This will be more comments than recap, since it really is to painful to
recap the games against Harvard.  They're not fan friendly--slow,
methodical contests testing each team's defensive poise, with very few
exciting moments to recount.  In the last Harvard/RPI games the first team
to score won the game; last night's was no exception.
 
The first period was a lesson in cautious skating.  For the first ten
minutes Harvard held the territorial edge.  For the second ten RPI might
have had the advantage, but Harvard emerged with the advantage in shots at
the end of the stanza.  For RPI, the main excitement occurred around the
15:00 mark after J F Gosselin was on the receiving end of a slash from
Harvard's goalie Oliver Jonas.  Jonas however makes several good saves and
keeps the game knotted at nil.
 
The second period saw the Engineers play an atypical period, that is they
didn't give up a slew of goals.  The period began with RPI showing more
signs of life than they had the previous four periods.  At 3:50 the first
really good scoring chance occurs when RPI's Shepherd goes down ice on a 2
on 2 and despite having the whole half of goal to shoot at, clangs the
puck off the post.  Four minutes later RPI gets the game winner as (who
else?) Matt Murley taps the puck into the corner of the net following a
hot feed from Alain St. Hilaire.  The score takes place 25 seconds into a
power play resulting from a Steve Moore hold.  The T-U indicates the shot
was a rebound from St. Hilaire's blast, although from my vantage point it
looked like the puck crossed through the crease directly onto Murley's
stick.  Dan Riva also picks up an assist.
 
A number of penalties will now occupy the special teams for the remainder
of the period.  Harvard ends up with a golden opportunity at 14:38, a 5-3
resulting from a ridiculous holding call on RPI's Steve Vickers and a
slashing from RPI's Gardiner.  But as has been the case throughout the
series, and for that matter the last two years, Harvard's inept power play
failed to get a score, despite 55 seconds of a two man advantage.  It
seems the Crimson think that time in the attack zone is more valuable than
actually shooting.  The Harvard power play consists of pass, pass, pass,
skate, pass, and eventually lose the puck.  Harvard forwards simply to not
try to set up in front, and do not screen the goalie, although their point
men never shoot either.  But enough criticism--the Engineers' special
teams will never make the highlight films either.
 
At 19:40 Matt Murley again makes a wonderful offensive play, streaking
down the sides on a 2-1 with Danny Riva and threading a perfect pass
across the front of the goal, but Riva is unable to get his stick down on
the puck.
 
The third period, not surprisingly, started of with 10 minutes of tight,
close checking hockey, with Harvard generally maintaining control.
Indeed, all the Crimson needed was a tie, and they would be off to Placid
so they seemed content to sit back and wait for an Engineer mistake.  But
at 15:58 Matt Murley puts the nail in the Harvard coffin with a wrister
snapped from the top left side of the face off circle.  Alain St. Hilaire
wins a face-off down low in the Harvard end and Danny Riva shovels the
puck out to Murley.  Murley gets his second power play goal of the night.
 
The next five get a little rougher, Harvard's Allman taking a 10 minute
misconduct immediately after Murley's goal and Miller making a nasty
crosscheck on Mark Murphy after his empty netter at 19:40, Miller's
frustration earning him a five minute major.  At 16:14 Pete Gardiner is
stoned by Jonas on a short handed breakaway attempt. At 2:15 Ron Tomassoni
makes the correct coaching move in pulling Jonas to get the extra skater
out, unlike Dan Fridgen's failure the previous night to pull Laing.  But
16 seconds later Harvard's Shlievel (sp?) thwarts the strategy by slashing
RPI's George Murray.  Jonas's absence will then result in two emtpy net
goals, the first by Dan Riva and the second, as noted, by Murphy.
 
Tonight expect the same, with the first period representing the key to the
contest.  If Harvard gets the lead, they can relax and play they all
defense style.  But if they fall behind, their offensive shortcomings make
it very difficult for them to come back.  RPI's Laing should be noted for
his outstanding goaltending thus far--35 saves last night in a shut-out,
and an equal number in Friday's 2-1 loss.  Harvard's Jonas has been
equally outstanding, although Harvards pack the middle defense has
significantly cut down on the number of Engineer shots he has faced.
Undoubtedly it will be a pressure packed atmosphere for both at the
Fieldhouse.
****************************************************************************
Brian Morris                   RPI Engineers--One to go to Placid
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