NESCAC Quartefinal: #8 Tufts at #1 Trinity

Thanks to Colby assistant Chris Hall, who is helping us preview all four quarterfinals in his "Coach's Corner" section of each preview. Follow him on twitter @chall4431

Who: #8. Tufts (8-14--2; 5-11-2 NESCAC) at #1.Trinity  (21-2-1; 16-1-1)
Where: Koeppel Center  Hartford CT
When: 1 PM Saturday 2/28/15
Video/Audio: Trinity Live Stream  Live Stats
Preview: Trinity 

Overall  (Conference Rank)             Conference Games (conf. rank)
Offense: 2.46 G/GM (8th)                  Offense: 2.06 G/GM (9th)

Defense: 3.62 G/GM (9th)                  Defense: 3.50 G/GM (8th)

Power Play: 13/83 -15.7% (9th)        Power Play: 7/59 - 11.9% (9th)

Penalty Kill: 59.78 - 76% (8th)          Penalty Kill: 45/60 - 75% (9th)

Special Teams Net  -6 (8th)               Special Teams Net  -13 (10th)

Overall  (Conference Rank)             Conference Games (conf. rank)
Offense: 4.37 G/GM (1st)                  Offense: 4.22 G/GM (1st)

Defense: 1.79 G/GM (1st)                  Defense: 1.56 G/GM (1st)
 Power Play: 28/99-28.3% (2nd)       Power Play: 20/73 - 27.4% (2nd)   
Penalty Kill: 64/76 84.2% (3rd)        Penalty Kill: 53/61 86.9% (1st)

Special Teams Net: +16 (2nd)          Special Teams Net: +12 (1st)

The Lowdown

Trinity wrapped up the top seed in the NESCAC playoffs for the second straight year, while the Jumbos made the playoffs after a two year absence.  The teams have met once before in the 2005 NESCAC Quarterfinals with the #1 seed Bantams thumping the eight seed Jumbos 9-2. Tufts has never won a 'Cac playoff game going 0-6 in their playoff apperances. Trinity, who has won 2 conference titles, is 16-12  all-time in the playoffs. They were the favorites last year before being upset by the fifth seed and eventual champion Bowdoin Polar Bears in the semifinals. Trinity swept the Jumbos this season, just as the Bantams did ever NESCAC team not named Amherst or Hamilton. cruising to easy 7-2 and 4-1 wins over the Jumbos, 

Coaches Corner with Chris Hall

Key Matchup: Tufts physical style vs Trinity’s Power Play. Trinity is home to one of the most lethal power plays in the country, currently fifth in Division III with a 28.3% success rate. The easiest way to kill penalties? Stay out of the box. Tufts is the third least penalized team in DIII, with an average of 8.3 minutes per game. However, Tufts took a total of 24 penalty minutes in their two games against Trinity and the Bantams made them pay to a tune of 41.6% on the PP (5 for 12). Tufts plays a physical, gritty style – the game will hinge on their ability to play their style without crossing the line.

Tactical Analysis: When the game is 5 on 5, look for transition to rule the day. Both teams like to get up and go in the rush, looking to activate a defenseman and beat their opponent up ice. Four players will be on the attack for both teams almost all the time. By the same token, the team that backchecks the best (hardest & smartest) will have the most success thwarting their opponents chances. In the zone, look for Tufts to try to make this more of a possession game, while Trinity will want to use their speed and creativity to produce offense.

Tufts Wins If..: The Jumbos stay out of the box and Sophomore goaltender Mason Pulde (G, '17) has a night to remember. Trinity has shown the ability to put pucks on net regardless of the score, averaging a shot on net every 80 seconds. Dictating the style of play will be important – Tufts will want to play an ugly road game, getting pucks deep and playing hard and clean.

Trinity Wins If...: The game becomes a track meet. Trinity’s wide open style of play favors their skill and speed. If the game starts moving up and down the ice in transition, look for Trinity to break the game open. A true momentum team, once they get one they will get on their toes and look to strike again.

Players to watch 

Mason Pulde (G, '17) If the Jumbos want to pull of the big upset and win their first ever NESCAC playoff game, the Middlebury transfer will need to play lights out in net. 

Jackson Brewer (F, '15) The reigning Joe Concannon Award winner has eight points (4-4-8) against the Jumbos in his four years in Hartford. 

Are the Jumbos ready to defy Swedish defenseman Ben Hjalmarsson and the rest of the top seeded Bantams? Here's Swedish hardcore mainstay Raised Fist with "Ready to Defy" off their latest release, From the North.