M. hockey finds success at home

By Tamar Schwartz

The ice hockey team's return to the Whale has been like a much-needed shot of caffeine. After a disappointing early-season run that resulted in a 1-4-1 overall record, Yale's recent stretch of home games at Ingalls Rink has marked a shift in the team's direction. With a huge win against Princeton over Thanksgiving break, the Bulldogs continued their successful play, tying Cornell and shutting out Colgate last weekend.

STEVE YBARRA/YH

Coming off a 6-1 rout of Princeton on Sat., Nov. 24, the Bulldogs sought to "keep the roll going," Dan Lombard, SM '02, said. According to Nick Deschenes, MC '03, the string of losses did not negatively affect team morale because Yale's schedule allows for games to "settle and not affect our spirits." There is no doubt, he said, that "after a successful weekend, practice is more upbeat and relaxed."

The renewed spirit showed on Fri., Nov. 30, as the team kept up with a quick Cornell offense to tie in overtime 1-1. Chris Higgins, MC '05, scored the team's only goal off an assist from Deschenes. Representing the fifth-straight sellout crowd at home, Friday's game against Cornell was especially important for the team because the Big Red were last ranked ninth in the nation.

Yale followed the Cor-nell tie with an impressive 5-0 win over Colgate on Sat., Dec. 1, its first shutout of the season. The team got off to a quick start, scoring three goals in the first period and keeping a determined Colgate offense at bay throughout the game. Higgins contributed two goals, including a power play, while Deschenes, Nathan Murphy, BR '04, and Vin Hellemeyer, BK '04, all tallied points. The star of the game, however, was goalie Lombard, who continued his defensive efforts by recording 34 saves and extending his streak to 124:35 minutes without allowing a goal.

"A lot of things were on the line last weekend because of our string of losses," Deschenes explained. "The team rose to the challenges. We came so close Friday night, and we wouldn't let Saturday's opportunity to win slip away." Captain Luke Earl, JE '02, noted that Saturday's win was especially meaningful because Colgate is a longtime rival.

As a team, the Bulldogs have been executing more successfully, which helps explain their recent wins. According to Deschenes, the improved level of play last weekend was also a response to the level of play of their opponents. "Whenever there's a tough opponent, we tend to elevate our play and compete at their level," he said. "We've improved steadily over the season, and will be better in February than we are now."

On the individual level, much of the team's recent success can be attributed to Lombard. According to Deschenes, while the team had been outshot in its recent games and has experienced defensive breakdowns. But Lombard has kept himself focused in the net in the midst of his shutout streak. He explained that he looks to be consistent in his play, playing off the offense and defense generated by his teammates.

Perhaps the strongest factor in the team's success last weekend was the home-ice advantage. Playing in front of a crowd of 3,486 fans at the Whale inspired the entire squad, as it "gave the team a lot of positive energy," Deschenes said. After playing most games this season on the road or in the impersonal New Haven Coliseum, coming back to the Whale and having a successful three-game run "gives the team a momentum to take with us on the road," he added.

Despite the team's latest success, there is some concern about how close the recent finishes have been. Friday's Cornell tie was the team's fourth overtime game this season, and only the second to result in a tie. These tight games could reveal an inability to finish executions and generate offense. The "inconsistent offense," according to Deschenes, is what leads to overtime losses—a problem the team has been working to improve during practice.

Yet some players see the overtime games simply as a reflection of the parity among teams in the ECAC. "The league is really balanced, so most one-goal games will result in overtime," Earl said.

This weekend, the team takes to the road to play back-to-back games against Rensselaer and Union, their last two conference games before a two-week break in league matches. "We want to do well this weekend to get in a good position for our next league stretch," Lombard said.

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