Quinnipiac Bobcats 2026-27 - Cherry Blossom Special

[DrewQU99]

Kirsch was outstanding last night. Now we see how Applebee does in the same setting. Expect Maine to come out fired up again with another loud and hostile crowd at Alfond (the best student section I've seen, by the way!)

Go Bobcats!

 

[ZYanksRule]

Kirsch was outstanding last night. Now we see how Applebee does in the same setting. Expect Maine to come out fired up again with another loud and hostile crowd at Alfond (the best student section I've seen, by the way!)

Go Bobcats!

I'm also interested in seeing how we respond after an effort the players and coach heavily criticized postgame. Both teams have reason to come out flying tonight. Could be a fun one.

 

[QUAlum2004]

I'm also interested in seeing how we respond after an effort the players and coach heavily criticized postgame. Both teams have reason to come out flying tonight. Could be a fun one.

Last night was the game that Maine had to have based on how Quinnipiac played. If a different bobcats team comes out tonight they could take it to Maine and I am not sure the Black Bears can keep up.

 

[ZYanksRule]

Despite the result, thought the effort was a lot better tonight. The Wyttenbach line was particularly good. Obviously with better goaltending there's probably a different result. Going into the weekend I think we all would have taken a split up there.

The Kostov hit was awful. A very deserved 5-minute major. Exactly the type of hit we're trying to eradicate from the sport.

Obviously a very, very rough night for Appelbee. Right now it's pretty clear KIrsch is leading the race for the No. 1 goaltender spot but it's early still, and I'm not ready to make that choice yet. But another game or two like that from Appelbee and we will have our answer.

 

[.Nectar]

Frustrating one to lose. But, hopefully it will help QU to identify their weaknesses early on.

Negatives: Wyttenbach is great at scoring, but between the highlights its rough. Applebee has been disappointing in his two starts. QU airmailed tons of shots all series, including that breakaway

Positives: Offense was able to generate a lot of pressure. Wyttenbach is great at scoring. Defense got much better in the back half of the game.

Maine and QU always play each other tough, looking forward to the series next year. i wont be too disappointed that on a night where everything went wrong, QU only lost by 1 + an ENG at Alfond. made too many mistakes tonight to deserve a win, and Maine made it count (the inverse of last night). Lets see if QU learns from this series, and having their weaknesses exposed early makes them better. Onto Penn State!

 

[QUAlum2004]

This should really spell the end of the platoon in goal in my opinion. They win this game if Kirsch is playing. He has throughly outplayed Applebee in the teams 4 games played this year and I can’t take much more of this softness by Applebee in between the pipes.

 

[ZYanksRule]

This should really spell the end of the platoon in goal in my opinion. They win this game if Kirsch is playing. He has throughly outplayed Applebee in the teams 4 games played this year and I can’t take much more of this softness by Applebee in between the pipes.

I'm willing to give him another couple starts but he's going to have to start performing. Some of those goals he let in tonight were simply not good enough. And if Kirsch continues to perform at this level, he's going to become the 1A and Applebee will be stapled to the bench. But let's give him a chance. He's obviously fighting it now and I can't imagine he's really this bad.

 

[QUAlum2004]

I'm willing to give him another couple starts but he's going to have to start performing. Some of those goals he let in tonight were simply not good enough. And if Kirsch continues to perform at this level, he's going to become the 1A and Applebee will be stapled to the bench. But let's give him a chance. He's obviously fighting it now and I can't imagine he's really this bad.

I don’t think Applebee is that good. He’s has never really played at a high level and hasn’t played in the toughest leagues either in the CCHL, BCHL and for Lake Superior State while Kirsch is the prototype in net for size and has played tougher competition in the world juniors for Switzerland the past 2 years and a run to winning the Memorial Cup for Kitchener. There is just way more upside with Kirsch than Applebee and I just hope the coaching staff see’s it sooner rather than later because that was a winnable game they threw away by playing Applebee over Kirsch last night.

 

[QU_Paul]

I have seen enough of Applebee to elevate Scopa to G2. I hope he can improve but way too many soft goals and out of position.

 

[QUAlum2004]

I have seen enough of Applebee to elevate Scopa to G2. I hope he can improve but way too many soft goals and out of position.

Let’s cool the jets on Scopa. He’s a practice goalie. Applebee needs to just be the number 2 behind Kirsch.

 

[allnightwong4823]

I'm willing to give him another couple starts but he's going to have to start performing. Some of those goals he let in tonight were simply not good enough. And if Kirsch continues to perform at this level, he's going to become the 1A and Applebee will be stapled to the bench. But let's give him a chance. He's obviously fighting it now and I can't imagine he's really this bad.

Yeah, I'd agree more so with this take than the ones completely writing off Applebee, especially considering the scenario that Kirsch should get hurt down the road. But I think matchups are definitely key. Like, there is no world where Kirsch is not in net at Penn State, but I could see Rand giving Applebee a favorable opportunity to shake off the ghosts against an Army at home. Then, maybe back to Kirsch for Providence. By then, if Kirsch is stalwart in two more challenging matchups, he's the no-brainer for league play and on.

I am typically not a fan of platoons and if you look at successful Bobcats squads over the years, the success came, in large part, because we had one guy in net. Hartzell, Garteig, Perets. We really haven't had that since the title season. There are some exceptions - Shortridge and Petruzzelli both were solid for a two year span, at times alternating, but I'd like to establish a true #1 while also having a competent backup who isn't being thrown to the wolves if services are needed.

 

[ZYanksRule]

Yeah, I'd agree more so with this take than the ones completely writing off Applebee, especially considering the scenario that Kirsch should get hurt down the road. But I think matchups are definitely key. Like, there is no world where Kirsch is not in net at Penn State, but I could see Rand giving Applebee a favorable opportunity to shake off the ghosts against an Army at home. Then, maybe back to Kirsch for Providence. By then, if Kirsch is stalwart in two more challenging matchups, he's the no-brainer for league play and on.

I am typically not a fan of platoons and if you look at successful Bobcats squads over the years, the success came, in large part, because we had one guy in net. Hartzell, Garteig, Perets. We really haven't had that since the title season. There are some exceptions - Shortridge and Petruzzelli both were solid for a two year span, at times alternating, but I'd like to establish a true #1 while also having a competent backup who isn't being thrown to the wolves if services are needed.

Agree with that schedule and it's exactly what I was thinking for which games Kirsch should get moving forward. Applebee can (and should) get some starts against the worse teams in ECAC to keep him fresh and try to get him going, but if he continues with a 3.00+ GAA moving forward, it's going to be Kirsch's job.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Applebee put up good numbers behind bad teams at LSSU. I can't imagine he'd be any worse behind a good team. I want to think he just needs time. Team first and all that but he can't be relegated to the bench especially is Scopa isn't ready for prime time.

 

[QUAlum2004]

I talked to a former prominent Bobcat, and he thinks Kirsch is going to be Rand's lead horse. The Maine series was the test to see which goaltender could rise to the moment in a tough, hostile environment. One succeeded and one did not.

 

[QUAlum2004]

Applebee put up good numbers behind bad teams at LSSU. I can't imagine he'd be any worse behind a good team. I want to think he just needs time. Team first and all that but he can't be relegated to the bench especially is Scopa isn't ready for prime time.

Kirsch is going to be the lead horse. His upside is far greater than Applebee's will ever be. I think this race is very close to being over. To me they can't win a national championship with Applebee in goal with what I have seen in his two games. I am convinced they can win a national championship Kirsch in goal. Frankly the stats and the eye test don't lie. Go with the better goalie and ride him.