Though the men’s hockey season is still young, Cornell’s offensive explosion in its first three games has garnered some national attention and is reflected in the team’s climb up the polls to No. 3. Currently, the Red is first in the NCAA in offense, leading the way with 4.67 goals per game. The majority of that offensive success is due to Cornell’s prolific power play, which has converted 44.4 percent (8-for-18) of its chances, a mark that is also tops in the NCAA.

Cornell’s goal-scoring surge is particularly surprising in light of Coach Schafer’s history of fielding physical, defensive squads backed by stingy goaltending.

With a 5-1 victory over Dartmouth and a 6-3 third-period comeback win against Harvard, Cornell is now one five-goal game away from matching the total number of games in which the squad reached the five-goal plateau last season. In 2008-09, the Red scored five goals in a game just three times and did not do so for the first time until January 4.