During the season, every team goes through a series of highs and lows.
Right now, Princeton is getting the season started with some serious lows.
But chances are, if you had to experience some lows, there is no better time
than the present (an exhibition and the first game of the year).  And I am
still confident that there will be some highs ahead for this team (in line
with the pre-season expectations).  But the highs will not come without a
lot of hard work.
 
 
NEW BRUNSWICK
 
(I was on vacation during the week and caught up on my e-mail just now.
Adam, I am disappointed you let a measly 1000 miles in the way of being able
to report on Princeton).
 
The Tigers hung the 1998 ECAC Championship Banner and that was about the
only positive during the game.
 
Nick Rankin started in net in the first period and gave up 5 goals.  Craig
Bradley started the second period and gave up 3 goals.  And I think Dave
Stathos played in the third period and gave up 3 goals.
 
In my opinion, Princeton is currently suffering from the fact that Erasmo
Saltarelli played all but about 2 games last year between the pipes for
Princeton and the goaltending corps is still getting their feet wet in net.
 
The New Brunswick game was a very physical contest.  In my opinion, New
Brunswick has improved with each successive game on their U.S. tour.
Princeton on the other hand, looked like they were still trying to get their
season started.
 
I had hoped that the New Brunswick game would serve as a bit of a wake up
call to the team.
 
 
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
 
And then, the Tigers suffered a 9-1 loss on Friday.
 
Prior to the game, the Terrier fans I talked to were very worried about how
Boston University would play in this game.
 
I thought B.U. had a definate edge because of 3 things:
     1) Princeton Hobey Baker candidate Jeff Halpern did not suit up
     2) B.U. had the revenge factor in their favor (Princeton
               defeated then #1 B.U. last year 3-2)
     3) This was Princeton's first game of the season
 
During the first period, Princeton (without their top goal scorer)
impressively beat Larocque twice but hit the post both times.
 
Boston U. had a decided advantage as far as power play time in the first
half of the game and took advantage.
 
At the end of the first period, this game could have easily been tied 2-2 as
opposed to being a 3-0 B.U. lead.  But I think the scoreboard was the way it
was because this was B.U.'s fifth game of the season and this was
Princeton's first.
 
Things went downhill from there.  Princeton started to get things going in
the second half of the game but it didn't always translate into less goals
on the scoreboard for B.U.  The goaltending still has to improve.  But
regardless of how many goals B.U. scored, it is difficult to win without
scoring more than one goal and that is all Princeton tallied on Friday.
Luckily for Princeton, this loss for RPI purposes counts the same as a loss
in a 2-1 nailbiter.
 
Princeton has its work cut out for them but I look for them to rebound.  The
return of Halpern next weekend will be a definate boost.  And as the
Princeton netminders get more and more ice time, I would look for them to
get stronger.
 
Bradley got the call against B.U. and I fully expect to see him in 1 if not
2 of the games next weekend.
 
NOTES: With co-captain Halpern not in the line up, co-captain Syl Apps saw
J.P. Acosta and Benoit Morin join him with C's on their jerseys.
 
        _______   ______
       |__   __| |  __  |  Jason Patton        http://www.gojp.com/jp/
 ____     | |    | |__| |      Following College Hockey Since 1991
|____|    | |    |  ____|  Boston U. 1991-1995     Princeton 1995-1998
        __| |    | |       1995 NCAA Champions     1998 ECAC Champions
       |____|    |_|        MAAC Hockey League Inaugural Season 1998-
 
 
 
 
 
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