in 22 games on nine
goals and 13 assists, sharing the team lead in both categories. The
Bears have had balanced scoring, as nine different players are in
double-digits in scoring this season. Sophomore Mike Clemente has
seen the majority of time in goal, posting a 3.42 goals-against
average and a .898 save percentage. Brown has struggled on special
teams, posting 15 goals in 110 power-play attempts (13.6 percent)
while killing off penalties at a 77.8 percent rate (105-of-135).
Complete article can be accessed via the Cornell Web site by clicking here.
