Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

[IrishHockeyFan]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

Hey guys, remember when we were both like top 10 in the Pairwise?

*screams*

Almost makes me wonder who the Western sweep of Notre Dame hurt more, Western or Notre Dame what with the vagarious nature of the PRW.

So, early predictions on gpalie changes this weekend? none, one, two? More than two?

 

[ND1]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

So, early predictions on gpalie changes this weekend? none, one, two? More than two?

How about Joe Rogers. He hasn't been on the goalie yoyo and might have a little confidence left. Plus I liked to see what he could do.

 

[Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres.]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

I've had a few moments of clarity brought about by a killer flu (either that or I was delusional), and have decided I'm disappointed in myself for losing faith in this team already. This is not 2010. This is 2012. This team is not plagued by injury. This team does not have a prima donna. This team does not have misguided leadership.

What this team does have is healthy players, huge victories and 2 of the top 4 scorers in the league. What this team does have is a great opportunity to get out of this tailspin. 5th place and a bye is a distinct possibility given some of the matchups left and the fact that teams have games in hand against OSU, the current 4th place team.

Notre Dame and Miami are quite similar in many respects this season. Both had high expectations. Both have had bad stretches. Both have had good runs.

ND is 16-13-3 overall. Miami is 17-13-2. Both are tied for 7th in the league. ND scores 2.75 GF overall (2.5 in league play) and gives up 2.78 GA (2.58 in the league). Miami also scores 2.75 GF overall (2.46 in the CCHA) and gives up 2.25 (2.21 in the league). ND's PP is still sharp at 19.4% overall (18.3% in the CCHA) while their PK still struggles at 81% (79% in the league). Miami's PP is struggling at 13.5% overall (struggling even more in the league at 8.5%) while their PK is solid at 85% (85.1% in the CCHA).

ND has 4 players with at least 20 points overall, led by T.J. Tynan with 38. In the CCHA, ND has 2 players above the 20 point mark (Anders Lee being the other who also leads the team in G's with 14 and PPG's with 6). Miami has 2 players with at least 20 points overall, led by Reilly Smith with 30. He also leads the team in G's with 21 and PPG's with 7. Smith is their only player cracking the 20-pt. mark in the league.

Mike Johnson (.889, 2.59) and Steven Summerhays (.887, 2.93) could still split time in net, with Johnson getting the nod Friday. Both goalies' numbers are slightly better in league play. Cody Reichard (.898, 2.51) and Connor Knapp (.925, 1.81) have basically split time in net. Both goalies' numbers are also slightly better in the CCHA.

Special teams, GF and records are basically awash. While we have more scorers than they do, they have a goalie who is head and shoulders better than ours. Friday's game is on t.v., so we'll get to see what aspects stand out for each team in an otherwise even playing field.

And Jesus said unto them, "Because of your unbelief: for truly I say unto you, 'If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, Remove from here to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.'" Matthew 17:20.

 

[RedhawkBandMan]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

Special teams, GF and records are basically awash. While we have more scorers than they do, they have a goalie who is head and shoulders better than ours. Friday's game is on t.v., so we'll get to see what aspects stand out for each team in an otherwise even playing field.

At 6-foot-6, he's head and shoulders taller, too!

Your weekly stat breakdowns are always great, JJfP. These are two HUGE games for both teams so I'm looking forward to watching some playoff-atmosphere hockey!

 

[IrishHockeyFan]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

If we can see a huge improvement from just one of the areas we are lacking, we can see some success over the final two weeks. But it's going to take a great finish to salvage a decent spot in the standings. 3-1 will at least keep us from having to travel for the playoffs, if my look at who plays who is correct. 4-0 would get us a bye no matter what and would give us an excellent chance at 4th place, again because of who plays who.

But something needs to break Notre Dame's way to have any success like that, and break big time. The penalty kill needs to have a shutout weekend. Or the goalie (and Mike Johnson is getting both starts -- but remember I'm always wrong about the goalies) will need to put up a couple of 30 save, 1 or zero goal games. Or Anders Lee will have to say enough is enough, no goals in 20 of the last 21 games is completely unacceptable and have 3 or 4 multiple goal games. Or the entire team can take advantage of the CCHAs most penalized team and net 4 or 5 power play goals this weekend. Something has to go right in an off the charts sort of way to shake this team out of its doldrums.

