Greg Friedman raised the issue of deciding a tie game, noting that
two teams skating on exhausted legs seems as arbitraty as a shootout.
Although I don't agree with his thesis, I did think that the
Brown/Princeton series revealed the danger of a three-game, three-day
series (with or without overtime). The players (on both sides) were
definitely out of control and undisciplined in the first period of
game 3 to the point where serious injury could have resulted and it
made for ugly hockey. Naturally, the risk of injury increases with
fatigue as well. The ECAC used to have one game quarterfinals until
Harvard was upset in '93, when (surprise) the league unveiled the
three game series the following season. Harvard's role in lobbying
for the new format is a well-known exhibition of Billy Cleary's
influence on the league. It seems ludicrous that the league alters
the playoff format every year (three games, two and a minigame,
one game, three games w/no OT in the first two, etc.). Personally,
I like a two-game total goal series. Everybody knows the deal -
you should play defense first. Granted, the second game can be
very strange if a team lost big on the first night, but I think
it's the best compromise to avoid overlong series and yet prevent
a rash of upsets from damaging the league's NCAA tournament
chances.
 
As for the refs in game 3 of the Harvard/Brown game, I don't see
what choice they had BUT to call a ton of coincidental minors and
misconcucts. Both teams were equally guilty of cheap stuff behind
the play, taking runs at each other and generally poor sportsmanship.
To decide such an evenly played series on special teams would have
been a travesty, never mind robbing the players on the third and
fourth line a chance to factor in the outcome. The bulk of the
responsible players got to watch much of the first 20 minutes
from the penalty box, think about the importance of the game,
and then spend the remaining 62 minutes playing a wildly exciting
game. I saw referees Taylor and Stewart after the game and made
a point of commending them for a fine job. Taylor looked at me
with an exhausted, baleful expression on his face and said
"Thank you!" Any fans who think that refereeing that type of game
is easy or even enjoyable should try it out sometime.
 
Geoff Howell
The Trenton Times
Drop the Puck