It has been quite a ride since my last post and now Lowell finds itself in a very interesting predicament. If a loss was in the cards and was going to benefit this team with creating a little adversity then last night was the game to lose. Over the 7 game winning stretch I really saw some positive signs that this team had finally found their identity and realized their strengths and weaknesses and were playing to them. Then we saw last night, which some of it can be attributed to the lay off and lack of timing but was a case where this team reverted back to many of its old tendencies. Not sure where this needs to land in terms of players and/or coaches but obviously this team was not prepared properly both mentally and from a proper game plan against UNH coming off a 2 week break.
I have previously stated my observations but again we saw how this Lowell team struggles against teams that clogs the NZ and then collapse in front of their net and that is exactly what UNH did last night. They did not generate much of a forecheck nor anything of the cycle down low but were content and sitting back and being opportunistic in creating turnovers and creating some offence off the rush. During the 7 game winning streak, the teams that Lowell played did not play this style and that includes the 2 game set against UNH because they played very differently. During that streak, the couple things that stood out for me was that they limited the turnovers in the NZ where they could actually attack with speed and support. They then chipped and spotted pucks where they could actually get first touches and support and then make strong plays to the net. The number of plays and goals that were scored from bringing the puck from behind the goal and or to the net front demonstrated this. The main key to this was a physical presence on the forecheck which translated into winning battles in the corners and in net front. Last night we saw very little of this and a team that was content on playing on the periphery with a mind set that they were so skilled that they could pass it into the back of the net.
Quite frankly Lowell needs to be cleaner through the NZ on both sides of the puck. The game against BU was one of their better games defensively in the NZ in terms of staying in their lanes and above the puck and opposing forwards and then angling and also coming back with back pressure. Last night we didn't see much of that. They coaching staff and players talk about playing fast though the NZ but they need to be able to receive passes cleanly and with speed and support in order to set up their entries and attack. Finally they need to have a physical presence on the forecheck and create some layering at net front. Last night they either didn't not have someone at net front or didn't have the second layer to gather the rebounds that went past the player at the top of the crease.
Finally a challenge has to go out to the leadership group and the best players on this team. If you want to be considered a legitimate first line, receive the accolades of being Hober Baker candidate and some of the best forwards and defencemen in the league then you have to show up when the games mean the most. It is easy to
score goals and put up points against teams that are in last place, ranked 50th in the nation and when the score gets run up in your favour. It is another thing to be the best and impose your will when the games mean the most and championships are on the line. You can't be a minus player and be a non-factor in these type of games.
This will be the challenge individually and we will see if Lowell truly has the mindset and determination to play with the identity that highlights their strengths. No need to panic as I believe and hope we will see a different team tonight with a different outcome.
