BU '23-'24 Season: Pandomania

[BU93]

Hey, at least we won’t have to worry about PWR all season.

It appears that way right now, huh? I’m somewhat confident we won’t be this way the whole season, but I’m totally shocked with how this season has started.

 

[chickod]

This seems emblematic of teams that have a lot of high end talent. It’s a tough job to get all these guys who have been dominant at every level to subjugate their personalities for the team. You can tell just by the way they carelessly sling the puck around that they think everything will work like it does in practice. But the worrisome thing is one would have thought they learned that lesson after last weekend. Apparently it will take a few more beatdowns before they do.

 

[Bomber]

They’re just going through the motions now. Zero give a shit.

 

[chickod]

They’re just going through the motions now. Zero give a ****.

Another worrisome characteristic. I’ve harped on this for 14 years. You need a MIX of lunch pail guys and high end. Like the ‘09 team. Guys that never quit become infectious. Players that are used to winning all the time tend to coast when things get tough. Which I could never understand. They look like they’re not even having fun. There is NOTHING like playing a sport that you love. It’s better than working. These are college kids. I just don’t get it. What I would have given to be talented enough to have an opportunity like they have. They need an attitude adjustment. Big time. Quickly.

 

[chickod]

And until they DO gel, they need to make the simple play as opposed to the difficult one until they get to play with each other more.

 

[J.D.]

The QU, Harvard and Cornell are decent/good teams. The rest are trash (RPI, Yale, St Lawrence, Union, Dartmouth, Clarkson, Brown).....

This was what I was getting at. The top of ECAC is solid but top to bottom Hockey East is a stronger league.

 

[BU93]

What’s Jay going to say tonight?

 

[Bomber]

Looks like Lane got concussed.

Team needs a heart transplant.

 

[mookie1995]

Bring Back Albie!!!

 

[RossiRules]

Sadly, for some reason building sports teams at any level in most any sport with the best draft picks ever seems to work out well. Especially in college hockey. Making a hockey team is kinda like making a recipe from scratch it's a secret dish some ingredients are prime, some perhaps good/fair others are likely a bit generic. It's what the ingredients do for each other that makes a successful dish. The coach well he's really just a cook. The ice is just a pot. My feeling is downgrade for a few lesser in ingredients that create the right cooking chemistry. Things may change but not rapidly, it's going to take time.

 

[theprofromdover]

Bring Back Albie!!!

Yup.

 

[defkit]

I guess I am in the minority - I thought they played better last night than last weekend. I didn't see the U18 game but against UNH and against Bentley they were just terrible - no breakout at all, giving the puck up WAY to much, nobody knew where to go with the puck. I thought last night they had more flow and had stretches where they were the better team (up until Hughes' penalty, and most of the third period). They still lost by a wide margin and they have a lot of work to do. But I saw progress. There was more flow to their game, they only got hemmed into their own zone for a long stretch once or twice.

- No, I don't want Albie back thank you. I have faith this staff will get these guys going int he right direction.
- I don't see this team as being a bunch of prima donna draft picks with no lunch pail guys. There are a lot of upperclassmen on this team, they just aren't playing to their capability yet. Stevens, Peterson, Zabaneh, etc. Do they need to start hitting more, yes.
- Celebrini is the youngest player in the country and he is showing it with some of his ill advised passes (though one of them last night was a whiff). But his skill shows through and he will get his share of goals and points.
- The defense is still struggling, and they really miss Fensore. Willander is the best d-man on the team already. Case and Gallagher have to find their games. Aidan C. looked a little shaky last night, unlike last weekend. Need consistency from him, especially if Lane is going to be out.
- Need to change up the Power Play. If Lane is hurt, that may force our hand and actually help us find a different formula that works.
- Caron has made some great saves but has also been leaky. We need more out of him to carry us through this rough start.

