#6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

['MackFan]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

Knee to knee... why would anyone do that intentionally? You stand just as much of a chance of blowing out YOUR OWN KNEE.

As I said in the 'Mack thread, we may have to agree to disagree, and allow Hockey East league officials decide. Either way, I hope Da Costa recovers soon.

cheap players stick their knee out all the time. there is a way to do it without injuring yourself. you are bracing for impact and the other guy is prone and not bracing. Pretty simple really. and he stuck his leg out. no question

 

[goblue]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

Well, I don't usually venture score predictions, but I will here. Although it's somewhat counterintuitive given each team's home records, I say 'Mack beats us on our ice and we win down there. I don't see any kind of sweep by UNH, and it's more likely that MC could sweep us, or at least take 3 out of 4 points...


...That said, I'm sticking with my prediction:
Game 1 at UNH: MC wins 5-2, with an ENG
Game 2 at Merrimack: UNH wins 4-3 in OT

Well, my prediction would have come true, if not for the Merrimack bum who missed the empty net with a few seconds left . I hope I'm correct tonight -- MC is creeping (or leaping) up to the top of the pack. We need 2 points tonight.

And congrats, Merrimack -- your team played a patient, disciplined game, and beat us every which way. I just hope we can find a way tonight to split the weekend's points. Good job.

And though I was at the game last night, I didn't see what happened to DeCosta, but he sure looked hurt. At one point, as he was lying on the ice, he appeared to point the blade of his stick in the general direction of UNH players. I hope the injury, if there is one, was not intentional, and hope he is able to play tonight.

 

[goblue]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

Well done -- I'll give you the ENG since a Merrimack player had a wide open chance and threw it wide.

How let's hope your Game 2 prediction is right on.

Yup. He could have at least Nyquisted it.

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

I will say that Merrimack probably played the best game that any team has played this year at the Whit, better than BU. Not only is Merrimack big, but some of the guys up front can skate. Cannata is an excellent goalie, although I thought UNH missed some golden opportunities early on. A bunch of wide open looks, but no goals. I think Merrimack's defensemen can be had, but it will be pretty difficult on the small surface at Lawler/Volpe. UNH has had difficulty down there, even when they were clearly better than Merrimack. Now that the two teams are relatively even, I'm not terribly optimistic that the Wildcats can come away with a victory tonight. But that's why they play the games.

Re: the daCosta injury in the third period. When the collision occurred, my first comment was "leg check". It certainly looked that way. With no benefit of replay, it is hard to confirm that thought, but I did see daCosta sprawled on the ice, pointing his stick at DeSimone. That tells me something. Any early word on his condition, how long he'll be out? I would suspect it could be awhile, which would be a terrible blow to Merrimack's chances in the post-season. Hate to see stuff like this happen. As for DeSimone, I have never thought that he was a dirty player, mostly because he never gets in what Andy Brickley calls the "dirty areas." However he has been penalty prone the last couple of weeks and I am surprised he wasn't called on this one.

 

[goblue]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

So Merrimack gets a big win at UNH last night, solidifying their standing as one of the solid teams in the league if not the country. And what is the discussion about? The relative merits of cheap, greasy chicken wing and burger places. Wings Your Way, Fuddruckers? Been to both, never go back to either.

To get the discussion back on track, I will say that Merrimack probably played the best game that any team has played this year at the Whit, better than BU. Not only is Merrimack big, but some of the guys up front can skate. Cannata is an excellent goalie, although I thought UNH missed some golden opportunities early on. A bunch of wide open looks, but no goals. I think Merrimack's defensemen can be had, but it will be pretty difficult on the small surface at Lawler/Volpe. UNH has had difficulty down there, even when they were clearly better than Merrimack. Now that the two teams are relatively even, I'm not terribly optimistic that the Wildcats can come away with a victory tonight. But that's why they play the games.

I also can't believe that there is no mention of the daCosta injury in the third period. When the collision occurred, my first comment was "leg check". It certainly looked that way. With no benefit of replay, it is hard to confirm that thought, but I did see daCosta sprawled on the ice, pointing his stick at DeSimone. That tells me something. Any early word on his condition, how long he'll be out? I would suspect it could be awhile, which would be a terrible blow to Merrimack's chances in the post-season. Hate to see stuff like this happen.

Greg, apparently you haven't read the last several posts re: DeCosta. But I do agree with you about MC's game last night -- they were poised and moved the puck around very well. UNH looked as though they were in reactionary mode, similar to the way they played in much of last Saturday's game. And I don't know what the faceoff ratio was, but UNH clearly has a problem, based on what I've seen the last 3 games.

