Re: Harvard Crimson 2017-2018
As I have said before, love this match up.
Against just about any ECAC team, Harvard will typically control possession and shots given its skill advantage. And while I have been frustrated by Harvard's willingness this season to settle for off-angle and low grade shots as opposed to making the extra pass, Dartmouth is a team that does not have a shutdown goalie. These shots can get through Buffalo where they have a much lesser chance against a goalie like Point.
Harvard's speed and transition have also given Dartmouth fits (both this year and over time). This has led to Dartmouth penalties and Harvard taking advantage of special teams (either on the PP or the tiring effect that a PP can have on the opposing team over the course of a game). I see Harvard spending a lot of time on the man advantage in this series and if they can execute, I am quite confident (Let's be honest, Harvard's PP has been inconsistent this year at best).
Anything can happen here. If Harvard comes out and plays like it did at the morgue in Providence, then Dartmouth will absolutely prevail. I thought Harvard outskated and outplayed Yale in New Haven, but were out-goalied and then Harvard was played by a terrible poke check decision by one of its bigger D.
Harvard likely isn't going to put up a ton of even strength goals given its lack of finishers, so it will likely come down to the back-end. I don't think the back-end has to be special, I think that Madsen has to be solid and the D can't be careless (poke check instead of taking the body, bad pinch, or careless pass, etc). Those kinds of goals are back breaking and Harvard has been plagued by too many of them all season long.
Looking forward to it!
As I have said before, love this match up.
Against just about any ECAC team, Harvard will typically control possession and shots given its skill advantage. And while I have been frustrated by Harvard's willingness this season to settle for off-angle and low grade shots as opposed to making the extra pass, Dartmouth is a team that does not have a shutdown goalie. These shots can get through Buffalo where they have a much lesser chance against a goalie like Point.
Harvard's speed and transition have also given Dartmouth fits (both this year and over time). This has led to Dartmouth penalties and Harvard taking advantage of special teams (either on the PP or the tiring effect that a PP can have on the opposing team over the course of a game). I see Harvard spending a lot of time on the man advantage in this series and if they can execute, I am quite confident (Let's be honest, Harvard's PP has been inconsistent this year at best).
Anything can happen here. If Harvard comes out and plays like it did at the morgue in Providence, then Dartmouth will absolutely prevail. I thought Harvard outskated and outplayed Yale in New Haven, but were out-goalied and then Harvard was played by a terrible poke check decision by one of its bigger D.
Harvard likely isn't going to put up a ton of even strength goals given its lack of finishers, so it will likely come down to the back-end. I don't think the back-end has to be special, I think that Madsen has to be solid and the D can't be careless (poke check instead of taking the body, bad pinch, or careless pass, etc). Those kinds of goals are back breaking and Harvard has been plagued by too many of them all season long.
Looking forward to it!
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