For a traditionally low-scoring Cornell team — a squad that last year averaged just 2.56 goals per game — a prolific and efficient power play could be the difference between victory and defeat. Indeed, 34 percent of the team’s goals last year came with the man advantage, indicating that the power-play unit was an integral part of the Red’s success.

This year’s team features many returning players from the 2008-09 power play lineup, including Riley and Brendon Nash, Colin Greening and Blake Gallagher. Head coach Mike Schafer ’86 saw those four players develop exceptional chemistry playing together last year, and expects that experience to translate into even more success this year.

“On the power play, we have a lot of guys returning,” Schafer said. “That’s critical, especially early in the year.”

For a team that tends to cycle the puck almost excessively, while remaining very selective in its power play shot selection, finding that chemistry will be essential to spark the offensive flow.

Moreover, the Red has a tendency to find itself in close, defensive games, where one goal can swing momentum and ensure a win. Last year, the Red was involved in 12 games that were decided by one goal, and four ties. In those types of situations, the onus will be on the Cornell power play to come through when it gets its chances. Already in the 2009-10 season, the Red’s power play unit scored two goals in the squad’s 3-2 overtime victory against Nia­gara.

Schafer notes that having a reliable power play will be fundamental to the Red’s ECAC Hockey championship and NCAA tournament ambitions this year. That said, the coach is highly confident in his team’s ability to produce with the man advantage.

“[Special teams has] always been a staple of a successful program,” Schafer explained. “We’re very solid 5-on-5, we’ve always had a great power play, we’ve always done a great job of killing penalties. You look back at the years we’ve won ECAC championships or gotten to the NCAA tournament, there are years we’ve been No. 1 in the country in both categories. It’s always been a good aspect of our team and it continues to be so.”