Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

[mmf]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Alaska and Western skated to a 2-2 tie last night, with the Broncos taking the bonus point in the shootout. One point is probably more than the Nooks deserved. I hope it was the long layoff, and I hope they can get back in game shape quickly. We looked slow, out of shape, and pretty bad all the way around. Nothing clicked and you could feel the player's frustrations also. Western out-skated and out-skilled our guys all night.


We uncharacteristically gave up a lot of odd man rushes and frequently turned the puck over ...

We skated a man down a lot in the first, but Greenham kept us in the game. The way we were playing we could have easily been down three goals at the first intermission...

But give credit to WMU, they skated well and Kuhn was strong in net...

Tarnanto got the first goal of the game on this PP opportunity, when he snuck it between Kuhn and the post...

Taranto's goal was assisted by Gens and Sova, but Granberg was usually be around the action and had a decent game...

Finucci scored an even strength goal later in the second, assisted by Granberg and Taranto...

The boys were trying hard, but we just looked slow and tired and didn't win many battles along the boards last night...

Even the winning shootout goal was painstakingly slow. Greenham appeared to have it blocked, but slowly kept sliding backwards, allowing the shooter to push the puck along with Greenham's pad until the puck crossed the line.

 

[BII]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Western was worried about their long lay off. They hadn't played since December 19th.

 

[mmf]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

We can only blame the layoff a little bit. We played our last series at Ferris on December 10th/11th. Our bye weekend was just before that so we did only have two games since Thanksgiving. But still, we got out-played.

Our offensive scheme is missing something. I'm not sure what that is since I'm no hockey strategist (other than the little round thing doesn't go into their net enough). I thought Western did a better job of transitioning to offense, ending up with more frequent odd-man rushes and higher quality scoring chances. We transition but our rush seems to fizzle out about three feet inside the blue line. Like most sports however, any strategy is a compromise, and if you concentrate on one aspect you are probably giving up a little something somewhere else. Again, I don't know what that might be. Western didn't seem to be giving up too much.

I also think our penalty kill is too passive. We have been somewhat successful, but I think we have been lucky. Western's PP was aggressive and kept us from setting up. Most teams we face seem to do that. Ferris was also very good at pressuring on their PK. We seem to collapse down low more than most. My shins hurt just watching some of that action. I won't take it personally if someone chimes and points how clueless I am.

I'm hopeful the team can pull it together down the stretch. Find that missing piece, that extra drive. No better time to start than back-to-back road games at Notre Dame and Michigan.

Go Nooks!

 

[Baumer]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Is there not any way to read the new article posted on Andy Taranto unless you purchase the yearly subscription for USCHOExtra?

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

We can only blame the layoff a little bit. We played our last series at Ferris on December 10th/11th. Our bye weekend was just before that so we did only have two games since Thanksgiving. But still, we got out-played.

Our offensive scheme is missing something. I'm not sure what that is since I'm no hockey strategist (other than the little round thing doesn't go into their net enough). I thought Western did a better job of transitioning to offense, ending up with more frequent odd-man rushes and higher quality scoring chances. We transition but our rush seems to fizzle out about three feet inside the blue line. Like most sports however, any strategy is a compromise, and if you concentrate on one aspect you are probably giving up a little something somewhere else. Again, I don't know what that might be. Western didn't seem to be giving up too much.

I also think our penalty kill is too passive. We have been somewhat successful, but I think we have been lucky. Western's PP was aggressive and kept us from setting up. Most teams we face seem to do that. Ferris was also very good at pressuring on their PK. We seem to collapse down low more than most. My shins hurt just watching some of that action. I won't take it personally if someone chimes and points how clueless I am.

I'm hopeful the team can pull it together down the stretch. Find that missing piece, that extra drive. No better time to start than back-to-back road games at Notre Dame and Michigan.

Go Nooks!

I hate being this pessimistic, but if this year's squad misses the NCAA tournament, it/we can probably look back at two weekends that cost us a trip to the dance: last week against Western, and at home against Northern Michigan back in November. Those series, at home, need to be big point getters, not these piddling one or two point weekends. What's kind of eerie too is that the WMU and NMU series were very similar: Friday tie, and shut out Saturday (I'll count the NMU game as a shutout since we scored with less than a minute left when it didn't really matter).

That said, we've come up with some big-cajones road games this season, so hopefully that carries on in South Bend and Ann Arbor the next couple of weeks.

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Big W tonight, both in terms of points earned but also how they responded to a tough L. They took it to ND and never let up. Another gut check win.

 

[mmf]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Pretty good weekend of hockey for the Nooks. Through my blue and gold glasses it looked like they more than held their own both nights. Played tough D, transitioned quickly, and even pressured more when on the PK. When they compete and bring their A game they can play with anyone.

Michigan is smelling blood in the CCHA race. If we thought ND was a tough match-up we haven't seen anything yet. Things get tougher down the stretch, and unlike in Fairbanks earlier in the year, the Wolverines will also break out their A game. The Nooks better be ready.

I wonder what the return policy is on the new glass and boards at the Carlson? Any chance we can return them and trade down to smaller ice? We seem to struggle more at home this year than on the road.

Go Nooks!

 

[Squarebanks]

Michigan at Yost is always a tough go. But if we can win at Miami and ND, we can pull some points out of Ann Arbor.

Pretty good weekend of hockey for the Nooks. Through my blue and gold glasses it looked like they more than held their own both nights. Played tough D, transitioned quickly, and even pressured more when on the PK. When they compete and bring their A game they can play with anyone.