Any of that just seems like a tall order from the squad I've seen recently. The team that I saw against Minnesota, BU or BC could certainly do it. The team I saw against Ferris State or Bowling Green doesn't have a chance. Does this team have what it takes to impose their will on the final two weeks of the regular season?

 

[LSSULaker889294]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

What's wrong with you guys?

 

[Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres.]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

What's wrong with you guys?

The team has given up. Or they are simply satisfied with the shiny new home, thinking that's the pinnacle. Or they can't score a goal. Or they give up too many goals. Or their goalie sucks. Or the coaching staff can't make the proper adjustments. Or they feel that a few signature wins is enough to satisfy fans (or themselves). Or they don't care about playing smart, competing for 60 minutes and making the big plays. Or it's all of those.

In this 4-game losing stretch, ND is averaging .75 G/game. In that same stretch, they are giving up 3.5 G/game. Let me put that into a frightening perspective: Bowling Green, arguably one of the worst D1 teams this season is averaging 1.5 G/game in their last 4 games and is giving up 3.25 G/game. And they have a win in their last 4.

The hallmark of this team used to be their defense (and from that came quality offense). They have been outscored in the first period 35-22. We have given up the first goal of the game 19 times. After ND came out and played pretty even with Miami for the first 2 1/2 minutes of the game, Miami took a "throw it on net" kind of shot from a really bad angle and Mike Johnson let in the first shot he saw. ND then spent the next 8 minutes trying to regroup, white-knuckling their sticks and all was lost. I can take a goalie giving up a softie. Jordan Pearce and David Brown let in a few stinkers now and then. But how many times have our current goaltenders let in goals on the first shot they faced? Or the first shot of a period? Or 2 of the first 5 shots of the game? Miami put 15 shots on Mike Johnson and scored 2 times (their 3rd was an ENG). That's a save % of .866. I wouldn't have a problem if that were an anomaly. But Johnson's season save % is .888. How can ND expect to play their style when they fear letting one puck get through to the goalie? Knowing that they will have to score a minimum of 4 goals lately to have any chance at winning is a lot of pressure.

Granted that does not excuse the lack of offense lately. Three-quarters of a goal a game is unconscionable.

ND is now 21st in the PWR. 9th place in the league is a very distinct possibility. Believe it or not, 5th place is also a distinct possibility, but it would pretty much require us to win our last 3 games. Given what I just typed, I don't see that happening. I can't believe my predictions after the first loss to FSU last week (ND won't win 2 more games, won't get a bye and won't make the tourney) are likely going to come to pass.

What the hell happened?! If the current team thinks the new digs, the new conference, all the draft picks and peaking in November then coasting for the rest of the season will cut it, I want the team from Jeff Jackson's first year here because that team worked their tails off in the 2nd half of the season. They didn't have the talent level, but they gave us hope for the future of the program. I want the team that played in the dump across the parking lot. I want the team that had a NC in their sites. I want the team that didn't rest on their laurels (whatever those were). I want the team that didn't think they were all that and a bag o' chips. Because this team sucks right now. 9th place is so far beneath their capabilities that they should give up 9th place to UA(F) or BG and be okay with last place.

 

[IrishHockeyFan]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

What's wrong with you guys?

I have to wait for the excuses before I know what's wrong. But since the local paper doesn't cover road games and Notre Dame sports information doesn't seem to seek out the coach for quotes following lackluster losses, I guess we won't know that until the local print and internet media meet with Jackson next Tuesday.

