Monday, April 20, 2009
Cure for what ails...
...the Boston Red Sox is a visit to Fenway from the Baltimore Orioles. Four wins later the Sox are over .500 and back to being relevant again. Of course for this writer the Sox aren't truly relevant again until the Bruins are eliminated from the playoffs. Game three tonight!!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Capital Observations
After watching one of the most thrilling regionals in NCAA hockey tourney history, I guess it was only appropriate that the Frozen Four came down to a similar result. All three games this past weekend were well played and all four teams proved that they belonged. The glass slipper fell off for Bemidji State but not before they acquitted themselves well with a good effort and made Miami work for its victory. BU and Vermont had a classic see-saw battle with great plays made by both teams.
The final was perhaps one of the greatest tournament games in history. Even apart from the amazing comeback made by BU and the overtime, this game was a classic. BU was clearly the more talented team on paper with 13 NHL draft picks on their roster but you could not tell that by watching this game. Both teams looked evenly matched. The play was tough and physical and both teams were flying up and down the ice creating scoring chances and endless excitement for the DC crowd.
During this game, I saw the second most ridiculous save I have seen live when Keiran Millan robbed Justin Mercier on a two-on-one break. Only Scott Clemmensen's robbery on the breakaway in 2001 was better. There were two pipes hit (one for each team). There were pretty goals, ugly goals, and beautiful saves. This is the type of game that makes hockey fans.
The only downside was the outcome. Miami deserved this game. They shut down the BU offense for 59 minutes by playing good disciplined defense and good puck control. They were clearly not intimidated by a team that should have blown them off the ice. And then suddenly, they weren't focused, they were running around in their own end and unable to get a stick on the puck. After BU made it 3-2, Enrico Blasi should have called time out and settled his kids down and get them to dig deep and concentrate on the final 59 seconds. He didn't. They panicked and they paid for it. They collapsed so tight around Reichard that the BU point men were able to move all the way in tight to the circles. It was only a matter of time before BU tied the game up. I saw it coming and I felt Mrs. Pike wilt next to me. I hoped for a miracle that Miami would buck up and pull a Krys Kolanos in OT but they didn't have it in them and a bad deflection sent them home. They are young and well coached and will be great again next year.
As the first Frozen Four I have attended where BC was not there, it certainly was exciting and dramatic and everything a casual hockey fan could have wanted as a finale to a great 2009 postseason. I just wish the Redhawks could have held their cool for 59 more seconds. Congrats to all four teams for making it an exciting weekend.
The final was perhaps one of the greatest tournament games in history. Even apart from the amazing comeback made by BU and the overtime, this game was a classic. BU was clearly the more talented team on paper with 13 NHL draft picks on their roster but you could not tell that by watching this game. Both teams looked evenly matched. The play was tough and physical and both teams were flying up and down the ice creating scoring chances and endless excitement for the DC crowd.
During this game, I saw the second most ridiculous save I have seen live when Keiran Millan robbed Justin Mercier on a two-on-one break. Only Scott Clemmensen's robbery on the breakaway in 2001 was better. There were two pipes hit (one for each team). There were pretty goals, ugly goals, and beautiful saves. This is the type of game that makes hockey fans.
The only downside was the outcome. Miami deserved this game. They shut down the BU offense for 59 minutes by playing good disciplined defense and good puck control. They were clearly not intimidated by a team that should have blown them off the ice. And then suddenly, they weren't focused, they were running around in their own end and unable to get a stick on the puck. After BU made it 3-2, Enrico Blasi should have called time out and settled his kids down and get them to dig deep and concentrate on the final 59 seconds. He didn't. They panicked and they paid for it. They collapsed so tight around Reichard that the BU point men were able to move all the way in tight to the circles. It was only a matter of time before BU tied the game up. I saw it coming and I felt Mrs. Pike wilt next to me. I hoped for a miracle that Miami would buck up and pull a Krys Kolanos in OT but they didn't have it in them and a bad deflection sent them home. They are young and well coached and will be great again next year.
As the first Frozen Four I have attended where BC was not there, it certainly was exciting and dramatic and everything a casual hockey fan could have wanted as a finale to a great 2009 postseason. I just wish the Redhawks could have held their cool for 59 more seconds. Congrats to all four teams for making it an exciting weekend.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Not quite the same
So here I sit three days away from another Frozen Four (and the way the Final Fours of basketball have been shaping up this is the only collegiate event that actually has any surprises left in it). There is a little different feel for me this year than for the past three seasons when BC was participating in the festivities. I must say that I am a little more relaxed than I have been....the same cannot be said for Mrs. Pike.
As Miami prepares for their first Frozen Four they need to be sure of a few things. Numbers one is that they can't take Bemidji State for granted. Notre Dame and Cornell can tell you what happens if you do. This team may not have entered the tournament with any hype but the pounding they put on ND and the fantastic goaltending performance against Cornell have garnered them some respect (from the Rant at least). As Michigan State can attest, sometimes you can ride a hot goaltender all the way to the title even when you are outclassed by almost every opponent you will face.
Something else they need to remember, they have a freshman at goaltender. This is not a new occurrence (John Muse anyone?) but the fact that Cody Reichard joins Keiran Millan and Rob Madore as three freshmen goaltenders in the same Frozen Four is quite astounding. And for all intents and purposes, sophomore Matt Dalton of Bemidji is a freshman considering the heightened emotions that will be running through that team being the first non "Big Four" conference school to make the Frozen Four. So Miami is not any worse off really than any of the other teams with regards to the most important position on the ice.
