Ravens Hockey Live is proud to introduce a new feature. They’re not as well dressed as Don Cherry, but are definitely a lot more coherent. Here is the Commentators Corner.
This week’s showdown: Matt vs Matt.
Matt Di Nicolantonio and Matt Chesser are the commentators for SSN Canada’s broadcasts of the Carleton Ravens and McGill Redman respectively.
Here are their thoughts, predictions and insights on Saturday’s marquee OUA match up:
Matt Di Nicolantonio
Last week, the Ravens entered their most important weekend of the season. This week, they once again approach their most important weekend of the season. While they have a road date with the Ottawa GeeGees on tap first, the focus will likely be on Saturday’s matinee against the McGill Redmen at the Ice House. Seven days earlier, the Ravens handed the #2 team in the country their first regulation loss of the season.
Was it luck? Perhaps.
The Redmen were without seven regulars. Goalie Hubert Morin didn’t even dress. 28-goal scorer Francis Verreault-Paul was a late scratch with an injury. Top defenceman Marc-Andre Dorion and captain Evan Vossen are in Turkey playing for Team Canada. So the Redmen didn’t exactly have the A-team. But the Ravens were without two of their top forwards, Brandon MacLean and Ryan Berard (Team Canada) and their own starting goalie Matt Dopud (injury).
Can the Ravens win again? Probably.
They’re 10-2 at home. Ryan Dube, who it appears will start again this weekend, has stopped all 56 shots McGill has fired at him this season. The Redmen will certainly be looking for revenge, but the Ravens are on a roll right now, especially at home. They’re still battling for positioning in the top half of the standings, so every point is important. The Redmen clinched top spot in the East two weeks ago, and are likely just trying to get to the playoffs healthy. It will more likely be a closer game than the 4-0 shutout we saw last weekend. The Ravens will be tired after playing Ottawa the night before, and the Redmen will be rested. Every game between these two clubs has been close, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one go to overtime. Carleton will be honouring captain Brad Good in a ceremony before the game, so that might give the Ravens the extra push they need. To me, it’s a coin flip, but I’ll take the Ravens, 4-3.
Matt Chesser
Welcome to the national spotlight Carleton.
The Ravens finally received some well-deserved national attention this week, after handing the Redmen their first regulation loss of the season. And while I’m likely preaching to the choir here, in my opinion Carleton is the second-best team in the OUA East.
No team this season has played the Redmen as well as the Ravens. In 22 games against OUA East opponents, McGill has been outshot three times. All three of those games were against Carleton.
Things won’t get any easier on Saturday night. When I spoke to McGill Head Coach Kelly Nobes earlier this week, he indicated that he might have only 14 skaters for the rematch on Saturday. Leading scorer Francis Verreault-Paul is doubtful to dress, as he wasn’t practicing with the team earlier this week. And the Redmen look lost without their best two-way forwards Evan Vossen and Maxime Langalier-Parent, and CIS Defenceman of the Year Marc-Andre Dorion (all participating at the World University Games).
Excuses won’t garner the Redmen any sympathy, however. The truth is that (with the exception of a 4-0 victory against UQTR) McGill hasn’t been playing particularly well since before the Christmas break. In 18 games before the break, McGill outscored their opponents 107-44. In the seven games since, that margin is only 23-18.
The sky is hardly falling for the Redmen — they’re still one of the best teams in the nation — but their modest struggles give the Ravens a great opportunity to capture a Top 10 ranking if they can defeat mighty McGill twice in the span of a week.
Win or lose, I can’t wait to see these two teams meet in the playoffs.
Ravens Hockey Live 
Commentators Corner #1: Matt vs Matt
Ravens Hockey Live is proud to introduce a new feature. They’re not as well dressed as Don Cherry, but are definitely a lot more coherent. Here is the Commentators Corner.
This week’s showdown: Matt vs Matt.
Matt Di Nicolantonio and Matt Chesser are the commentators for SSN Canada’s broadcasts of the Carleton Ravens and McGill Redman respectively.
Here are their thoughts, predictions and insights on Saturday’s marquee OUA match up:
Matt Di Nicolantonio
Last week, the Ravens entered their most important weekend of the season. This week, they once again approach their most important weekend of the season. While they have a road date with the Ottawa GeeGees on tap first, the focus will likely be on Saturday’s matinee against the McGill Redmen at the Ice House. Seven days earlier, the Ravens handed the #2 team in the country their first regulation loss of the season.
Was it luck? Perhaps.
The Redmen were without seven regulars. Goalie Hubert Morin didn’t even dress. 28-goal scorer Francis Verreault-Paul was a late scratch with an injury. Top defenceman Marc-Andre Dorion and captain Evan Vossen are in Turkey playing for Team Canada. So the Redmen didn’t exactly have the A-team. But the Ravens were without two of their top forwards, Brandon MacLean and Ryan Berard (Team Canada) and their own starting goalie Matt Dopud (injury).
Can the Ravens win again? Probably.
They’re 10-2 at home. Ryan Dube, who it appears will start again this weekend, has stopped all 56 shots McGill has fired at him this season. The Redmen will certainly be looking for revenge, but the Ravens are on a roll right now, especially at home. They’re still battling for positioning in the top half of the standings, so every point is important. The Redmen clinched top spot in the East two weeks ago, and are likely just trying to get to the playoffs healthy. It will more likely be a closer game than the 4-0 shutout we saw last weekend. The Ravens will be tired after playing Ottawa the night before, and the Redmen will be rested. Every game between these two clubs has been close, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one go to overtime. Carleton will be honouring captain Brad Good in a ceremony before the game, so that might give the Ravens the extra push they need. To me, it’s a coin flip, but I’ll take the Ravens, 4-3.
Matt Chesser
Welcome to the national spotlight Carleton.
The Ravens finally received some well-deserved national attention this week, after handing the Redmen their first regulation loss of the season. And while I’m likely preaching to the choir here, in my opinion Carleton is the second-best team in the OUA East.
No team this season has played the Redmen as well as the Ravens. In 22 games against OUA East opponents, McGill has been outshot three times. All three of those games were against Carleton.
Things won’t get any easier on Saturday night. When I spoke to McGill Head Coach Kelly Nobes earlier this week, he indicated that he might have only 14 skaters for the rematch on Saturday. Leading scorer Francis Verreault-Paul is doubtful to dress, as he wasn’t practicing with the team earlier this week. And the Redmen look lost without their best two-way forwards Evan Vossen and Maxime Langalier-Parent, and CIS Defenceman of the Year Marc-Andre Dorion (all participating at the World University Games).
Excuses won’t garner the Redmen any sympathy, however. The truth is that (with the exception of a 4-0 victory against UQTR) McGill hasn’t been playing particularly well since before the Christmas break. In 18 games before the break, McGill outscored their opponents 107-44. In the seven games since, that margin is only 23-18.
The sky is hardly falling for the Redmen — they’re still one of the best teams in the nation — but their modest struggles give the Ravens a great opportunity to capture a Top 10 ranking if they can defeat mighty McGill twice in the span of a week.
Win or lose, I can’t wait to see these two teams meet in the playoffs.