To me it's laughable that this team could be scratching and clawing trying to hold on to 8th place with 3 games left in the season. I wonder if Notre Dame was counting on selling 10,000 playoff tickets this season? The playoffs always come at break time for the students, but Notre Dame has managed to pack the CFIA a couple of times this season even with the students away. If they were counting on Jeff Jackson to deliver a home playoff series and this team fails in what is arguably a pretty modest measure of success in this league, the athletic department won't look kindly on that. This is Notre Dame after all. The $$$ does mean something to them. Why else would they play 8 home football games a year? It isn't like you're ever going to see them playing Western Michigan at Waldo or Tulsa at Chapman Stadium. And this after the bath they took hosting the NCAAs in Fort Wayne two years ago.

Oh well. Thank God they've got the solid training facilities at the Compton. Imagine how awful they'd be if they still had to play in that dump on the other side of the parking lot.

Wow. I feel real bad now. My daughter -- who is enjoying life in Alaska now with the USAF -- just sent me a text pointing out that our favorite hockey team couldn't even score as many goals against Miami as Alabama-Huntsville. And UAH has scored 37 goals all year. According to IHF's kid "tht sux." What can I say, the SSgt is as acerbic as her old man.

 

[MUnRPI]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

To me it's laughable that this team could be scratching and clawing trying to hold on to 8th place with 3 games left in the season.

Miami tied for 5th place. Ferris St. running away with league title. Who could have guessed.

 

[NotreDameFan27]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

The topsy turvy trend in the CCHA this year really messed with Notre Dame. I think Notre Dame expected to walk away with the league title and when things went bad they, psychologically, didn't know how to respond. This year is lost.

 

[Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres.]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

Miami started this weekend with a PP that succeeded a hair over 8% of the time in league play. They went 28.6% for the series against ND. Mike Johnson's save % for the weekend was .856.

Now in the last 4 games, ND has averaged a half a goal/game. They have given up 3.75 goals/game. Their PK has sunk to new lows also, going 75% in the last 4 outings. Their PP is stagnating at 11.8% in those 4 losses.

We now can finish no higher than 6th place, but 9th place is breathing down our necks. MSU will be coming to South Bend protecting a first round bye. Northern plays at home next weekend to aim for home ice in the first round. I believe 9th place is ours for the taking.

We have our first 5 game losing streak since Dave Poulin's last season as head coach. You remember that year, don't you? The year we sucked.

 

[IrishHockeyFan]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

We have our first 5 game losing streak since Dave Poulin's last season as head coach. You remember that year, don't you? The year we sucked.

Wait a minute. I thought this was the year we sucked.


Is this the most disappointing team Notre Dame has ever fielded? Or does the 2005 team hold permanent title to that? If not, is it still the oddball 2009-2010 season? Or perhaps even one of the earlier CCHA teams or one from the past life in the WCHA? What say the rest of you?

If the current tailspin continues to the end of the season we're looking at a 16-19-3 record, virtually identical in terms of winning % to 2010's 13-17-8. Those of us who lived through Poulin's last season all know how truly horrific that was to watch, but that team lacked everything this team has. Everything. 2010's team started out hurt, continued to get hurt, and really only recovered physically to the greatest extent when there were perhaps 3 weeks left in the regular season. This team started out ranked number 1, beat by my count 6 different teams that have spent time either ranked number 1 in the polls, were number 1 in their conference, or have spent time as the number 1 team in the PWR.

My vote is this team. We have two classes of players and an entire coaching staff who lived through a year of dysfunctional hockey and appear to have learned little from it. I'm starting to really believe the team got all starry eyed with the success and the recognition and what I consider the increasingly stupid Onward To Victory. And our coaching staff and captains have so far completely failed to find a way to reel them all in and demand some accountability.

I am shocked by Jackson and the rest of the staff's inability to figure out anything remotely resembling solutions to the myriad problems this team has faced within games. The goaltending issues alone are enough to make you crazy. But the lack of 5-5 scoring, the complete ineffectiveness of the penalty kill, and just when it was the last thing to hang some hope on, the nearly complete disappearance of the power play. Throw into the mix the lack of self control the team has begun to show and the collapse is all but complete.