Finally, they need to borrow the attitude of their CCHA brethren Michigan State and remember that even if they face BU in the final, just because the other team is supposed to win doesn't mean they always do.
I'm hoping for two days of exciting competitive hockey as there has been throughout the tourney to this point. If Miami wins, I will be very happy for Mrs. Pike. If this weekend has even half of the excitement of two weeks ago, I think hockey fans everywhere will be pretty happy.
As Miami prepares for their first Frozen Four they need to be sure of a few things. Numbers one is that they can't take Bemidji State for granted. Notre Dame and Cornell can tell you what happens if you do. This team may not have entered the tournament with any hype but the pounding they put on ND and the fantastic goaltending performance against Cornell have garnered them some respect (from the Rant at least). As Michigan State can attest, sometimes you can ride a hot goaltender all the way to the title even when you are outclassed by almost every opponent you will face.
Something else they need to remember, they have a freshman at goaltender. This is not a new occurrence (John Muse anyone?) but the fact that Cody Reichard joins Keiran Millan and Rob Madore as three freshmen goaltenders in the same Frozen Four is quite astounding. And for all intents and purposes, sophomore Matt Dalton of Bemidji is a freshman considering the heightened emotions that will be running through that team being the first non "Big Four" conference school to make the Frozen Four. So Miami is not any worse off really than any of the other teams with regards to the most important position on the ice.
Finally, they need to borrow the attitude of their CCHA brethren Michigan State and remember that even if they face BU in the final, just because the other team is supposed to win doesn't mean they always do.
I'm hoping for two days of exciting competitive hockey as there has been throughout the tourney to this point. If Miami wins, I will be very happy for Mrs. Pike. If this weekend has even half of the excitement of two weeks ago, I think hockey fans everywhere will be pretty happy.
Friday, March 27, 2009
The Puck has been dropped...
...Michigan v. Air Force start the full slate of games for the first round of the NCAA men's division 1 hockey playoffs. This year, all the games will be on either ESPN2 or ESPNU. Happy day!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Home Cooking
Let me start by saying that I am not a fan of Duke. Not in any sport (although sometimes you can't help but root for the little engine that could which is the Duke football program). So you should not infer by anything that I am about to write that I feel sorry for Duke.
Last night Michigan State beat Duke in the women's basketball tournament. Duke was the number one seed in the region and Michigan State was the number nine. This is not uncommon (not as common as in the men's tourney but it happens). What makes this victory noteworthy was that Michigan State won this game on their home floor. Not at some neutral site that happened to be close to their school (like Villanova playing in Philadelphia in the men's tourney or UNH playing in Manchester for the hockey tourney). It was their actual home floor on their actual campus. Something is very wrong here.
A few years ago, the women's tournament switched from having the top four seeds in each region getting home court and hosting the games at their school to locations being picked out before the tournament started and the teams getting to play in those locations. I have no problem with the rationale here. You just can't then allow the team who's court you are using to be placed in that region. I know that the women's game needs a little help in the attendance department and certainly attendance was high at the MSU/Duke game last night as men's coach Tom Izzo and members of his team were even at the game but there needs to be a balance here. There have been times when a seed as low as 12 is getting home court advantage in the national tournament.
Granted, in a lot of cases, the home court makes no difference. Anyone playing UConn women are probably doomed for failure this year now matter where they play - Storrs, Hartford, Seattle, an outdoor court in Boise - it won't make a difference. But in a game like last night, there was a definite difference. If the home team can keep it close the crowd can play a factor in the second half. That East Lansing crowd was loud and involved in that game. You can't say that it didn't give the Michigan State players a little boost and didn't rattle the Duke players down the stretch. Duke was clearly rattled. They played hard all year in a tough league and earned a number one seed and its just too bad to have to play a "true" road game in the national tournament. I don't have the answer on how to make the change but clearly one needs to be made here.
Last night Michigan State beat Duke in the women's basketball tournament. Duke was the number one seed in the region and Michigan State was the number nine. This is not uncommon (not as common as in the men's tourney but it happens). What makes this victory noteworthy was that Michigan State won this game on their home floor. Not at some neutral site that happened to be close to their school (like Villanova playing in Philadelphia in the men's tourney or UNH playing in Manchester for the hockey tourney). It was their actual home floor on their actual campus. Something is very wrong here.
A few years ago, the women's tournament switched from having the top four seeds in each region getting home court and hosting the games at their school to locations being picked out before the tournament started and the teams getting to play in those locations. I have no problem with the rationale here. You just can't then allow the team who's court you are using to be placed in that region. I know that the women's game needs a little help in the attendance department and certainly attendance was high at the MSU/Duke game last night as men's coach Tom Izzo and members of his team were even at the game but there needs to be a balance here. There have been times when a seed as low as 12 is getting home court advantage in the national tournament.
Granted, in a lot of cases, the home court makes no difference. Anyone playing UConn women are probably doomed for failure this year now matter where they play - Storrs, Hartford, Seattle, an outdoor court in Boise - it won't make a difference. But in a game like last night, there was a definite difference. If the home team can keep it close the crowd can play a factor in the second half. That East Lansing crowd was loud and involved in that game. You can't say that it didn't give the Michigan State players a little boost and didn't rattle the Duke players down the stretch. Duke was clearly rattled. They played hard all year in a tough league and earned a number one seed and its just too bad to have to play a "true" road game in the national tournament. I don't have the answer on how to make the change but clearly one needs to be made here.
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