Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

[GreenBear]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

Congrats Dartmouth Big Green fans!!

Dartmouth--they lose games they should win, and win games they certainly should lose, like tonight's. Amazing it was 0-0 after UConn thoroughly dominated the 1st. I think they hit 3 posts. Dartmouth better in the 2nd, but gave up that shorthanded goal and I thought "Yeah, that's the kind of thing that loses games." Was ready to shovel dirt on them at 3-1. But them O'Connor scores on a shot that is saved 99 times out of 100, and Sam Hesler gets credit for a goal after review, and Foreman uses Gallant as a dummy and rifles home the winner...wow.

They're resilient, the Big Green. Have to give them credit for that. On to Princeton (and then Quinnipiac) and 4 very possible points on the road. But it won't be easy as it never is for Dartmouth.

 

[BIG Green]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

Dartmouth--they lose games they should win, and win games they certainly should lose, like tonight's. Amazing it was 0-0 after UConn thoroughly dominated the 1st. I think they hit 3 posts. Dartmouth better in the 2nd, but gave up that shorthanded goal and I thought "Yeah, that's the kind of thing that loses games." Was ready to shovel dirt on them at 3-1. But them O'Connor scores on a shot that is saved 99 times out of 100, and Sam Hesler gets credit for a goal after review, and Foreman uses Gallant as a dummy and rifles home the winner...wow.

They're resilient, the Big Green. Have to give them credit for that. On to Princeton (and then Quinnipiac) and 4 very possible points on the road. But it won't be easy as it never is for Dartmouth.

100% in agreement! Now let's be very clear, this is not a good trait! UCONN was definitely the more talented and skilled team but seemed to overpass which many teams like that do...looking for the pretty goal! I know they have a bunch of imports who looked really good with hands and feet! BG was left for the dead until that O'Connor harmless shot that trickled over the goalie. That changed the game leading to Foreman's deadly snipes!

Here's why they are not a top level team as yet, if they ever will! I think in the second period, they had tons of D zone turnovers and losing battles and coverages too easily, some of it unforced if you will. Just off the top of my head: Less with a weak blind backhand pass, Paul getting the puck taken in d zone trying to skate out, even their top pair on a PK with Palocik losing a battle behind the net and of all people Demler has clear possession coming out behind the net on his forehand to clear the zone and get a much needed change inexplicably puts his clearance right on to the tape of a U CONN player who now comes in on a vertical half d zone ice 2 on 1 with Demler facing it since he coughed it up. He commits and lets and pass get through him for an easy goal; Demler had seemed to correct or improve on that this year. Forwards had those issues too like Campbell, etc. Looks like Losurdo was a bit rusty!

Hopefully they can learn from this and not play not in and night out if they were playing for a coveted spot in LP. They certainly can take this as a positive! Go BG!!!

 

[GreenBear]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

I loved O'Connor at center with Gallant and Foreman. I'd keep it for the upcoming weekend even if Graber is ready to come back. So IF he is healthy, what does the team do with Graber going forward?

IF...and this is a big IF...that line keeps clicking, I wonder if moving him back to the blueline would be a possibility. No, seriously. Baker and Hesler have good chemistry with their lines, and I don't think Graber centering Campbell and Blankmeier would be the best use for him.

Good problem to gave I suppose.

 

[BIG Green]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

I loved O'Connor at center with Gallant and Foreman. I'd keep it for the upcoming weekend even if Graber is ready to come back. So IF he is healthy, what does the team do with Graber going forward?

IF...and this is a big IF...that line keeps clicking, I wonder if moving him back to the blueline would be a possibility. No, seriously. Baker and Hesler have good chemistry with their lines, and I don't think Graber centering Campbell and Blankmeier would be the best use for him.

Good problem to gave I suppose.

O'Connor at center, I am not sure! I do not believe he is a trained center. Couple of thoughts here: carrying the puck for sure, puck distribution ???, covering ice with his skating ability for sure, defensively responsible ???, crucial face offs ??? Bottom line your true score scorers should be your wing and should not be as responsible as a center defensively!

As far a Graber at D, I would spot/situational play him at D like they have the last few years but not full time as you will lose that scoring punch without him at center. That said, 3rd pair D has been a problem.

 

[BIG Green]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

BG starts off the second half of the season with a thrilling 4-3 OT victory against Princeton! BG starts off like gang busters and take an early lead thanks to great look and pass by Hesler to Strong with the nice backhand finish. Thus far I would have to say Sam Hesler is little offensively gifted and thinking than his older brother Carl who played a more safer game. Sam has been really good the last month which I really couldn't last year based on playing time (injured). If BG would have gotten that second within the first ten minutes of the game, the game would have been over but to Princeton's credit they came back and tied and actually carried the play for the rest of the first. Clark should have saved that first goal; it was a cross ice (3/4 of the width one-timer) with nothing really dangerous occupying his "read". Nice breakaway goal from Rutherford who's skills just has not translated this far at BG. Then BG scores on the PP going high to low. Princeton's D were not very good with lots of gaping holes/gaps/lanes whether vertically or horizontally. The they the top line of O'connor et al mucks a goal in OT to win it after giving up a gut-wrenching tying goal with 16 seconds to go.

