Freakout weekend is upon us in Troy, and a return to home-ice will be welcomed by the Engineers, who have been on the road the past month. Cornell has generally controlled the series as of late, but RPI has notched a few wins over the Big Red in the Smith tenure, including one of my all-time favorites, a Todd Burgess OT goal in Lynah in 2019. Nonetheless, Cornell will be a tall task for the Engineers, but on home ice on Freakout weekend, you never know. Let’s break it down:
Matchup Preview:
It has been more of the same for Mike Schafer and Cornell this year, who sit 2nd in the ECAC and firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble. RPI does not drive play at the same rate as Cornell, but their finishing is so strong that they will have a chance in this game if they can convert their chances. The real strength of Cornell’s team is their defense and goaltending, which allows just 1.90 goals per game. Ian Shane is a veteran goaltender who gets a lot of help from the top-notch Big Red defense.
Luckily for RPI, the Cornell powerplay is not their strength, converting at just 16.9%. The penalty kill has been an achilles heel for RPI this year, so it will be especially important for the Engineers to keep the special teams battle even or better.
Roster Breakdown:
Cornell is very strong top to bottom, with a heavy and physical game that we are accustomed to them playing. Their defense, specifically the Robertson and Rego pair, is amongst the best in college hockey, not just from the offense they generate but the systematic shutdown defense they are known for. As you can see through the game scores, the RPI top 9 has actually been very productive. I wanted to give a quick stick tap to Brad McNeil, who has risen up to the top 9, and boasts an impressive plus 5 rating, which leads forwards. Considering the amount of time Brad has spent on the PK, a +5 is extremely impressive on this team. Cornell is the superior team, but if RPI can sneak a few goals behind star goaltender Ian Shane, they will have a chance.
Jack Watson will look to continue his top-notch play from last weekend this Friday against Cornell. We are at the point in the season where league points are imperative, especially on home ice. Knocking off Cornell would give RPI a huge boost heading into the Freakout on Saturday, where they play a beatable Colgate team. Also, special shoutout to RPI Alum and Spittin’ Chiclets star, Matt Murley, who announced he will be in attendance this weekend. As always, reach us on X @fieldhouse_blog, we will be live tweeting throughout the game. Enjoy Freakout weekend, it only comes once a year. Let’s Go Red!