This is not a slight to the RIT team, but this weekend should have been a less than difficult sweep for the Saints. RIT was 1-6-2 coming into the weekend, and the Saints did beat them last night 5-3, but even in victory, the Saints still let the Tigers score 3 times.
Tonight was a different story.
6 goals for RIT. Yes, there was an empty netter, but even then, 5 goals. That's the fourth game in the last five they've allowed 5 goals, and only one of those was a win.
RIT opened the scoring 6:15 into the first when Brad McGowen scored, but the Saints were able to escape the first period down just one goal.
The second period was a different story. RIT scored two goals in 9 seconds. Yup, 9. And just five minutes later, they scored again to make it 4-0. Greg Carey finally broke the shutout with a power play goal, and he also rang one off the post later that period. If that had gone in, the rest is history. In other words, the Saints have a comeback comparable to that of the Bruins against Toronto in this years NHL playoffs. But it was not to be.
Not even a minute after Carey scored, RIT extended their lead to 4 again. Justin Baker scored with 27 seconds left in the second to make it 5-2 going into the third, a not unmanageable deficit.
The Saints put pressure on RIT early, but most of their shots were either blocked or went wide. As I sat in my basement, completely ignoring the BU and North Dakota game I was suppose to be watching to scout the Sioux for next weekend, I updated the live box score, and Jeremy Wick had made it 5-3 with a power play goal. And then... McMullan bulged the twine with an absolute bomb from the point and brought the Saints within one. I nearly died with excitement. However, the comeback never materialized and RIT nailed the empty net to ice the game.
Two weeks ago, the Saints were coming off a weekend sweep of Harvard and Dartmouth, were ranked 17th nationally, and looked to be a NCAA tournament team. Since that time, the Saints are 1-3, and have been outscored 18-14. And next weekend they face North Dakota in Grand Forks. No easy task.
Whatever is wrong with the Saints defense, whether its just inexperience, a lack of focus, or something more serious, if its not fixed or improved by Friday, the Saints could have a long weekend.
Tonight was a different story.
6 goals for RIT. Yes, there was an empty netter, but even then, 5 goals. That's the fourth game in the last five they've allowed 5 goals, and only one of those was a win.
RIT opened the scoring 6:15 into the first when Brad McGowen scored, but the Saints were able to escape the first period down just one goal.
The second period was a different story. RIT scored two goals in 9 seconds. Yup, 9. And just five minutes later, they scored again to make it 4-0. Greg Carey finally broke the shutout with a power play goal, and he also rang one off the post later that period. If that had gone in, the rest is history. In other words, the Saints have a comeback comparable to that of the Bruins against Toronto in this years NHL playoffs. But it was not to be.
Not even a minute after Carey scored, RIT extended their lead to 4 again. Justin Baker scored with 27 seconds left in the second to make it 5-2 going into the third, a not unmanageable deficit.
The Saints put pressure on RIT early, but most of their shots were either blocked or went wide. As I sat in my basement, completely ignoring the BU and North Dakota game I was suppose to be watching to scout the Sioux for next weekend, I updated the live box score, and Jeremy Wick had made it 5-3 with a power play goal. And then... McMullan bulged the twine with an absolute bomb from the point and brought the Saints within one. I nearly died with excitement. However, the comeback never materialized and RIT nailed the empty net to ice the game.
Two weeks ago, the Saints were coming off a weekend sweep of Harvard and Dartmouth, were ranked 17th nationally, and looked to be a NCAA tournament team. Since that time, the Saints are 1-3, and have been outscored 18-14. And next weekend they face North Dakota in Grand Forks. No easy task.
Whatever is wrong with the Saints defense, whether its just inexperience, a lack of focus, or something more serious, if its not fixed or improved by Friday, the Saints could have a long weekend.
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