Observations:
- Clark has got to be more consistent; I have been banging this drum for awhile now; he has the skills and talent
- O'Connor is NOT a center; there is just too many players with sticks and bodies for him to shine with his skating ability; puck management/distribution ???
- Less is showing tons of offensively ability which has not come out like this; I think paired with Matthews allows him to do this
- Palocik (my guy) and how dare I say it; a right handed Yau (same number #6) ; coming in as a freshmen and being very good; he might be offensively ahead of Yau at this same juncture
- Baker and Hesler can show the way with energy and effort
- 3rd pair D still a mess; what happened to Markell

Let's goooo BG and maybe catch Q on a downer after big thumping of Harvard!

 

[BIG Green]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

BG loses in convincing style 5-1 to the Q; Q was clearly the better team in all aspects of the game, including the intangibles last night is is troubling. BG barely outplays Q in the first then Q dominates thereafter. IF only and I know IF means nothing, BG gets a very juicy turnover minutes into the game right all alone in the high slot only to be stymied. Of note, couple of turnovers or near turnovers coming out from Q left D zone side might have changed the outcome or at the very least kept it more respectable IF capitalize. Also one in neutral zone leading to a odd man break. I will say that Q's first goal on the PP was NHL-caliber goal, from set, passing, to finish. BG has to fixed that through the box/diamond pass as it leaves Clark hung out to dry. Either the weakside F has to slide down quicker with stick in lane and/or weakside D has to detach from net presence F with stick in the lane then a possible block shot. Regardless, that goal given up was way too easy!

Quick hits:
- you can tell the difference in the skill between the two teams
- Q goalie outplayed BG goalie
- Palocik struggled, very understandable as a freshmen playing big minutes
- outcome here not a surprise as Q always play BG tough at home
- put this ONE loss and only one in the rearview mirror and regroup with lessons learned

 

[BIG Green]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

Well, it was an uneven weekend for the BG as they tie and underwhelming (at least on paper) and rally to beat BU! I did not see either game so i will leave that up to GreenBear, I hope. So as GB stated earlier and I would have to agree, that BG somehow plays down against the lesser teams and gets psyched up for the better teams. Now is that the coaches' fault, team leadership's, or players? I would have to say its a combo of each but predominantly the players but at this level and going up, its mostly between the ears and the left side of the sternum!

Quick Hits:
- Palosik continues to impress and rack up the points
- O'Connor/Forman/Gallant keeps getting better
- Graber is back at least for this one
- To rally against BU and their talent (draft choices) is awesome

 

[GreenBear]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

Well, it was an uneven weekend for the BG as they tie and underwhelming (at least on paper) and rally to beat BU! I did not see either game so i will leave that up to GreenBear, I hope. So as GB stated earlier and I would have to agree, that BG somehow plays down against the lesser teams and gets psyched up for the better teams. Now is that the coaches' fault, team leadership's, or players? I would have to say its a combo of each but predominantly the players but at this level and going up, its mostly between the ears and the left side of the sternum!

It was disappointing to tie at Vermont, but more than any of the choices you list, I think that was Stefanos Lekkas' fault. He earned UVM a tie: Dartmouth ran that game for most of it, but couldn't get the winner after tying it up. I don't think the effort was that different over the course of both nights: if BU had Lekkas, no way does Dartmouth come back from 3-0 down. Dartmouth was on the defensive much more against BU than they were against Vermont, but they were able to cash in their chances, and they generated quite a few: I don't want to make it sound like they were greatly outskated by BU as they really weren't. But they weren't at all against UVM, it was Lekkas. Even the tying goal at Vermont was one that Lekkas almost saved: he got a glove on it but couldn't keep it out--he came inches from stealing them a win.

No disrespect to Sam Tucker (or Ashton Abel who came in for him) but neither was at Lekkas' level, and I honestly think that was the difference more than how the BG approached the game.