 

[meauxmo]

I guess I am in the minority - I thought they played better last night than last weekend. I didn't see the U18 game but against UNH and against Bentley they were just terrible - no breakout at all, giving the puck up WAY to much, nobody knew where to go with the puck. I thought last night they had more flow and had stretches where they were the better team (up until Hughes' penalty, and most of the third period). They still lost by a wide margin and they have a lot of work to do. But I saw progress. There was more flow to their game, they only got hemmed into their own zone for a long stretch once or twice.

- No, I don't want Albie back thank you. I have faith this staff will get these guys going int he right direction.
- I don't see this team as being a bunch of prima donna draft picks with no lunch pail guys. There are a lot of upperclassmen on this team, they just aren't playing to their capability yet. Stevens, Peterson, Zabaneh, etc. Do they need to start hitting more, yes.
- Celebrini is the youngest player in the country and he is showing it with some of his ill advised passes (though one of them last night was a whiff). But his skill shows through and he will get his share of goals and points.
- The defense is still struggling, and they really miss Fensore. Willander is the best d-man on the team already. Case and Gallagher have to find their games. Aidan C. looked a little shaky last night, unlike last weekend. Need consistency from him, especially if Lane is going to be out.
- Need to change up the Power Play. If Lane is hurt, that may force our hand and actually help us find a different formula that works.
- Caron has made some great saves but has also been leaky. We need more out of him to carry us through this rough start.

Well said. Felt the same way. Need to get an early lead and not let up!

 

[chickod]

Sadly, for some reason building sports teams at any level in most any sport with the best draft picks ever seems to work out well. Especially in college hockey. Making a hockey team is kinda like making a recipe from scratch it's a secret dish some ingredients are prime, some perhaps good/fair others are likely a bit generic. It's what the ingredients do for each other that makes a successful dish. The coach well he's really just a cook. The ice is just a pot. My feeling is downgrade for a few lesser in ingredients that create the right cooking chemistry. Things may change but not rapidly, it's going to take time.

+1000 What I have been saying for years (and have been repeatedly criticized for).

 

[Bomber]

They’re flashing their talent tonight and look like they’re having fun playing hockey. But, man, Caron looks lost out there.

It will be interesting to see how they play the next 20. A PP goal would be nice.

 

[BU93]

Great bounce back win for sure. Puck was jumping in the net tonight. I too thought offensively we played ok in the first game, but the puck wasn’t getting into the net. Defensively not so much. Caron seems a little jumpy and can’t cover the puck sometimes- needs to work on that. Hopefully he gets more comfortable as the season goes on, or we won’t be able to win consistently. I’m not sure about the backup Graham, but he probably deserves a shot at some point - maybe next week against his old team? He did have a 2.34 and .921 last year in 8 games.

At least we got the split. It certainly was the minimum we needed this weekend.

 

[meauxmo]

Next two weekends are huge for the PWR.

 

[Bomber]

What’s Jay going to say tonight?

Whatever he said, it worked! : )

Listen, I'm still concerned about their cohesiveness as a team and their ability to be stout in their own end. Oh, and the goalie is off to a rough start. But last night we saw what they are capable of skill-wise. I mean, talk about beautiful goals... Celebrini's first *Eye Bulge* Quinn's first. Tuck ripping it 5-hole. The grandson with an epic tip. Great stuff.

They have had UMass's number of late (Even under Albie.) It will be an interesting weekend of hockey. Speaking of weekend's of hockey... Lots of interesting results this weekend, including BC selling out Conte. #Impressive

BU Hockey: Play For Each Other

 

[defkit]

Great win on many fronts. They took a fluke goal (Quinn's shot hit a skate up high that changed it's trajectory just enough to fool the goalie) and for once turned up the pressure themselves and didn't let up until the game was comfortably in hand. Bomber is right - that tip by Lachance may be the best tip I've ever seen at any level. I love how Celebrini attacks the net and the center of the offensive zone. And his brother bounced back with a strong game.

I wondered if one of the back-up goalies or Page would see any time late in the third, but my guess is Jay decided that getting Caron and the freshmen defensemen as much ice time as possible for confidence was more important.

 

[mookie1995]

oh no, we don’t stink again!!