Michigan is smelling blood in the CCHA race. If we thought ND was a tough match-up we haven't seen anything yet. Things get tougher down the stretch, and unlike in Fairbanks earlier in the year, the Wolverines will also break out their A game. The Nooks better be ready.

I wonder what the return policy is on the new glass and boards at the Carlson? Any chance we can return them and trade down to smaller ice? We seem to struggle more at home this year than on the road.

Go Nooks!

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

The Friday Michigan game is on live on Fox College Sports.

(and for the UAA stalkers on our thread, the UAA-Denver game is on after ours if any of you are Outside).

Always nice to see the Alaska schools on national tv, even if it's an obscure cable channel!

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Brutal weekend for the Nooks. I need a beer or four.

 

[AKJD]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

No kidding. Brutal roadtrip all around, to play even with, or better than, the other team for significant portions of all 4 games, and to only come away with 3 points... Well, that's just crappy. I watched the live stream for tonight's game, and there's no way that the Nooks didn't win that game. Except for the fact that they didn't.

On the plus side, it's seemed like the past few years, it's been pretty much 50/50 to have a complete blowout by Michigan, and a close game, regardless of who wins. At least this weekend, there weren't any blowouts.

If they can keep playing like they have the last 4 games, you've gotta think that they'll get rewarded with wins. Hopefully that starts next weekend

 

[mmf]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

I guess it's a good sign the team and the fans get little satisfaction out of going toe to toe with a good team but still losing. Trouble finishing along with no luck or bad luck is making for a disappointing season. Effort is good, but the results aren't. Unfortunately, that tag line is getting old.

I believe this was the first regular conference series that we haven't come away with at least a point in over two years. But I haven't double-checked that. If so, time to start a new run.

Go Nooks!

 

[streaker]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Alaska probably deserved some points this weekend, but that will even out in the future.
Friday night they didn't capitalize on their early chances and Michigan did.
Saturday night both teams seemed to have abandoned their defensive play at times, but UA clearly outplayed Michigan in the last half of the game.
The difference was, Michigan converted on a couple chances that they maybe shouldn't have and the Nooks couldn't finish a couple wide open chances and the gift 5x3 at the end of the game.

Hunwick outplayed Greenham, too- #1 star both nights.

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

If they can keep playing like they have the last 4 games, you've gotta think that they'll get rewarded with wins. Hopefully that starts next weekend

If (and considering the fact that we've been pretty inconsistent this year, it's a big "if") we put forth the same effort that we did against ND and UM, we'll win some games and pick up some points in February. The $64 question is if it's going to be too little too late.

Injuries aren't helping either. It sounds like Taranto is banged up again, among others.

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

I would also like to point out that this weekend breaks a two-year streak of getting points in every CCHA weekend. And it would have been every weekend, period, if not for the anomaly against UAA in 2009. While it's no fun having it end, I think we should all have a toast to Coach Ferguson and the guys because that was a heck of a streak when you think about it. I've been following Nanook hockey for about 12 years now and I can promise that I never would have envisioned us being this consistently competitive in the CCHA even five years ago.

I'd be curious to know what (or if) other CCHA teams have had a similar run in recent years.

Good job, guys.

 

[streaker]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

If (and considering the fact that we've been pretty inconsistent this year, it's a big "if") we put forth the same effort that we did against ND and UM, we'll win some games and pick up some points in February. The $64 question is if it's going to be too little too late.

Injuries aren't helping either. It sounds like Taranto is banged up again, among others.

I heard that the kid that Moffatt boarded (ahem, he lost his edge, too) Friday night has a separated shoulder, but played last night.

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

I heard that the kid that Moffatt boarded (ahem, he lost his edge, too) Friday night has a separated shoulder, but played last night.

Aaron Gens was the player Moffatt boarded.

 

[mmf]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

You had to be a fan of the game to enjoy tonight's hockey match-up with OSU. If lots of scoring, raucous crowds, and entertainment value are your thing, then you were probably sorely disappointed. Taranto's tip in* about 20 seconds into OT in a 0-0 game was about the only time the crowd woke up. A decent crowd, but deadly quite.

But it was a hard fought and evenly played game. Not the best played, but hard fought. More offensive chances than you might think in a scoreless game. The Nooks looked like an injury laden team who had been on the road a couple of weeks. You have to give them credit. They were struggling but found a way to win.

Both goalies played well. Heeter made some good saves. Greenway saved our butts. We did a pretty good job of not giving up quality chances at full strength, but Greenham came up big a number of times when we were a man down. Both goalies stopped a couple of wide open break-aways.

The Nooks got the lucky bounce and the 3 points. And we needed it. And we need it again tomorrow.

Go Nooks!

*Edit: By tip in I mean a lucky bounce off his shoulder or something.

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

What a heck of a goaltenders duel last night. Kind of ironic that after all of that the GWG was a little trickler that I'm sure Heeter would love to have back.

Should be an interesting matchup tonight. After watching last night's game, OSU is definitely no pushover and I suspect they will make some adjustments. Be ready...

 

[mmf]

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Re: Alaska Nanooks, 2010-11 Season Thread – Global disruption...

Tough defense and solid goaltending. It seems like most the conference is like that. We have three teams drifting a little toward the top, two drifting a little toward the bottom, and six teams in a blender. If this keeps up the last weekend of conference play should be a barn-burner.