2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

[dwb]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

after being talked down from the ledge on friday night,it sure was great to see the win on sunday.every goal was beautifully set up,especially the the power play tallies.terrific game--what a great turnaround--very impressive indeed.

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

Thoughts for the weekend?

At the Gutt, MC has never gone 5-0 to start the season, and the team should have some confidence and be on a high... I see this weekend as a split.

 

[irishfan85]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

Thoughts for the weekend?

At the Gutt, MC has never gone 5-0 to start the season, and the team should have some confidence and be on a high... I see this weekend as a split.

Merrimack fan here. I'll admit I watched a few minutes of the Friday night game at Minnesota during our intermission and thought "wow UVM really does stink" after seeing the score of the exhibition game against the U-18 team. Then I watched the game on Sunday. More impressed. I see a split, as well.

 

[Cat lover]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

For the third straight game to start the season Vermont plays a team that is undefeated with at least 4 wins, that a combined 13-0 records of those three teams.

Not sure what to think of Merrimack yet(Or UVM for that matter) as they are 4-0 but those teams are combined 4-10-4 with 2 of those 4 wins coming against eachother.

The range between Fridays and Sundays game is so large you have to think we will see something in the middle most nights with some games like Sunday thrown in, hope we never see Fridays effort again.

I actually have hope for the powerplay after seeing those goals on Sunday as they were not our usual point screen PP goals but instead great passing plays. Paliotta pass to start Brickleys's second goal while not the last pass was still impressive as it was right thru the box which I cant see many of our D's trying in the past. That and the slap pass to McCarthy were 2 of the better point passes i have seen in a long time and they both were in the same minute.

Also big props to Reynolds on taking on 2 Minn players and still making a drop pass to set up PP goal #2, the top 2 lines if they can stay together look to give us some balanced scoring that would help get this team back in the right direction.

 

[midge843]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

For the third straight game to start the season Vermont plays a team that is undefeated with at least 4 wins, that a combined 13-0 records of those three teams.

Not sure what to think of Merrimack yet(Or UVM for that matter) as they are 4-0 but those teams are combined 4-10-4 with 2 of those 4 wins coming against eachother.

The range between Fridays and Sundays game is so large you have to think we will see something in the middle most nights with some games like Sunday thrown in, hope we never see Fridays effort again.

I actually have hope for the powerplay after seeing those goals on Sunday as they were not our usual point screen PP goals but instead great passing plays. Paliotta pass to start Brickleys's second goal while not the last pass was still impressive as it was right thru the box which I cant see many of our D's trying in the past. That and the slap pass to McCarthy were 2 of the better point passes i have seen in a long time and they both were in the same minute.

Also big props to Reynolds on taking on 2 Minn players and still making a drop pass to set up PP goal #2, the top 2 lines if they can stay together look to give us some balanced scoring that would help get this team back in the right direction.

Stalberg also had a really good game. I think McCarthy needs to have more consistency though. This team still worries me defensively and on the PK right now.

 

[icewarrior]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

Thoughts for the weekend?

At the Gutt, MC has never gone 5-0 to start the season, and the team should have some confidence and be on a high... I see this weekend as a split.

The Warriors have a lot to prove and are hungry. As we all know, special teams continue to play a pivotal role in the outcome. I believe that if MC can stick to playing hockey and stay out of the Sin Bin, they will sweep the Cats this weekend.

Hard fought battle either way. Vermont is always tough to play as evidenced by the dead even record over the last 12 games between these two teams (5 wins each and 2 ties). The Home Team has had the advantage with the Cats only losing one game at the Gutt. But then again, Maine wasn't planning on getting beat at home this year by the Warriors.

Watching statistics is nice but watching the games is far better! Anxious for this weekend as it is sure to be great hockey.

 

[snwbrdr]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

I have no idea what to expect out of UVM but you have to think that:

1. They got a lot of confidence out of the comeback win on Sunday
2. Some of their go to guys are off the schneid and know they can make things happen. Stalberg, McCarthy and Brickley in particular exceled on Sunday. Now they need help from Decenzo and Lenz and they need Roos back from injury as he is talented also.

3. They are VERY young and that is going to be a detriment against experienced teams

Ultimately I hope we see two good games and the cats come out with a couple of points at least.

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

Stalberg also had a really good game. I think McCarthy needs to have more consistency though. This team still worries me defensively and on the PK right now.

I thought the D was a bright spot. Both games, and that's hard to say with fridays game. But Friday from what I saw Madore wasn't great and there was ZERO offense. Tough to play D for a solid 60 minutes. Sat when the offense was kicking in they looked pretty good. Paliotta looked great for a frosh and Mackenzie and Bruneteau and Franzon I don't see D being a huge problem. On the PK they were 7 for 10. That's not great but it's not terrible either against a top 10 team.

 

[jcarter7669]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

I have no idea what to expect out of UVM but you have to think that:

1. They got a lot of confidence out of the comeback win on Sunday
2. Some of their go to guys are off the schneid and know they can make things happen. Stalberg, McCarthy and Brickley in particular exceled on Sunday. Now they need help from Decenzo and Lenz and they need Roos back from injury as he is talented also.

3. They are VERY young and that is going to be a detriment against experienced teams

Ultimately I hope we see two good games and the cats come out with a couple of points at least.

