Parting Schotts: Union-Harvard postgame report (with videos)

I had a question from a Union fan on my Twitter page (I'm @slapschotts if you want to follow me) after I came back up from the postgame press conference about why the Dutchmen, with most of the players back from last season's Cleary Cup-champion squad, can't seem to put teams away this season when they take a lead into the third period.

Quite frankly, I am dumbfounded, too. It doesn't make sense.

The Dutchmen tied a team record Friday night, and it's not exactly one they will be bragging about. Union blew a 3-1 lead against Harvard and settled for a 3-3 tie at Messa Rink.

It was the sixth time of the year for the Dutchmen (3-2-3 ECACH, 9-5-6 overall). They other seasons that they had six ties were 2001-02, 2005-06, 2007-08 and 2009-10.

Union fired 36 shots on Harvard goalie Steve Michalek, who was outstanding. His best save came late in the third period, when he robbed Kelly Zajac on a one-timer from the slot by sticking out his left pad.

But the Dutchmen have to start finding ways to put teams away. They had a great chance to do so against the Crimson after they took the two-goal lead into the third.

However, a Shayne Gostisbehere tripping penalty 26 seconds into the third helped ignite Harvard's comeback. The Crimson's nation-leading power play got to within 3-2 when Alex Killorn scored at 1:04. Carrying the momentum, the Crimson tied it on Danny Biega's even-strength goal.

"There's a fine line between winning and losing, especially in this league," Bennett said. "We had our chances. It's great to say you had your chances, but you've got to bury them, and you've got to put teams away."

The Dutchmen know they blew a chance to win just for the second time at home this season. Union is 1-2-3 at home.

"It's a maturity thing," Union right wing Josh Jooris said. "We've got to come out in the third period, and that's got to be our best [period] every night. So far, it hasn't been."

Left wing Daniel Carr agreed.

"We've got to learn that those details are what's going to win us games," Carr said. "Whether it's the detail of us getting the puck out of the zone on the wall, or getting the puck deep, those things are what's hurting our hockey club."

Dutchmen defenseman Mat Bodie, who had a goal and an assist, and who was also hurt (more on that later), knows his team blew a great opportunity.

"Obviously, it's the third period that's killing us," Bodie said. "We came out to a great start in the first, and we had a pretty strong second. A little lack of composure, a lack of discipline in the third cost us. We battled hard back. We had a few chances in overtime that could have helped us win this game.

"But we could have won this game in 60 minutes."

Knowing that Harvard has the best power play in the country, Bennett stressed to his team not to take penalties and give the Crimson any chances with the man advantage. Union took just two penalties, but didn't kill off either one of them.

"I'm very disappointed in our penalty kill," Bennett said. "If you know that the team has 50 percent of their offense coming from the power play, why would you keep giving them chances? We went over that stuff. It's kind of disheartening, I guess."

The tie was disheartening for the Dutchmen, too. But there isn't any time to be down about it. Dartmouth comes in Saturday night after it's 4-3 win over RPI.

Bodie injury
During Harvard's first power play early in the second period, Bodie went down and was on the ice for a couple of minutes. Trainer Cheryl Rockwood came out and helped Bodie off. Bodie was favoring his left knee. It didn't look good.

Turns out, it wasn't a knee injury.

"I got hit right in the money makers," said Bodie. "I'll let you guys draw your own conclusions from that."

Ah, and ouch! Bodie got hit in the wrong part of the anatomy as he blocked a slap shot. Sometimes, even having a protective cup doesn't help.

I can feel Bodie's pain. Back in 1985, I got hit my a golf ball on the fly in the wrong part of my anatomy. A painful memory, indeed.

Great goal
The best goal of the game was the one scored by Carr late in the second period. It came on the power play.

Bodie took a pass from Jeremy Welsh. He made a nice move at the Harvard blue line, trapping three of the Crimson's four penalty killers, and started a three-on-one break.

Bodie passed the puck to Jooris on the left wing. Jooris spotted Carr on his right.

"I think I had a lane, but I saw Dan just open up for that one-timer," Jooris said. "I thought he had a better opportunity of putting the puck in the net."

Carr fired it past Michalek with 2:45 left in the second.

"That was a great play by Mat and Josh," Carr said. "Mat got going up ice, and he made a great pass to Josh. Josh has great vision, and he found me in the slot. All I had to do was tap it in. I didn't do much. It was the work of those two."

Postgame videos
I have two postgame videos.

To see the Union press conferences with Bennett, Bodie, Carr and Jooris, click here.

To see the Harvard press conference with coach Killorn and coach Ted Donato, click here.

Three stars
My three stars of the game:
1) Steve Michalek, Harvard goalie ? Made 33 saves, including a game-saver against Kelly Zajac late in the third period.
2) Mat Bodie, Union defenseman ? Had a goal and an assist.
3) Josh Jooris, Union right wing ? Collected two assists.

That's all from Messa Rink. I'll be back with you Saturday night, when the Dutchmen host Dartmouth.

Good Night! Good Hockey!

Source: http://www.dailygazette.com/weblogs/schott/2012/jan/07/union-harvard-postgame-report-with-videos/

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