 

[GreenBear]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

- Palosik continues to impress and rack up the points
- O'Connor/Forman/Gallant keeps getting better
- Graber is back at least for this one
- To rally against BU and their talent (draft choices) is awesome

-I really liked Connor Yau on the BG's blueline. But Paloscik is a level above.
-I don't think that top line is broken up even with Graber back. I think he may stick on defense, as I kind of threw out there earlier. That was just a guess on my part that came to fruition; I thought I was going out on a limb. Guess not.
-That was a great rally but BU is not as good a team as Dartmouth. They just have individuals with more potential who I think see BU as a 1-year internship before going pro. And I don't mean that to be hard on those players--they're future pros and if I were them, I'd be the same I'm sure. But it's a challenge to develop cohesiveness in a program when so many guys come and go quickly.

I'll add one more: I LOVE Less/Matthews on defense. They quietly do a ton of things well that doesn't always show up in the scoresheet, but prevents the opponent from showing up there instead.

 

[BIG Green]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

It was disappointing to tie at Vermont, but more than any of the choices you list, I think that was Stefanos Lekkas' fault. He earned UVM a tie: Dartmouth ran that game for most of it, but couldn't get the winner after tying it up. I don't think the effort was that different over the course of both nights: if BU had Lekkas, no way does Dartmouth come back from 3-0 down. Dartmouth was on the defensive much more against BU than they were against Vermont, but they were able to cash in their chances, and they generated quite a few: I don't want to make it sound like they were greatly outskated by BU as they really weren't. But they weren't at all against UVM, it was Lekkas. Even the tying goal at Vermont was one that Lekkas almost saved: he got a glove on it but couldn't keep it out--he came inches from stealing them a win.

No disrespect to Sam Tucker (or Ashton Abel who came in for him) but neither was at Lekkas' level, and I honestly think that was the difference more than how the BG approached the game.

Thnaks GB! That would certainly explain the tie with Lekkas standing on his head but if BG wants to be considered an upper tier team, they somehow must find a way to come out with a W.

 

[BIG Green]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

-I really liked Connor Yau on the BG's blueline. But Paloscik is a level above.
-I don't think that top line is broken up even with Graber back. I think he may stick on defense, as I kind of threw out there earlier. That was just a guess on my part that came to fruition; I thought I was going out on a limb. Guess not.
-That was a great rally but BU is not as good a team as Dartmouth. They just have individuals with more potential who I think see BU as a 1-year internship before going pro. And I don't mean that to be hard on those players--they're future pros and if I were them, I'd be the same I'm sure. But it's a challenge to develop cohesiveness in a program when so many guys come and go quickly.

I'll add one more: I LOVE Less/Matthews on defense. They quietly do a ton of things well that doesn't always show up in the scoresheet, but prevents the opponent from showing up there instead.

For sure, like I had mentioned I think Palocsik is ahead of Yau offensively and not quite as good defensively (man to man marking, reading plays) at the same juncture. I didn't know Graber played D in that game; if they continue to score maybe Graber stays back there but either way he give you that flexibility. Gallant is exactly what that top line needs...sandpaper lunch-pail mentality, puck retrieval, net front presence! And finally yes I am buying on the Matthews/Less D pair. I mentioned earlier that I never saw the O side of less come out but it has and a lot comes from Matthews as his partner. Actually, I thought Matthews has more upside offensively and I still think he does but it hasn't fully come out yet.

 

[BIG Green]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

BG slays the Knights with a thrilling 3-2 victory as it never trailed during the game. It was great that BG responded after giving up a goal right after the Knights scored but contrarily they have to tighten up and focus once they goal scored and Knights come right back and do the same. It's a learning experience which will bode well for them in the future. This was about as even a game as you are going to get and stats (not a big stats guy) will back that up. The forecheck of BG seemed to hem and trouble the Knights early on. Again the PP are giving up goals to easily with simple things as sticks not in passing lanes. For example, BG adapts and covers the weakside one-timer forward leaving the guy at the net unoccupied. But you are going to to that you had better get sticks in the lane which sticks weren't on the first goal. You maybe right on Graber playing the backend GB...this allows him to control the game a bit more! But in his next life of pro hockey if he chooses to do so he will be a forward. Interesting on switch on D pairings I assume based on Graber coming back. They had to break up their best pair in Matthews/Less. Does that mean Demler is on the 3rd pairing and obviously PK duties? More to come but let's go and know let down or playing down tonight!

 

[BIG Green]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

BG completes the 4 point weekend against the North Country team, beating St. Lawrence last night 3-1. As you would a expect, it was kind of a trap game where BG was coming off a huge win vs Clarkson the night before and it showed. The good news is that they won and bad news is that it was uninspiring against a less talented team. Graber again shows has talent that can make things happen on his goal but much credit should go to Strong who leaves the puck for a upcoming Graber to finish backhand forehand. On the first goal credit a great forecheck stick in lane to Rutherford who passes to strong for an easy slot goal. Ruhterford is heating up! Then O'Connor puts in a seeing-eye goal on the PP with good netfront presence from Forman. However, BG looked uninspired. In one sequence in the second, they must have had three careless turnovers in D zone, one by each of the D and one by a forward. That happens but against a more skilled team that's in the back of the net! But overall great weekend and the consistency seems to be geling.

