As the "Why not us" season progresses, this weekend presents perhaps the most important test, as the Saints take on Clarkson in ECAC play. Undefeated through half the season, they face rival Clarkson this weekend, the only other team not have lost in ECAC play, though only the Saints have a zero in the middle of their overall record. The ECAC points on the line this weekend are incredibly important and may very well determine the regular season champion in the ECAC. It will also determine seeding the NCAA tournament, should the Saints make it.
In a change of pace from years past, Clarkson currently lacks a player within the top ten nationally in scoring, while the Saints have two in that elite company; Kennedy Marchment (3) and Brooke Webster (7). However, Clarkson has been scoring by committee, propelling them to the third ranked offense in the country (3.78 goals per game) while the Saints sit tenth at 3.31 goals per game. Both offenses are capable of putting the puck in the net in bunches and would normally provide fireworks, but I wouldn't expect to see an explosion of goal scoring from either squad this weekend. Rather, games like the 2-1 SLU win and 3-3 tie that comprised the two teams' early series are the more likely outcome, due in large part to the goaltenders for the ECAC's top two teams.
Grace Harrison has also outplayed her Golden Knight counterpart Shea Tiley in every measured category except for minutes and games played. This is not to say that Tiley has played poorly, as she remains one of the leagues best goaltenders, but Grace Harrison has been nothing short of elite this season. That gives the Saints the edge in net, though Tiley is more than capable of stealing games, despite rarely being asked to, much the same as Harrison.
The Saints and Golden Knights also two of the country's best defenses. The Saints have allowed only 13 goals in 16 games, equalling just .81 goals per game allowed, while Clarkson maintains a respectable sub-2.0. GAA at 1.72. Both teams possess top-10 power plays, the Golden Knights at 7 and SLU at 9.
The only statistical category that either team has a significant edge in is on the penalty kill. The Saints have killed 52 of 55 shorthanded situations for a 94.5% efficacy rate, best in the country, while Clarkson sits nearly 10% lower at 85%, tied for 20th. This is the area of the game that SLU most capitalize on in order to ensure victories this weekend.
Clarkson takes, on average, 10.44 penalty minutes per game while the Saints take just 7.25 per game. If the statistics hold true in every category, a low scoring affair should take place, won by the Saints on a special teams goal, the exact narrative in SLU's 2-1 win early in the season.
Clarkson took a lead early in the second period, but a pair of power play goals from Marchment and Kirsten Padalis gave the Saints the win. Hannah Miller scored a pair of power play goals the next day in a 3-3 tie, the only non-win on the Saints record.
If the Saints can capitalize on the power play chances they get while continuing the strong play of their penalty kill, the teams are so even at five-on-five that the Saints should be able to continue their winning ways.
In a change of pace from years past, Clarkson currently lacks a player within the top ten nationally in scoring, while the Saints have two in that elite company; Kennedy Marchment (3) and Brooke Webster (7). However, Clarkson has been scoring by committee, propelling them to the third ranked offense in the country (3.78 goals per game) while the Saints sit tenth at 3.31 goals per game. Both offenses are capable of putting the puck in the net in bunches and would normally provide fireworks, but I wouldn't expect to see an explosion of goal scoring from either squad this weekend. Rather, games like the 2-1 SLU win and 3-3 tie that comprised the two teams' early series are the more likely outcome, due in large part to the goaltenders for the ECAC's top two teams.
Grace Harrison has also outplayed her Golden Knight counterpart Shea Tiley in every measured category except for minutes and games played. This is not to say that Tiley has played poorly, as she remains one of the leagues best goaltenders, but Grace Harrison has been nothing short of elite this season. That gives the Saints the edge in net, though Tiley is more than capable of stealing games, despite rarely being asked to, much the same as Harrison.
The Saints and Golden Knights also two of the country's best defenses. The Saints have allowed only 13 goals in 16 games, equalling just .81 goals per game allowed, while Clarkson maintains a respectable sub-2.0. GAA at 1.72. Both teams possess top-10 power plays, the Golden Knights at 7 and SLU at 9.
The only statistical category that either team has a significant edge in is on the penalty kill. The Saints have killed 52 of 55 shorthanded situations for a 94.5% efficacy rate, best in the country, while Clarkson sits nearly 10% lower at 85%, tied for 20th. This is the area of the game that SLU most capitalize on in order to ensure victories this weekend.
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| Kirsten Padalis captains the Saints and anchors the county's best defense and penalty kill (PC: Jack Lyons) |
Clarkson took a lead early in the second period, but a pair of power play goals from Marchment and Kirsten Padalis gave the Saints the win. Hannah Miller scored a pair of power play goals the next day in a 3-3 tie, the only non-win on the Saints record.
If the Saints can capitalize on the power play chances they get while continuing the strong play of their penalty kill, the teams are so even at five-on-five that the Saints should be able to continue their winning ways.
Players to watch:
Rather than simply tell you to watch the top line of each team, or the goalies, I'd like to point out a player on each team that continues to fly under the radar while having a significant impact on the game. For the Saints, Justine Reyes comes to mind. She's fourth on the team with 13 points in 16 games, and her line, along with Kayla Vespa and Kayla Neiesen, is a legitimate scoring threat every time its on the ice, but is also quite reliable in the defensive end. But Reyes' true impact this year can be seen in her four game-winning goals, including two recently against Brown and Penn State. She's scoring timely, important goals for SLU and starting to take pressure off the top line to produce at the highest level.
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| Justine Reyes has quietly solidified herself as a legitimate scorer on the Saints second line (PC: Jack Lyons) |
For the Golden Knights, Josiane Pozzebon has quietly become one of the focal points of the Clarkson blue line. 9 points in 18 games doesn't jump off the page at you, but 6 goals in the same number of games from a defender certainly does. Even more importantly, she has two game winning goals and 4 power play goals, accounting for more than a fifth of Tech's total power play output. To have that mobility and offensive from a younger defender, as Pozzebon is only a sophomore, creates more room for creativity among the offensive leaders for Clarkson.
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