 

['MackFan]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

I will say that Merrimack probably played the best game that any team has played this year at the Whit, better than BU. Not only is Merrimack big, but some of the guys up front can skate. Cannata is an excellent goalie, although I thought UNH missed some golden opportunities early on. A bunch of wide open looks, but no goals. I think Merrimack's defensemen can be had, but it will be pretty difficult on the small surface at Lawler/Volpe. UNH has had difficulty down there, even when they were clearly better than Merrimack. Now that the two teams are relatively even, I'm not terribly optimistic that the Wildcats can come away with a victory tonight. But that's why they play the games.

Re: the daCosta injury in the third period. When the collision occurred, my first comment was "leg check". It certainly looked that way. With no benefit of replay, it is hard to confirm that thought, but I did see daCosta sprawled on the ice, pointing his stick at DeSimone. That tells me something. Any early word on his condition, how long he'll be out? I would suspect it could be awhile, which would be a terrible blow to Merrimack's chances in the post-season. Hate to see stuff like this happen. As for DeSimone, I have never thought that he was a dirty player, mostly because he never gets in what Andy Brickley calls the "dirty areas." However he has been penalty prone the last couple of weeks and I am surprised he wasn't called on this one.

I read today that they dont know. have to wait for swelling to go down i guess. that makes sense. When Brady had his injury didnt they have to wait like 2 or 3 weeks to go surgery because of swelling???? maybe he gets a mri today or something. maybe we know more tonight??? Who knows

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

Greg, apparently you haven't read the last several posts re: DeCosta. But I do agree with you about MC's game last night -- they were poised and moved the puck around very well. UNH looked as though they were in reactionary mode, similar to the way they played in much of last Saturday's game. And I don't know what the faceoff ratio was, but UNH clearly has a problem, based on what I've seen the last 3 games.

I edited after I first posted. Not sure how I missed a whole page of comments. To reiterate, I don't think of DeSimone as a dirty player but, at first blush, it was definitely a leg check. If there is video, there may be penalties assessed by the league. Not unprecedented, considering Bertagna suspended Diamond for goalie interference vs. BU. See how it plays out.

I have no idea why, but I agree that UNH looked like they were caught by surprise by Merrimack's intensity last night. The first 10 minutes were all Merrimack but after that and through most of the second, I thought UNH got their skating legs. They had a bunch of chances - DeSimone, Moses, Sislo - but couldn't even get the puck on net. They better not be surprised again, because the Merrimack style of play is what they are going to be facing from here on out.

To see the real UNH, it always comes down to February and March, doesn't it? I've been following them too long to have any illusions, we'll just have to see what these guys are made of.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

Hokydad??

and.

is and was.

ULF Samuelson was a puke and always will be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orQ-S7qw3pU


Still hard to imagine that piece of S*** robbed us of watching hm....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Grbwh3NUwFI

wow. did neely ever try to check anyone without hitting them in the head?!?! didn't realize how cheap he was. thanks hoky!!

 

[goblue]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

I edited after I first posted. Not sure how I missed a whole page of comments. To reiterate, I don't think of DeSimone as a dirty player but, at first blush, it was definitely a leg check. If there is video, there may be penalties assessed by the league. Not unprecedented, considering Bertagna suspended Diamond for goalie interference vs. BU. See how it plays out.

I have no idea why, but I agree that UNH looked like they were caught by surprise by Merrimack's intensity last night. The first 10 minutes were all Merrimack but after that and through most of the second, I thought UNH got their skating legs. They had a bunch of chances - DeSimone, Moses, Sislo - but couldn't even get the puck on net. They better not be surprised again, because the Merrimack style of play is what they are going to be facing from here on out.

To see the real UNH, it always comes down to February and March, doesn't it? I've been following them too long to have any illusions, we'll just have to see what these guys are made of.

Wel, as I said before, I never saw the contact between the 2 players, so I can't comment as to whether the hit was intentional. If it was, then DeSimone should be suspended, and if it was grossly intentional, then he should sit longer. There's no room for "intent to injure" in college hockey, or in sports in general (except, I suppose, in boxing.)

Remember -- it took HE nearly a week to check the tape of the Diamond transgression. I hope it is reviewed and judgment made before tonight's game, or it may get ugly.

