-Kurt*
I agree with Kurt. It also doesn't seem fair that Clarkson didn't get
into the playoffs after coming in 2nd in the ECAC's. In order to get
2nd, Clarkson beat Harvard at the end of the season, beat RPI in
the quarter-finals, and beat Harvard again in the semi-finals.
Clarkson is a hot team while Harvard is cooling down fast. I was at
Boston for the ECAC's and I definitely think Clarkson should have made
the NCAA's.
Go Red!
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Well, I think Harvard deserved it on the basis of their regular
season record - did one skin-of-the-teeth loss to Clarkson (with
Scott Fusco playing well below par with a separated shoulder)
nullify a mere three losses in league play? There does seem to
be an inconsistency, though, since BU was given the #1 seed in
the East despite BC's excellent first-place regular season
record. I'd say the difference was that BU beat BC head-to-head
(not only in the Hockey East championship, but in the Beanpot
championship) and convincingly at that, while Harvard didn't
meet Cornell in the playoffs and I believe swept the regular
season series, and only lost in a very close game against
Clarkson. AND Cornell was out-played in both their semi-final
and final OT wins, winning only on the basis of Doug Dadswell's
outstanding goaltending (shades of Terreri and Providence...).
If the playoffs are all that count, do you think Clarkson should
have made the NCAA's instead of Harvard?
So, as long as I'm here, I might as well give my predictions.
Cornell has to go to Denver for their series. I haven't seen
Denver play, but the #1 team in the country (according to the
polls, at least) hosting the third-place ECAC team does give a
strong hint. I'll have to go with Denver (but keep in mind the
similarity in circumstance with Providence and Michigan State
last year - the "hot goaltender" effect can't be counted out).
Harvard hosts Western Michigan - judging by how CCHA teams have
performed against other leagues this year, Harvard ought to blow
them out. Even without Fusco healthy, they should win without
too much trouble. Harvard's top players compare with anyone's,
but they're not as deep as, say, BC, so I won't count on them
going much farther (I certainly hope they do, as an ECAC
representative).
BC goes to Michigan State - BC's mad. They're also an excellent
team (attribute last week's blowout by BU to the two-week layoff
they "earned" by winning the regular season championship). When
they're on, they're unbeatable. BC wins a low-scoring series.
BU hosts Minnesota - Finally, a series where I've seen both
teams play! Very evenly matched, should be an excellent series.
I'll give the edge to BU on the basis of home advantage.
Mike Ryan
ARPA: ryan%freme...@DECWRL.ARPA
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