Just to add to a few comments that have already been made about RPI's
North Country trip this past weekend.
 
SLU-RPI
 
Really a battle of defense.  Could SLU hold up the Engineer forwards?
The answer was yes.  The game I expected in November took place on
Friday.  Tight defense, and a lot of neutral zone play.
 
SLU scores early, as Murphy takes a tap pass from Kapeller and puts it past
Masotta.  This was only 2 minutes into the game.
 
Owen made some nice saves, and 18 seconds into the second, Blackburn
with a great second effort put his own rebound in past Masotta.
 
Clarke got one back for RPI as he took 3 shots on Owen and finally put one
between his legs.
 
An empty netter by McLaughlin put it away for SLU.
 
1) SLU's defense played BIG.  They did an outstanding job of containing
RPI's forwards on the perimeter.  Very rarely did RPI get into the
slot as the defensemen of SLU just didn't give.  Not only that, the
shots that RPI took from the perimeter were almost always blocked by
the defense in front.
 
2) While there was some offensive flow in the attack of RPI, there were too
many instances of the homerun pass and the 40-50 foot shot with no one
crashing the net.  The long pass across 2 lines almost NEVER works, and
it is consistently tried by the RPI team.  A long shot from 40-50 feet rarely
produces results unless someone is headed towards the net.  Too much of this
for RPI.
 
3) Line matching was important in this game.  Joe Marsh put his line
of Prpic againt Richardson.  Shut down Richardson.  Then Prpis also went
against Hamelin.  Shut him down.  Fridgen finally got the matchups to his
advantage halfway through the second and results began to show, but only
one goal, as Owen was spectacular backing up his team.
 
4) There seemed to be a lot of defensive turnovers by RPI in front of
Masotta.  Mental errors were very evident in this game.
 
5) Craig Hamelin injured a knee halfway through the third period.  He
did not return.  More on him later.
 
6) An odd game from the penalty standpoint.  Two pairs of matching
roughing minors, and then only power play came with 18 seconds left in the
game.  A total of 10 minutes, but really only 8:18.
 
 
CU-RPI
 
A totally different game than Friday evening.  More offensive flow, less
turnovers, and a grittier effort.
 
1) Craig Hamelin.  Came out dressed for the warmup, and then was scratched.
Chris Kiley took his place.  The knee is bothering Hamelin, though it
didn't show when he was walking.
 
2) Dan Murphy (as was mentioned before) looked very shaky at the beginning.
He let out some very large rebounds, and RPI was unable to capitalize.
But he picked it up, and his defense helped him out on a number of ocassions.
 
3) Tamburro was also great in goal.  Really a show of two goaltenders.
 
4) What can you say.  Clarkson was tough, RPI was tough.  Good offenseive
flow for both teams.  Tough defense.  A great game to watch and call.
 
5) I watched the replay of the game from the hotel room afterwards.  Was
it me or was the center ice camera very fuzzy to everyone?
 
 
On the road again next weekend as RPI travels to Dartmouth and Vermont.
 
Oh boy, I love the Cathouse.
 
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* Jayson Moy  RPI  '89  '93     * One of the Voices of Rensselaer Engineer *
* [log in to unmask]                  * Hockey, Baseball, Basketball and Football*
* "No sir, I do not have any    * on 91.5FM  WRPI, Troy       *EASM*       *
*  weapons in the car"          *                                          *
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