 

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

cheap players stick their knee out all the time. there is a way to do it without injuring yourself. you are bracing for impact and the other guy is prone and not bracing. Pretty simple really. and he stuck his leg out. no question

Question to the UNH fans: has DeSimone ever struck anyone as a "cheap" player?

Re: the daCosta injury in the third period. When the collision occurred, my first comment was "leg check". It certainly looked that way. With no benefit of replay, it is hard to confirm that thought, but I did see daCosta sprawled on the ice, pointing his stick at DeSimone. That tells me something. I am surprised he wasn't called on this one.

Be careful, or you'll be accused of "thinking all the players are gods and never doing anything wrong".

and.

is and was.

 

['MackFan]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

Question to the UNH fans: has DeSimone ever struck anyone as a "cheap" player?


Be careful, or you'll be accused of "thinking all the players are gods and never doing anything wrong".

Didnt say Desimone was a cheap player. The question was why would a player do that? And my resposne was that cheap players do it all the time. It happens more than once a season in the nhl and other levels of hockey. Even in high school. Could be a first and one time incident for Desimone but lets not act like players never stick their leg out to make contact with another player. thats just sticking your head in the sand

 

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

Didnt say Desimone was a cheap player. The question was why would a player do that? And my resposne was that cheap players do it all the time.

Thus, my question, "is DeSimone that type of player"?

Could be a first and one time incident for Desimone but lets not act like players never stick their leg out to make contact with another player. thats just sticking your head in the sand

True, and already noted earlier in one (all?) of these threads.

 

[Yuppie Scum]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

And Matt, you're right . . . Merrimack is FAST.

Rhett Bly could give Appollo Ono a run for his money, kid is a lightning bolt

 

[Darius]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

Merrimack has won their season series vs., BC, BU, UML, NU, UVM. If they win tonight they add UNH to the list. They have 2 games remaining vs. ME, UMA in series they lead 1- 0 and PC in which they trail 0 -1. If they win tonight it is very realistic that they could win all their HE regular season series.

 

['MackFan]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

Rhett Bly could give Appollo Ono a run for his money, kid is a lightning bolt

I love Captain Bly! (anyone get that reference??) Bates is even faster. he was playing a lot earlier, no clue why he isnt now. kid is good too

 

[i'zonprize]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

Thus, my question, "is DeSimone that type of player"?

I don't beleive so, and have never seen him do anything close to this- but IF he did it, it wouldn't be the first time a frustrated player did something completely stupid. Wasn't this shortly after Phil hit the post behind a sprawled out Cannata, near empty net?

We may soon find out who would a replacement for Phil at center, should the league come down on him.

 

['MackFan]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

I don't beleive so, and have never seen him do anything close to this- but IF he did it, it wouldn't be the first time a frustrated player did something completely stupid. Wasn't this shortly after Phil hit the post behind a sprawled out Cannata, near empty net?

We may soon find out who would a replacement for Phil at center, should the league come down on him.

It was definitely after that play where he almost scored. not sure how long after it was. maybe 3:00 or 4:00???

 

[WildShawn]

I really hope it wasn't an intentional leg check, and if its deemed that way, he should sit, no question. Desimone has never struck me as anyone who wants to get involved physically. I don't know if it was frustration built up from missing the empty net earlier (I think like 10 min earlier) or getting drilled from behind with no call in the first (when he skated off gingerly), but there's no excuse for a knee to knee hit.... after seeing orpik's leg check on abbott in 01, ive always cringed at that kind of play.... from my angle (sec 102) there was no way to tell what happened but if it looked intentional, sit him down a few games...

 

[WildShawn]

AND most importantly, I hope dacosta is ok, and not out a long time. I will echo some thoughts from earlier but Merrimack was really good last night, from the net out.... anyone that says they're dacosta and cannata and a bunch of also rans is an idiot. They are stacked and the type of team that can make noise in the post season... id put them at 2nd best in the league behind bc.... after watching unh the last few weeks, I'm not sure they're in the same conversation.... after getting bown out at home by lowly vermont, I'm not sure the wins over maine are that impressive...

 

[Carmine Scarpaglia]

Re: #6 UNH, Home and Home with #12 Merrimack, Fri 2/11 Sat 2/12

Knee to knee... why would anyone do that intentionally? You stand just as much of a chance of blowing out YOUR OWN KNEE.

FWIW, I have to agree with you. Additionally, it's a totally reactionary type of play. It's one your taught over and over again but sometimes that natural instinct to get the leg out there gets the best of you.