I think this team quite simply became full of themselves. And there seems to be a complete lack of leadership anywhere in sight to keep that from happening or stop it if it starts. Look at the situation. The football team sucked again. The prospects for the men's basketball team looked mediocre even for the most optimistic Irish fan once Tim Abromaitis went down. The women's soccer team had their most difficult season since the arrival of Randy Waldrum over a dozen years ago. The students make no effort to support a fabulous women's basketball team. But here's the hockey team, coming off an unexpected trip to the Frozen Four. Then the excitement of the preseason #1 ranking for hockey. The new building. People begging for hockey tickets on message boards and Stub Hub prices in the hundreds of dollars or more. A 10-2-3 record and God only knows how many people telling them "this is the year." Onward To Victory. The spotlight has so far proven to be too hot to handle.

 

[Irish83]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

IHF -- You need to state what you really think!! JK Those were ALL excellant thoughts. After the last two weekends I'm having second thoughts on my earlier posts. What is the solution to the 5-5 scoring? Do you think the PP unit is comprised of too many different lines which in turn seems to change the normal shifts for the next 5 mins. until the process starts over again? Am I grasping at straws? It is hard to figure what can be done to score more GOALS!

 

[IrishHockeyFan]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

IHF -- You need to state what you really think!! JK Those were ALL excellant thoughts. After the last two weekends I'm having second thoughts on my earlier posts. What is the solution to the 5-5 scoring? Do you think the PP unit is comprised of too many different lines which in turn seems to change the normal shifts for the next 5 mins. until the process starts over again? Am I grasping at straws? It is hard to figure what can be done to score more GOALS!

I think the solution to the 5-5 problems is the same as in any facet of scoring. Efficient puck movement, smart shots and crashing the net. It's only gets easier on the PP because you have one guy floating around the net who should potentially be uncovered. To the extent Jackson has changed up his PP units I don't have a problem. He's at least tried a different look when things were failing miserably. But from what I've seen over the last few weeks, Notre Dame is rarely doing the fundamental things necessary to score, even strength or otherwise. We've stopped skating as a unit. I've seen individual players change dramatically how they play the game over the last couple of months. A dozen or more unforced turnovers have dramatically limited a number of scoring chances before they could even begin. Puck support has been awful. Guys want to hit defensively, but they don't seem to want to work that hard in the offensive zone. Why? And an unforgivable number of attempted shots off target.

Tynan and Lee needed to snap out of their developing funks a long time ago. Early on Tynan was on a pace to equal his 2010-11 production by the end of the regular season. 23 points in 15 games, and only 13 in the 18 since. His play has changed tremendously over the last couple of months. So many bad decisions with the puck, especially on the power-play. He has just 4 PP points since the Minnesota game. Forced passes into traffic, bad angle shots when extending the forecheck is a better option, missing open skaters in favor of Lee when he is covered and in a horrible slump. Add to that lately a lack of control over his emotions. He's been assessed 9 penalties in the last 11 games after just 7 in his first 21. With the way things have gone lately I don't know how much it would have mattered, but I'd like to have had Tynan on the ice for another 10 or 12 minutes since things have gone sour. It couldn't have hurt, and those 10 or 12 minutes have impact beyond just the time you kill penalties.

Lee is just a mystery. In November this guy was well on his way to a CCHA MVP type of season and an almost assured spot as a Hobey finalist. Remember, the Hobey folks are as impressed with goals and size as much as any NHL scout. His goal scoring touch is so invisible now, I've thought of calling on some buddies in the U.S. Marshals Service office to see if it was entered into the Witness Security Program. This a game of cliches, and your goal scorers need to score goals. I think any player who fails to score a goal in 22 of 23 games while playing on the top two lines and getting first unit PP time is a mystery. When the guy in question had 33 goals in his first 55 NCAA games, and 12 goals in his first 11 games this season, it becomes a prime factor in how this team has tumbled to a place no one in their right mind would have seen even as recently as the first Michigan game. I'll admit that to my laymans eye, Lee looks like he's playing his game more or less like he always does. But Jackson and Pooley are alleged to have more ability than I have to figure these things out. How they haven't found a way to get him beyond whatever basic issue is preventing him from scoring is beyond me. I don't believe in luck. There are real, hockey related issues behind his struggles.

