Post-Game Recap 2/17/12

Neither Wolfman nor I could make it to the game last night. I asked my good friend and personal guru, Kevin Giron, to write last night's recap. Let 'em know what you think, sports fans.

A SHOT A MINUTE

Union Dominates Princeton 3-0

Lackadaisical is the word that comes to mind watching the warm up preceding the hockey match between Union College Hockey (17-6-7) and the Princeton University Tigers (7-12-6) on Friday night. In a season that lasts as long as that of a college hockey season, perhaps it’s not entirely unexpected. The difference between a winner and a loser, therefore, is determined during the game and not before.

1^st Period

Whether it comes internally from each player or externally at the command of Coach Rick Bennett, the Dutchmen were clearly fired up at the start of the game. Jumping out to an early 7-1 advantage in shots the Union attack was typified by shift after shift that had Princeton’s defense scrambling around their zone hoping to tie up the Union forwards in the corners if only for a brief respite, on one occasion the Princeton defense needed to ice the puck for a breather as the entire line was hunched over hands on their knees. The most notable part of the first period aside from the sustained pressure by Union was both teams ability to avoid taking a penalty.

With rubber flying at him from all angles Princeton’s goalie Mike Condon should be considered the star of the first period, but the highlight save of the period belonged to his opposite number, Troy Grosenick when he sprawled in front and kicked out a leg to deny a high slot opportunity for one of Princeton's Defenseman. The period closed with Union leading (officially) 18-8 on shots and no score.

2^nd Period

The start of the second period was more of the same in terms of Union’s offensive stranglehold on the game. The pressure finally paid off 1:53 into the second period when Kevin Sullivan went hard into a corner battle and passed the puck to Nolan Julseth-White at the blue line. Julseth-White took the puck hard to the net with a defenseman on his hip and tried to catch Condon off his post. Condon hugged the pipe and the puck was deflected back into the slot. Daniel Ciampini was the beneficiary of the loose puck, converting high to the glove side for his second goal of the season, and what would prove to be his first collegiate-career game-winning-goal. After the goal the game became more even and Princeton found a little bit of offensive zone time. When Union was threatening in the Princeton zone Kyle Bodie was called for a boarding penalty at 8:06, the official who made the call however was 120 feet away at the Union blue line, while the official a mere 10 feet away deemed the hit nothing to raise his arm over. The Princeton powerplay was the most threatening they looked the entire game, and would be the only time they would have a shot for the period; but between quick stick checks in front of the net, blocked shots at the hash marks, and flashing leather in the crease, the Union penalty kill was successful. Union was put on the powerplay twice in the period at 10:29 and 18:29 (a penalty which would carry into the third) but neither bore fruit. The horn at the end of the period left a shot clock that showed Union leading 42-10.

3^rd Period

While the powerplay that carried over from the end of the second period ticked away it seemed that Union might lose some of its swagger and allow Princeton an opportunity to cling to life. Any chance of Princeton picking up momentum however was crushed when Shayne Gostisbehere wristed a seemingly harmless chance towards Condon which floated through his five hole and into the side netting. The chance came off of a pass from Kelly Zajac who further extended his Union College career assist record to 87 and set a single season assist record with 30. When Princeton’s Andrew Ammon took a double minor at 4:39 for tripping and roughing (both against Gostisbehere and one after another) it seemed to signal the end for Princeton who could not develop any sort of consistent attack, and would face four minutes a man down. Although Union did not score on the extended man advantage, they were able to further establish offensive zone time and wear out the Princeton players. With two more penalties for Princeton at 10:16 and 14:52 Union was able to spend a lot of time resting and cycling through players with little fear of allowing a shorthanded opportunity. At 16:02 Greg Coburn was called for boarding while Union was still on the powerplay, again a very questionable call as it appeared that the Princeton skater simply locked feet with Coburn while close to the boards. After this call was made, Princeton took a timeout to follow up an offensive zone faceoff, after the timeout the Princeton net was empty to make way for an extra skater. When their penalty expired Princeton had a brief 6-4, when it amounted to nothing it was Union who ultimately capitalized on the stick of Josh Jooris after an outlet pass from Mat Bodie at 18:36. The empty netter was the final tally of the game which capped off Groesnick’s single season record setting 5^th shutout. The final shots read 60-18 meaning Union averaged a shot a minute.

Notes

Powerplay: Despite Union’s nearly 10:00 of powerplay time and 17 powerplay shots they scored zero times on the man advantage… Permissible when they won 3-0.

Zajac: There is a reason this kid has the single season and career Union College assist record, it’s because he knows what he is doing with the puck, and he displayed it again tonight.

Gostisbehere: Quickly becoming the attention of local media and probably grabbing the interest of a few big time scouts that have been seen in the seats of Messa Rink.

Ciampini: Talk about a kid that knows when to show up. For a second career goal it was well chosen. Following the final whistle Dan was also the target of Princeton’s Jeremy Goodwin’s anger when he was cheapshotted at the Princeton blue line. The ensuing scrum resulted in a Goodwin disqualification, meaning he will not see the ice against RPI, a moment which capped off the Princeton frustration at being dominated by the Dutchmen.

Grosenick: No signs of a lower body injury tonight, this guy brought his “A” game.

Union: Currently on a 6 game unbeaten streak and ranked number 7 in the PairWise Ranking, which are the ones that matter for the Frozen Four. If Union wins two of their remaining three games they will clinch the Cleary Cup for the second straight season, following Cornell’s tie at Saint Lawrence University tonight. If Cornell wins the rest of their game and we win two of our remaining three we will share the title.