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BU 2021-22: Albie's Great Adventure
- Thread starter Harry Cleverly
- Start date
- Status
Preaching to the choir but keep in mind they are 3rd/4th line players getting a ton of time - some wouldn't even be dressing. There is a reason why they are 3rd/4th liners. I have to assume Cockerill and Amonte are injured. I still then need to promote Pandolfo to head coach - get healthy and see what he can do. Thats my 2 cents. Its still real early.
With everyone healthy (minus Ty Amonte) we still went 2-2 against SHU and Uconn with 3/4 of those games putting up 2 or less goals.
I don't think they have played a game with their entire roster healthy. Amonte was out then. Then Tuch got hurt. They are no doubt still struggling to score and COACHING should adjust. They have great goaltending so MAYBE focus on playing good defense instead of flying the zone and trying to score on the fact break all the time? Play conservative, sound defense and try to win 2-1 instead of 8-6? How many breakaways, odd man rushes and just leaving guys WIDE open out front have we seen already?
Last edited:
defkit
Well-known member
My guess is Cockerill and Amonte sat because Albie needs to send a message - Cockerill hasn't done much. Where is the guy we saw blazing a trail to multiple breakaways and SHGs last year before he was hurt? I saw both these guys in the stands Saturday - didn't look injured (obviously I don't know for sure).
As others have pointed out, there have been losses when they have had the majority of guys available. I don't remember when Tuch got hurt, but he wasn't showing much in the games he played in (much to my surprise).
At the end of the day, all one has to do is watch the way the team plays. The offensive "game plan". Watch how often we struggle to maintain possession, to win battles for the puck. So often there are two Terriers bumping into each other and the puck is over where none of them are. The only time I've seen us maintain possession is 1) when we are a man up and 2) the Merrimack 8 goal barrage.
The most recent play to exemplify my concern over the coaching. From the stands on Saturday, it was obvious to me that UML was playing very aggressive when they were shorthanded. They would rush our point guys and we struggled with what to do. Well before this pressure turned into a SHG, I said - "wow they are playing aggressive, we need to make plays with the 3 on 2 down low that this creates. Now, if I can see this, I would think the coaches could see this and work on something. But they must not have done so very well, because there we were trying to make point to point passes, and we even had a forward at the point (Zabaneh) who was simply outmuscled, creating the turnover that led to the SHG.
As others have pointed out, there have been losses when they have had the majority of guys available. I don't remember when Tuch got hurt, but he wasn't showing much in the games he played in (much to my surprise).
At the end of the day, all one has to do is watch the way the team plays. The offensive "game plan". Watch how often we struggle to maintain possession, to win battles for the puck. So often there are two Terriers bumping into each other and the puck is over where none of them are. The only time I've seen us maintain possession is 1) when we are a man up and 2) the Merrimack 8 goal barrage.
The most recent play to exemplify my concern over the coaching. From the stands on Saturday, it was obvious to me that UML was playing very aggressive when they were shorthanded. They would rush our point guys and we struggled with what to do. Well before this pressure turned into a SHG, I said - "wow they are playing aggressive, we need to make plays with the 3 on 2 down low that this creates. Now, if I can see this, I would think the coaches could see this and work on something. But they must not have done so very well, because there we were trying to make point to point passes, and we even had a forward at the point (Zabaneh) who was simply outmuscled, creating the turnover that led to the SHG.
Friend_of_BU_Hockey
Registered User
Not sure why Cockerill sat on Saturday, but I overheard Amonte telling someone in the concourse on Saturday that he took a puck to an ankle on Friday and had some swelling in that ankle. He wasn't wearing a boot/brace/cast (which is encouraging), but I noticed he was walking with a slight limp.
I noticed both Brown and Tuch are off their walking boot and crutches, respectively, so hopefully they're close to returning to the lineup. No word on O'Brien...
brassbonanza
Super Serial
Logan indeed blocked a shot off his ankle area late in the third on Friday and very gingerly skated off the ice. He seemed OK, but it wouldn't surprise me if it swelled up quite a bit after the game/next day to the point that he couldn't play Saturday.
Friend_of_BU_Hockey
Registered User
In addition to what's already been much-discussed about this BU team underperforming, I don't think we can fully overlook the element of (bad) luck this team has had early this season with injuries to key forwards. Perhaps it's easy to not give it full consideration and to largely attribute the underperformance as a result of coaching/preparation issues, along with how last year's team (over)performed when faced with injuries/COVID absences to key players.
In my heart of hearts, I wish I could honestly say that injuries are playing a big role in the team's results but I don't think it's making much of a difference. When they were pretty much all available the first two weekends, I stated I thought goal scoring would be this team's Achilles heel and I still stand by that. I don't think there's much difference between the 1st/2nd line scoring ability and the 3rd/4th. Usually there is at BU because there are 4-6 forwards that have high end offensive skills leaving a gap between them and the 3rd and 4th lines (especially with a plugging/PK-oriented 4th line).
Put the draft round and pre-BU resumes aside and just do the eye test. There's really not a one of them that I feel could be considered an offensive weapon good enough to carry a team for 3 or more weekends in a row.
We need a coaching change and better offensive players. As things stand, we're going to have to grind our way into the HE playoffs and ride a hot goalie and some lucky breaks to be a BE tournament finalist.
Given our history, facilities, etc. this is an underperforming program. Sigh.
Put the draft round and pre-BU resumes aside and just do the eye test. There's really not a one of them that I feel could be considered an offensive weapon good enough to carry a team for 3 or more weekends in a row.
We need a coaching change and better offensive players. As things stand, we're going to have to grind our way into the HE playoffs and ride a hot goalie and some lucky breaks to be a BE tournament finalist.
Given our history, facilities, etc. this is an underperforming program. Sigh.
Welcome to BU fans making their way to Marquette, MI and NMU this weekend. Hope you enjoy your visit and the great establishments and natural beauty we have to offer on the shores of Lake Superior! Safe travels to all, especially if you’re bringing the clam chowder for me!
mookie1995
there's a good buck in that racket.
3-12 on the bus ride back from nyc
Friend_of_BU_Hockey
Registered User
The traditional anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF) surgery which Buffalo strongly pushed for would have resulted in a 6+ month recovery. The artificial disc replacement surgery that Eichel wants (and presumably Vegas has OKed) has a much shorter recovery time. Found this excerpt from an article earlier this year in The Buffalo News:
"(Doctor) said the ACDF surgery would have a three-month checkup and likely keep Eichel out of action for six months, and perhaps longer. The disk replacement would have Eichel on the ice training in six weeks and perhaps competing in practice in as few as eight weeks. In addition, the doctor said the fusion would carry a 25% chance of the need for more surgery after 10 years and future surgeries later in life."
Cross Check
Doggie Out! Afuera!
Yeah that was one of my first thoughts when I saw the trade, boy did Alex get the short end of the stick there. Not just from Vegas to Buffalo, but from a contender to...not so much.
brassbonanza
Super Serial
At least he's from upstate NY.
I paid $30 to watch these games against NMU this weekend. I can’t believe how badly this team plays. I think Commesso’s save % was 0.250 in that period. This was a chance to go on the road and try to get a fresh start and bond as a team. We’ll see if they can make some kind of game of this.
Penalty calls in this game are a joke. Phantom calls one after the other.
Penalty calls in this game are a joke. Phantom calls one after the other.
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