Re: Boston University: 2010-11 part I - "so...you're saying i get a calendar??"
Re: Boston University: 2010-11 part I - "so...you're saying i get a calendar??"
I was pretty disappointed in the result because there's no way that game should have been close. BU blew them out of the water in the first period, then came out for the second and progressively packed it in for the rest of the night. I think someone mentioned shots were 20-7 at one point and next time they looked, it was 25-20 in favor of UMass. They picked it up again for the second half of the third but by that point, it's nearly impossible to turn things around, especially when you've given the other team confidence like that. I don't know if it was a conscious shift in strategy to try to take the air out of the ball (rubber out of the puck, in this context?) or if it was that dreaded over-satisfaction with the results to that point, but after reading great quotes from the captains about effort and intensity and things being different this year, I felt it looked awfully similar to last year, albeit with better goal tending. I was going to make a half-joking comment about how maybe Trivino's and Chiasson's playing time should be limited seeing as how the two suspended players come back and I perceived such a drastic difference between this weekend's game and last weekend's games, where I think Notre Dame's coach commented on BU playing so hard right to every whistle. Then I read the message board and see other people are commenting on Trivino's coasting ....
As for individual players, I agree with the people who thought Coyle played well - I like that first line. I like the fourth line, too. I don't mind Courtnall playing, I think while he might not be a threat to score, he brings a lot of energy and some emotion. I think he is more effective in that regard than Santana but that is Santana's game, too, so I was a little surprised to see both of them out there. I think Gilroy gets in if Parker's looking for more offense out of that line, or if a forward on another line gets injured for a game or two, Gilroy will get plugged into that spot. If he's looking for more a more defensive line or physical presence, it's going to be the line we saw last night.
The other two lines weren't too impressive in my mind. Chiasson and Trivino possess the puck well, make solid plays and passes, dig it out of the corners and keep it moving and cycle well, but that's about it. They might not get scored on much, but I don't see them scoring much either. There's just not much offensive flair there right now. And it's the same thing with the third line. I guess Parker is hoping Nieto and Gill bring that flair and maybe they will when they get some more experience. And if they do, I think the lines might work because Chiasson and Gaudet, based on last year, should be able to handle scoring 15 goals each this season. Nieto kinda stunk last night, after he scored his goal until he had that nice chance near the end. Gill didn't suck but wasn't as good as last weekend either. Consistency is one of those things that will come with more experience.
Defense wise, I like Riukka and Noonan. Quiet, not flashy, but solid. Clendening is going to need to develop that consistency like Gill, but when he does, I think we'll all be very happy with him. Nicastro has continued to be unimpressive; it seems like he took a step backwards. If you have to sit someone to get Rosen or MacGregor a game, it'd have to be Nicastro at this point.
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