 

[GreenBear]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

BG completes the 4 point weekend against the North Country team, beating St. Lawrence last night 3-1. As you would a expect, it was kind of a trap game where BG was coming off a huge win vs Clarkson the night before and it showed. The good news is that they won and bad news is that it was uninspiring against a less talented team. Graber again shows has talent that can make things happen on his goal but much credit should go to Strong who leaves the puck for a upcoming Graber to finish backhand forehand. On the first goal credit a great forecheck stick in lane to Rutherford who passes to strong for an easy slot goal. Ruhterford is heating up! Then O'Connor puts in a seeing-eye goal on the PP with good netfront presence from Forman. However, BG looked uninspired. In one sequence in the second, they must have had three careless turnovers in D zone, one by each of the D and one by a forward. That happens but against a more skilled team that's in the back of the net! But overall great weekend and the consistency seems to be geling.

Game with Cornell is one of the biggest at this stage of the season in a long time. And I don't think the Big Green should go in daunted by playing the Big Red in Lynah.

 

[BIG Green]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

Game with Cornell is one of the biggest at this stage of the season in a long time. And I don't think the Big Green should go in daunted by playing the Big Red in Lynah.

Yep, the biggest weekend of the season based on standings and previous head to head play! Colgate thoroughly spanked BG at Thompson and the next night BG holds on barely with a Big Red barrage to escape with a 2-1 W. I do not think anymore needs to be stated!

On another note, BG climbs in both the Poll and PW, rising to #20 and #19 respectively! Let's gooooo BG!

 

[GreenBear]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

On another note, BG climbs in both the Poll and PW, rising to #20 and #19 respectively! Let's gooooo BG!

If they can come home with 4 points--not easy by any stretch but also not out of the question--then the Big Green are conceivably in the conversation for an at-large bid with games at Clarkson and hosting Harvard coming up. And when is the last time we could say that?

Too bad they let a win at #18 PWR UNH get away....

 

[BIG Green]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

If they can come home with 4 points--not easy by any stretch but also not out of the question--then the Big Green are conceivably in the conversation for an at-large bid with games at Clarkson and hosting Harvard coming up. And when is the last time we could say that?

Too bad they let a win at #18 PWR UNH get away....

Yeah for sure GB! Being a realist and and not a Debbie Downer which I know I am not, 3 points here would be awesome. The Big Red will be doubly tough...revenge after first loss to BG and at home! The revenge should be in the form of Colgate , possibly their worst beat-down of the season.
Let's goooooo BG!

 

[Kepler]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

Game with Cornell is one of the biggest at this stage of the season in a long time. And I don't think the Big Green should go in daunted by playing the Big Red in Lynah.

You guys are our one loss. You obviously can play with us.

We're that same team you beat although lately the special teams have been perking up a bit. Dartmouth's aggressive forechecking worked well against our younger defenders (and against some of our seniors...). I expect Gaudet to have a very hard hitting style that keeps up all game. He and Schafer basically have ESP so these games are always fascinating.

Fun fact: Dartmouth has been by far the most difficult team for us to play in the last 25 years.

Good luck on Saturday against Colgate!

 

[GreenBear]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

Yeah for sure GB! Being a realist and and not a Debbie Downer which I know I am not, 3 points here would be awesome. The Big Red will be doubly tough...revenge after first loss to BG and at home! The revenge should be in the form of Colgate , possibly their worst beat-down of the season.
Let's goooooo BG!

I think any Dartmouth fan would be OK with 3 points. But unlike years past, it would be more "satisfied and OK with" than "happy about".

Neither team will be easy, but yeah, Cornell especially hungry after losing in Hanover. And even though Colgate hasn't maintained the success they had when they took 4 points in Hanover and Cambridge, they're a good team. Strange that they're better on the road this season, at least to this point. Hope it continues.

 

[BIG Green]

Re: Dartmouth Big Green Season 2019-20; Now or Never

You guys are our one loss. You obviously can play with us.

We're that same team you beat although lately the special teams have been perking up a bit. Dartmouth's aggressive forechecking worked well against our younger defenders (and against some of our seniors...). I expect Gaudet to have a very hard hitting style that keeps up all game. He and Schafer basically have ESP so these games are always fascinating.

Fun fact: Dartmouth has been by far the most difficult team for us to play in the last 25 years.

Good luck on Saturday against Colgate!

Thanks Keps and great to hear from you! While you know I always root for the BG but I have to be realistic here, you guys are lock-down at Lynah. Our goalie basically stole the first game at Thompson. Here's hoping for a great college ECAC game!