Where: Sage Rink Clinton, NY
When: 7:00 PM Friday 2/15/13
Video/Audio: Hamilton Athletics
Video/Audio: Hamilton Athletics
Offense: 3.32 G/GM scored (3rd in NESCAC; 25th in Nation)Defense: 3.14 G/GM allowed (6th in NESCAC; 38th in Nation)
Power Play: 25/98 - 25.5% (3rd in NESCAC; 12th in Nation)
Penalty Kill: 71/90 - 78.9% (6th in NESCAC; 44th in Nation)
Defense: 3.55 G/GM allowed (7th in NESCAC; 48th in Nation)
Power Play: 11/112 9.8% (10th in NESCAC; <60th in Nation)
Penalty Kill: 66/85 - 77.6% (7th in NESCAC; 55th in nation)
The Lowdown: Now or Never
Hamilton comes home after two weeks on the road and enters into the game in seventh place having snapped a five game losing streak in a 7-2 win over Conn College on Monday, their highest offensive output on the season. Middlebury enters the game in a threeway tie for second with Amherst/Williams after a split of last weekend's home and home with Williams. Hamilton will attempt to try and erase memories of the last time they played on home ice, an 11-3 thrashing at the hands of Wesleyan.
Middlebury has won the last two matchups against Hamilton, winning at home, 2-1, in the final weekend of the regular season last year, as well as a 5-4 OT win at home on December 7th this season. Anthony Ruberto (F, Sr.) tied the game for the Continentals with six seconds left in regulation, but Ben Wiggins (D, Jr.) won it for the Panthers in overtime.
The last time the two teams met in Clinton, Hamilton blanked Middlebury 3-0 in December of 2011. Before that, the last time the Conts had beaten the Panthers was a 3-2 win in Clinton on February 5th, 2005. In the subsequent six years, Middlebury went 8-0-1 against Hamilton, including knocking the Conts out of the NESCAC playoffs in 2005, 2006 and 2009.
This game has major playoff implications for both teams. Middlebury can end the weekend anywhere from first to fifth in the NESCAC while Hamilton can end up in the 7th or 8th spot in the playoffs, or could fail to make the playoffs altogether.
Key(s) to the game: Power Play
Middlebury's prolific power play was slowed down last weekend, going 0-6 in the two games against Williams. Hamilton, who normally draws alot of penalties but doesn't captialzie, was a perfect 1-1 on the power play against Conn College on Monday. The only time the Continentals scored two power play goals in a game was the OT loss to Middlebury back on December 7th.
Players to watch
Middlebury goalie The Panthers have used four different goaltenders this year and three last weekend. Sophomore Michael Peters (G, So.) won in his first career start last Sunday, does he get the start again?
Anthony Ruberto (F, Sr.) Ruberto enters his final weekend on home ice having eclipsed the 50 point mark for his career with four points last weekend (1-3-4). Ruberto also scored the tying goal with six seconds left last time out against the Panthers.
We couldn't escape the final weekend of the season without using Europe's "Final Countdown" and the front end of the weekend is still as good a time as any. To class up the hair metal band's 80s hit, we present an excellent orchestral cover of the tune.
No comments:
Post a Comment