Of course none of this matters when you have goalies who let in goals on the first shot they see. Or 3 goals in periods when they face just 8 or 9 shots. Part of the goal scoring struggle is when you think you need to score 5 every game you become unable to score more than 1 or 2. I think everyone agrees on the negative mental aspect of thinking you have to do too much.

The second half of this season has been an utter disaster, and nearly every single skater, goalie and coach has played their fair share in it. Some stand out more than others because of understandable expectations in their level of play. And it's magnified by some horrible seasons by a few guys who should have been counted on to pick up the slack when the top scorers struggled. A couple maintained their game. Few stepped up theirs. One who does stand out is Riley Sheahan. Anyone who reads my posts can probably figure out I've loved this kid since his freshman year. He quietly gets better all the time, he's perhaps the best two way player in the CCHA, and he's a solid person. Last year's team had four or five guys like Riley Sheahan who stepped it up, most notably Ryan Guentzel. Included in that mix are a few who are on the team still. Outside of Sheahan, none of them have taken up the slack.

Too many questions and far too few answers.

 

[Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres.]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

How about Joe Rogers. He hasn't been on the goalie yoyo and might have a little confidence left. Plus I liked to see what he could do.

He can't do much worse. And since the team has played in front of him for less than one period, they may play more to their style rather than whatever the style is they've adopted lately.

Is this the most disappointing team Notre Dame has ever fielded? Or does the 2005 team hold permanent title to that? If not, is it still the oddball 2009-2010 season? Or perhaps even one of the earlier CCHA teams or one from the past life in the WCHA? What say the rest of you?

I would say this season. Virtually no injuries. Great start. 09-10 had neither of those aspects. I want to go to the Q & A tomorrow with Coach Jackson, but I'd be afraid I would stand up and scream, "What the hell happened?!" At the very least I might ask if the team is planning on showing up for this last weekend. If they aren't I wonder if I could get my money back for the tickets...

Also, there is no truth to the rumor that NBCSports is producing a sequel to Onward to Victory titled Downward to Oblivion.

 

[NDgolden]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

I think the solution to the 5-5 problems is the same as in any facet of scoring. Efficient puck movement, smart shots and crashing the net. It's only gets easier on the PP because you have one guy floating around the net who should potentially be uncovered. To the extent Jackson has changed up his PP units I don't have a problem. He's at least tried a different look when things were failing miserably. But from what I've seen over the last few weeks, Notre Dame is rarely doing the fundamental things necessary to score, even strength or otherwise. We've stopped skating as a unit. I've seen individual players change dramatically how they play the game over the last couple of months. A dozen or more unforced turnovers have dramatically limited a number of scoring chances before they could even begin. Puck support has been awful. Guys want to hit defensively, but they don't seem to want to work that hard in the offensive zone. Why? And an unforgivable number of attempted shots off target.

Tynan and Lee needed to snap out of their developing funks a long time ago. Early on Tynan was on a pace to equal his 2010-11 production by the end of the regular season. 23 points in 15 games, and only 13 in the 18 since. His play has changed tremendously over the last couple of months. So many bad decisions with the puck, especially on the power-play. He has just 4 PP points since the Minnesota game. Forced passes into traffic, bad angle shots when extending the forecheck is a better option, missing open skaters in favor of Lee when he is covered and in a horrible slump. Add to that lately a lack of control over his emotions. He's been assessed 9 penalties in the last 11 games after just 7 in his first 21. With the way things have gone lately I don't know how much it would have mattered, but I'd like to have had Tynan on the ice for another 10 or 12 minutes since things have gone sour. It couldn't have hurt, and those 10 or 12 minutes have impact beyond just the time you kill penalties.

