Re: 2009-2010 UNH Wildcats Season
As for the game - funny how unpredictable hockey is. UVM outplayed UNH on Friday night and lost. Tonight, UNH outplayed UVM, particularly in the 1st and 3rd periods and in overtime and they tied. Madore was unbelievable. One of his dozen or so amazing saves had him doing a total split, like a gymnast, with the puck lodged underneath...well, use your imagination. How he didn't earn the first star is beyond me. The refs were atrocious in the third period, not calling four blatant penalties on UVM. I was pleased to see Hardowa get some ice time on defense. You can count on him to take the body when he's in the corner which is preferable to waving at the puck - an unfortunate habit of some other D-men.
Pretty amazing parity in Hockey East. If UNH plays throughout the playoffs with the intensity they had tonight, they'll do fine.
Re: Madore - I recall a few point blank saves in the second, on Speelman(breakaway) and DeSimone(1 timer from Thompson on the goal line - PP) that could have been difference makers. We'll they were i guess as they kept UVM in it.
Those non-tripping calls we absolutely horrendous, maybe 1 or 2 you could say that maybe UNH stepped on a stick, but all 4??? It's funny, because sandwhiched in between the non-calls(blown calls) DeSimone gets a slashing penalty in the defensive end, giving UVM a PP.
Re: Parity - Yes, not only in the league, but accross the country. Just look, Michigan and MInny are hardly TUC teams. Save for BU's recent surge they wouldn't be in the picture either. Miami has almost no competition in their league.. Denver is a stud team, THAT is for sure. My take is that outside the top seeds you might as well not even pay attention to the seedings.. It's wide open. And even then.. the top seeds will be vulnerable.
Looks like the top 3 lines are set.. I think maybe Umile was giving guys a shot last night on the 4th line. One note: Speelman - I can say now that I'm sold or at the very least looking for him to have a good upturn in production next yr. He was skating hard, with purpose, had good positioning going into the corners and going to the net and got himself a few Grade A chances last night. Last two games I thought were completely different than what I saw earlier in the season. Maybe some time off was exactly what the dr. ordered, pun indended! Not sure if others noticed either or have differing opinions.
UVM did a great job of getting in the lanes
Lastly, UNH goes from an 11th to a tie for 7th in PWR over the weekend. Things can change fast. Still need to close out the season strong.
My 1 criticism: It appears tough to get your PP going when you are dumping and chasing into the zone an not the first ones to the puck, additionally, when you are, you arent' going to generate shooting opps when the game plan is to have 5 guys stand still. Makes it easier for the D to get in lanes, when the lanes aren't moving!!