This

 

[snwbrdr]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

I see the Free Press says Nilsson Roos returns tonight while Leonard, B. Bruneteau, and MacKenzie are game time decisions. Bruneteau looked decent last weekend until getting hurt. Mackenzie has been disappointing thus far, but still has plenty of time to turn it around, Leonard always plays hard and will be missed if he's out. Getting Roos back will be nice though.

 

[snwbrdr]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

I thought Friday nights game was pretty even except on the scoreboard. UVM had a number of grade A scoring chances, hit the post at least 3 times, and Cannata was amazing. Basically Mack finished their chances and UVM did not. Not sure where the mystery calls were on Paolotta and Reynolds to give the Warriors a 2 man advantage but that was the game. No puck luck for the cats at all, they better make their own luck tonight. Cannata is clearly better than Madore so the Cats have to overcome that. Cats skating with 7 freshmen and 4 sophomores, very young. Only 2 seniors skated Friday.....

 

[sterlippo1]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

what was up with the empty seats last night? very un-UVM-like

 

[GreenCat]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

I thought Friday nights game was pretty even except on the scoreboard. UVM had a number of grade A scoring chances, hit the post at least 3 times, and Cannata was amazing. Basically Mack finished their chances and UVM did not. Not sure where the mystery calls were on Paolotta and Reynolds to give the Warriors a 2 man advantage but that was the game. No puck luck for the cats at all, they better make their own luck tonight. Cannata is clearly better than Madore so the Cats have to overcome that. Cats skating with 7 freshmen and 4 sophomores, very young. Only 2 seniors skated Friday.....

Agree, thought it was pretty even (watching on the UVM live feed which isn't great). Did not see the second penalty on Mountain to make it a 5x3 nor did the commentators and the initial penalty was weak as well on Paolotta. I hate it when refs feel they have to interfere in a game that is going along fine and impact the outcome. Cannata looked good. The Mack was pretty even keel the whole game and just got it done in the end.

 

[HOCKEYGUY23]

Agree, thought it was pretty even (watching on the UVM live feed which isn't great). Did not see the second penalty on Mountain to make it a 5x3 nor did the commentators and the initial penalty was weak as well on Paolotta. I hate it when refs feel they have to interfere in a game that is going along fine and impact the outcome. Cannata looked good. The Mack was pretty even keel the whole game and just got it done in the end.

Merrimack is good, very good. I was somewhat disappointed with some forwards. Stalberg and Brickley pumped in a goal this weekend, nothing from McCarthy. He is really inconsistent. I assume maybe that's why he was never drafted from US team. He along with Brickey and Stalberg, must be impact players for this team to succeed. None of those three can be anything less then that. All in all though, team will be solid.

Defense gave up too many breakaways. Vazzano looked good.

 

[UVM Cat in Texas]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

Vazzano looked good.

Agreed, with the exception of that 3rd goal. I don't know what the heck he was thinking coming that far out to challenge the shooter. Turned out to be the difference in an otherwise tight game.

 

[Cat lover]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

Friday we dressed 12 underclassmen so considering we have played 4 undefeated teams I dont feel hopeless but it will take time. Also
the loss of Mckenzie left our D with 3 freshman, 1 soph, 1 Junior and 1 senior who if not for an injury would be on the bench so we
cant be surprised by the erratic defense. The 3 freshman look ready in the Offensive end but clearly are having a hard time adjusting
to the speed D1 forwards have, thus the many up the middle breakaways and getting beat 1 on 1 way to much.

 

[uschokid]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

I still have hope for this team as any true uvm hockey fan should. Coach sneddon has incredible abilities to turn teams around and we'd better believe that we'll end the season with one of the top goaltenders in the nation.

 

[snwbrdr]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

Which goaltender is that VAzzano or Madore? Madore has not given up a a "bad" goal yet but he has not made all that many difficult saves either, reference their respective save %'s and we have no claim to strong goaltending (see Maine last season).

Overall I remain somewhat optomistic - they did not get any bounces vs. Merrimack (see puck bounce over Reynolds' stick on the potential tying tip in with extra attacker Saturday night) and probably deserved a better outcome than being swept. They also really suffered with the previously mentioned lack of MacKenzie and resulting inexperience on D.

The D moves the puck much better on the PP than last years team. I think Brickley, Stalberg, McCarthy and B. Bruneteau are all going to have decent offensive years. Maybe Reynolds also, he's had some opportunities. They are VERY young, they need some other sophs or frosh to step up. They also need to play with a sense of urgency against everyone and not play down to lesser talented teams. We'll see how that plays out at PC this weekend, I'm hopeful but also getting used to disappointment.

 

[Toronto_1]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

Thankfully, UVM recruit Anthony De Luca is tearing up the Quebec MAAA hockey league (http://www.rds.ca/midgetaaa/chroniques/329228.html). Maybe some day John Micheletto will get his head out of his *ss and realize that recruiting bottom feeders from the USHL ('cause the bluechippers ain't coming to UVM son) does not equate to competitiveness in Hockey East. Then he might go back to where Vermont is supposed to be good -- Quebec (St. Louis, Perrin, Boyce, Ducharme, Perrault, Draper, Tremblay, Mitchell) and Canada. Think that Dartmouth degree might give him a clue?? Apparently not.

 

[Cat lover]

Re: 2011-12 Vermont Season Thread (Vezina & Conn Smyth trophy edition)

Looking toward this weekend does anyone else think we might see both goalies.

I would quess Madore Friday and unless he has a incredible game AV on Saturday.