It's an unfair assessment of this team to call for a collapse at this point. They are battered and broken; they played last night with 5 defensemen and 12 forwards and that was essentially it.
It's also unfair to say that Komm has been ridden too far without the trust of the backup goalies. You have a senior goalie like Branden Komm, you ride that card as long as humanly possible until it reaches the end. To be honest, I expected Komm to sit out next Saturday against AIC at the very end for a rest because he will have started every single game. If Bentley has sealed up a bye (they only need 2 points), he likely won't play in Springfield. As a goalie playing that many minutes, he's far and above the best goalie in the league. Regardless of trust issues or whatever you speculate, playing someone else is putting the team at a worse position than when he's in there. Not a knock against Doc or Antoni; Komm is just that good. So you play him every night until the ride ends. It ended Saturday.
Sacred Heart is not a bad team. Last year, they'd get a 3-1 or 4-1 lead on a team, give up a goal, and they would go to hell. In 2013-2014, they still take those goals and go from 3-0 to 3-2, but they have a new atittude to shut the door. Bear in mind that the 4th goal was on the back end of dueling too many men penalties. Also, Bentley missed open nets. I finally have a good case study to review this week, and I'll have more details on it this week that while a loss and sweep, this isn't a knock against Bentley.
This is a preseason 10th place team that is still in 3rd, 2nd all season. Bentley last year was overrated as a 4th place team. Bentley this year was underrated as a 9th place team. Ultimately, I remind people that you're never as good as when you kill teams, and you're never as bad as when you get swept. The glass is still 75-80 percent full as opposed to 25-20 percent empty.
. Bear in mind that the 4th goal was on the back end of dueling too many men penalties. Also, Bentley missed open nets. I finally have a good case study to review this week, and I'll have more details on it this week that while a loss and sweep, this isn't a knock against Bentley.
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Good article for USCO.com today, Dan. But, how are you doing in the pick 'em contest with your fellow AHA columnist? Have not seen those tallies lately.
I plan to be at my favorite Div 1 hockey rink for Seniors Night this Friday. Falcons need to stay out of penalty box on Friday night, avoid too many men on ice or embellishment calls, and let the Yellow Jackets go the box for their overly physical play. Bentley is within 1% of best PP in Div 1; they need to make the most of this advantage in lieu of 5-5 goals, and play team D in front of Komm.
Should be nearly a full house at the JAR tonight.
Transcript of a conversation in the lift line at Mammoth today, between me and the guys behind me, one of whom was wearing a BU hockey sweater.
Me: "I take it your a big BU fan."
BU: "Absolutely, both of us were when we were undergrads."
Me: "Tough year with the departure of Jack Parker."
BU: "We're still good. You must be a BC guy."
Me: "No, actually Bentley. We've got a pretty decent squad this year."
BU: "Ha. Do they actually have a team? I thought they were a bunch of skinny bean counters."
Me: "Yeah, it would really suck to lose 4-1 to a bunch of skinny bean counters."
BU: (Blank stare. Gets out his iPhone)
Guy behind him: "I believe that's called a 'burn'."
USCHO posted attendance at 1095; is that a record for the JAR? Falcons Nest students were great in their chants tonight, with "It's all your fault" at the AIC goalie, "You can't do that" at the AIC penalty takers, a creative Miranda rights chant at one AIC penalty taker, and "Gloria" for the Bentley president who made an appearance.
Big offensive night for Grieve with 2 goals and 2 assists, Blomquist with 3 assists, and Gensler with a goal and an assist to move up to 4th place for points in Div 1 (Grieve now tied for 7th). But, more important, Bentley played excellent team defense in front of Komm, who also had a fine game tonight. All of Bentley's 5 unanswered goals were at even strength. At least third place, first round bye, and home ice for second round now assured for post-season.
Nice final regular season home game for the 7 seniors and their parents honored at the beginning of the contest.
I'm still checking if it's a record.
That's awesome! It's great way to close out the regular season, and a huge positive looking ahead to next year. I think there were a lot of people who were attending their first game, and everyone seemed to have a great time. The playoff series will unfortunately occur over Spring Break so we can't expect that kind of crowd for next weekend. However, I know the dorms will be open and some students are planning on coming back early on Friday the 14th for the series. If it went to a game 3, everyone would be back on campus and we could probably get the place packed again, but let's hope that isn't necessary!
