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UMaine Hockey 23 - 24: The Barr Crawl to Glory!!!

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I was going to say Ostman played better after the 1st but……. Take the win but they don’t look as good as they did earlier in year.
 
Gotta give ‘em props, they strike quick. Feel like most of their wins they’ve landed two goals in the span of a minute and just take control of games.

Certainly wasn't a smooth 60 minute effort but sometimes it’s gotta be gritty not pretty.
 
Probably should give credit to the coaches and teams they are playing for not allowing Maine to do what they want to do. Once Maine had the lead and Lowell had to try and come off the boards, Maine did what they wanted.
 
walrus said:
Probably should give credit to the coaches and teams they are playing for not allowing Maine to do what they want to do. Once Maine had the lead and Lowell had to try and come off the boards, Maine did what they wanted.
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Bottom line that's hockey...most to all teams from here on in will play Maine physical and try to not let Maine go to their skating up tempo game...but once Maine can skate and get more room on the ice they can change a game in minutes. Tonight's game for UML will mirror last night...cut off Maine breakouts,take the body all over the ice...Maine can counter by scoring first and taking a lead by 2 goals or more...easily said then done...expecting a 2-1,3-1 game if it's a tight affair...if Maine opens with early scores and that could make it real hard for UML to get back into the game...without abandoning there in your face hockey. Also thinking Boija gets the start tonight...tandem hockey till one is the horse to ride to the finish line.
 
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Lowell playing thug hockey last night. Lots of cheap shots at Maine's smaller forwards, obviously trying to get under Maine's skin. Usually think of UML playing a fairly clean game, hard yes but not the cheap chit. Gotta chuckle late in the third when Brazeale had the puck behind his own net ready to start a break out. UML collapsed all the way back to the red line to trap, but they needed to score a few. He shoulda just sat right there for a few minutes with the puck to force them to forecheck. Trap hockey is sooo boring.
 
If this team wants to maintain a top 4 spot in HE down the stretch here my keys would be: settle down and make cleaner passes in d and neutral zones, speed out of the d zone, goaltending, stop with those deadly d zone turnovers and the neutral zone throw away.
The d zone break out could be their biggest weakness. It has been for many years now. I dont understand why they try to force the breakout up along the boards, its slow, while every other HE team knows how to go weak side or nice clean pass up the center with speed.
 
Tonight will be very interesting. The only game Maine hasn’t won on Friday was BU, it’s Saturday night where Maine has had some issues. Lowell didn’t play last weekend so will probably have a little more in the tank but the crowd obviously makes a big difference for Maine. A win would be incredibly helpful as far as pairwise goes.
 
NorthMike said:
If this team wants to maintain a top 4 spot in HE down the stretch here my keys would be: settle down and make cleaner passes in d and neutral zones, speed out of the d zone, goaltending, stop with those deadly d zone turnovers and the neutral zone throw away.
The d zone break out could be their biggest weakness. It has been for many years now. I dont understand why they try to force the breakout up along the boards, its slow, while every other HE team knows how to go weak side or nice clean pass up the center with speed.
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Earlier in the season those little bumper passes from the boards worked great but clearly teams have seen enough tape to not overcommit on them.

Can counter that by having guys like Chabrier/Holt deliver breakout passes and Breazeale carrying the puck up ice more.

The PP breakout has been so hit or miss, but there were a few instances last night where they just came directly at Lowell with speed, caught them flatfooted and easily gained the O-zone.

I believe Maine has the easiest remaining conference schedule left of any team in Hockey East. Good chance for them to experiment a bit with some of that on their even-strength rushes as well.
 
walrus said:
Boija in net tonight? Any other changes?
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Niemo? I really liked what I saw of him in the UNH game at Colby.

is a fresh-legged Carney still to slow to play against Lowell on night 2? A huge body like his, camping in front of the net might be useful.

i like what I’ve seen out of califiore, but he needs to pick corners better

And do we know anything about Arnott coming back? Who would he replace? I guess it would have to be Hopkins even though he is certainly not a weak link.
 
umhockey91 said:
Ostman being Ostman until the bitter end.....geez. Still a solid win....just keep accumulating those points!
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He’s a B/B+ Goalie that has an occasional A night. He’s not losing games but he’s not winning them like Swayman/Howard/Bishop did. He’s Matt Yates.
 
StillKIA2 said:
Niemo? I really liked what I saw of him in the UNH game at Colby.

is a fresh-legged Carney still to slow to play against Lowell on night 2? A huge body like his, camping in front of the net might be useful.

i like what I’ve seen out of califiore, but he needs to pick corners better

And do we know anything about Arnott coming back? Who would he replace? I guess it would have to be Hopkins even though he is certainly not a weak link.
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Carney was practicing with the team when I watched Thursday, so he could be an option this weekend.
 
Tango said:
He’s a B/B+ Goalie that has an occasional A night. He’s not losing games but he’s not winning them like Swayman/Howard/Bishop did. He’s Matt Yates.
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I can think of another goalie who could be described the same way…and that guy was pretty awesome when he needed to be in ‘99
 
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