Re: Crazy Cronin vists Timid Timmy Nov 12 and 13 How many more Maine injuries?
The NU fans are down on the team right now, and rightly so. 3 games against Atlantic Hockey teams at home, 3 losses, and they did not look good in any of them. Injuries have forced them to play freshmen forwards they would have liked to get broken in more slowly, and on defense losing two guys who would have started have forced them to convert a below par forward into an even more below par d-man, coming off a year he did not play at all due to injury.
That being said, this is the same team that gave BC all they could handle, and while they might have gotten a bit lucky against UNH with some pucks bouncing their way, did pick up a key tie at home. Taking away the 3 Atlantic Hockey losses, there is only one bad loss for them, and that was opening night against PC.
The key for NU is to stay out of the box, and to have Maine not take any penalties either. Maine could pull their goalie on a NU PP and they would not score, and it totally effects the way the team plays after the PP is over, they get down on themselves and carry it around for awhile. 5 on 5 this NU team can skate with anyone, and that is when they are at their best. Justin Daniels returned from injury last weekend which is big for NU because he helps balance this team down the middle. The senior class up front is slowly starting to get on a roll led by Steve Silva who has managed to stay out of the penalty box this year. Wade MacLeod, NU's leading returning scorer, is sitting on 96 career points, so there is a chance he gets to the century mark this weekend, he would do so in about 118 career games, which by NU standards, is amazing. The return of Steve Quailer after losing last year to a knee injury has not gone as we NU fans would have hoped, but he is due for a breakout weekend soon as he gets his feet under himself more and more.
The biggest surprise of the year has been the play of the kiddie core on defense led by 6'7 Jamie Oleksiak. He has probably been the only consistent player game in and game out for NU, and this being his first draft eligible year coming up, is playing like a kid who really wants to be drafted in the first round, Maine fans will be impressed. Anthony Bitteto has also been solid, though is still learning the refs and will no doubt spend at least 2 minutes a game in the box. In goal Rawlings has been good, not great. If I am Maine i just take nice and easy shots at his chest and blocker because if it hits him, he has no idea where it goes. He will probably get both games in goal unless there is a total breakdown one of the nights.
NU has not played good hockey the last two weeks. When they get scored on, their heads drop, and tend not to get lifted back up. When they do score, they forget to play defense again. Maine should probably sweep this weekend, but if injuries are going to force Maine to lose some guys, NU has a shot to pick up some points. Also, under Cronin, NU has played pretty well at Maine winning 3 out of the last 4, and NU typically plays better on the road. For whatever reason they seem to be more focused on the road and play more relaxed.
If the NU team that skated with BC and UNH shows up, its going to be a fun 2 games. If the NU teams that would finish last in Atlantic Hockey shows up, its going to be 10-0 mid way through the 2nd period both nights. I am looking for NU to circle the wagons this weekend and make a stand, pick up a tie on Friday, lose a close one on Saturday.
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Crazy Timmay?! AWESOME.