Nick Weberg out as Yale readies for St. Lawrence

I dropped by Ingalls Rink for Yale practice this afternoon. A couple of notes.

• Yale used the week off to heal and rest. It practiced last Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday with a simulated game on Saturday night before picking up its normal game-week routine.
• Nick Weberg suffered a concussion against Cornell, and will miss the weekend. As of now, everyone else is healthy.
• St. Lawrence presents a real challenge as a skilled skating team with two of the top scorers in the country in Kyle Flanagan and Greg Carey. Yale coach Keith Allain said Yale's approach will essentially remain the same. "We're a team that believes if you play solid defense, it will turn into offense. That's something that will make a difference in this series against St. Lawrence. I believe if we do a good job defensively, that we'll get opportunities in transition."
• I'll have more about Andrew Miller for my piece in the Register, but I asked Allain where he ranks Miller among all the play-makers he's had at Yale since arriving in 2006. "I think he's the best play-maker we've had here," Allain said. "Denny Kearney jumps to my mind. And Denny had the luxury of playing all four years with one of the best goal scorers we've ever had (Broc Little). Andrew has the ability to play a high tempo but also slow the game down when things are going too fast. He can control the tempo of the game. He can see the obvious pass but see beyond that and what might be available. He's as smart a player as I've ever coached here."
• The players know the season likely rests on this weekend, given the current Pairwise Rankings. Yale will almost certainly need to advance to Atlantic City to keep its at-large bid chance alive.
• Allain knows exactly what to expect this weekend: "You saw what separated teams in our league the final weekend. The margins are slim. Our guys are going to be ready because we respect St. Lawrence and we know how dangerous they are. It's going to be back-and-forth, it's going to be a one-goal game going into the third period Friday, Saturday and possible Sunday. That's the way it's supposed to be in the playoffs." 
• Games will be broadcast locally in New Haven on AM radio: WYBC-1340. Tickets are available.
•  I'll be at Quinnipiac practice bright and early tomorrow. Check back.