Lee is just a mystery. In November this guy was well on his way to a CCHA MVP type of season and an almost assured spot as a Hobey finalist. Remember, the Hobey folks are as impressed with goals and size as much as any NHL scout. His goal scoring touch is so invisible now, I've thought of calling on some buddies in the U.S. Marshals Service office to see if it was entered into the Witness Security Program. This a game of cliches, and your goal scorers need to score goals. I think any player who fails to score a goal in 22 of 23 games while playing on the top two lines and getting first unit PP time is a mystery. When the guy in question had 33 goals in his first 55 NCAA games, and 12 goals in his first 11 games this season, it becomes a prime factor in how this team has tumbled to a place no one in their right mind would have seen even as recently as the first Michigan game. I'll admit that to my laymans eye, Lee looks like he's playing his game more or less like he always does. But Jackson and Pooley are alleged to have more ability than I have to figure these things out. How they haven't found a way to get him beyond whatever basic issue is preventing him from scoring is beyond me. I don't believe in luck. There are real, hockey related issues behind his struggles.

Of course none of this matters when you have goalies who let in goals on the first shot they see. Or 3 goals in periods when they face just 8 or 9 shots. Part of the goal scoring struggle is when you think you need to score 5 every game you become unable to score more than 1 or 2. I think everyone agrees on the negative mental aspect of thinking you have to do too much.

The second half of this season has been an utter disaster, and nearly every single skater, goalie and coach has played their fair share in it. Some stand out more than others because of understandable expectations in their level of play. And it's magnified by some horrible seasons by a few guys who should have been counted on to pick up the slack when the top scorers struggled. A couple maintained their game. Few stepped up theirs. One who does stand out is Riley Sheahan. Anyone who reads my posts can probably figure out I've loved this kid since his freshman year. He quietly gets better all the time, he's perhaps the best two way player in the CCHA, and he's a solid person. Last year's team had four or five guys like Riley Sheahan who stepped it up, most notably Ryan Guentzel. Included in that mix are a few who are on the team still. Outside of Sheahan, none of them have taken up the slack.

Too many questions and far too few answers.

,
Here is my three cents worth and observations on a few points you touched on. Too often the casual fan simply looks at stats and assumes things that simply are not the case. It should be noted that despite Tynan and Lee's long developing scoring funks as you noted have continued to lead the team in points and goals during this incredibly bad stretch. When Calle Ridderwall wasn't scoring goals he certainly wasn't setting up goals. A true goal scorer. To Lee's credit while at one point in the season sat at 12 goals and 3 assists continued to work through a very difficult stretch and now is second on the team in assists, and leads the team in primary assists at 13. For comparison Tynan who leads the team in assists with 27 has 9 primary, with the majority of his points generated off of the powerplay and given his tendency to control the puck will naturally pile up the secondary assists. The professed magic of Tynan and Lee been incredibly over rated. If Notre Dame is to find additional secondary scoring Tynan and Lee will have to find their way with other combinations. Lee has had success with Guentzel, Sheahan, Maday and others. For some reason it is Tynan who has not been able to be effective without Lee on his line and that seems to concern Jackson and his impatience at trying to find additional working line combinations. It is my opinion that ND will not have a chance at secondary scoring as long as Jackson plays these two together. for example Ryan Guentzel had more primary assists on goals to Lee than Tynan..... Of Lee's 38 goals 5 have been set up by Tynan. On the flip side Lee has set up Tynan 12x. Despite all that they have combined for 69 points so far. The simple fact that Lee still leads the team in goals at this point is all the information you need to realize this problem is not related to a just a few individuals not being able to score.

The perfect storm of what can go wrong has gone wrong, and right now no answers seem in sight. The last time this team scored 5 goals was against BU and Johns and Tynan were still at Worlds.

Other than that I have no answers, I feel for everyone close to this program. I can only be hopeful for the next weekend. A collective prayer for Irish Icer's would be welcomed.

 

[IrishHockeyFan]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

,
It should be noted that despite Tynan and Lee's long developing scoring funks as you noted have continued to lead the team in points and goals during this incredibly bad stretch.

I realize they're still the leaders on the scoring charts, but I think that's mainly because the team has stopped scoring. They had built up a cushion in the first 15-20 games. If this season had more than the 4 games left that they are assured, I doubt they'd continue to lead much beyond that point, unless they found a way to turn it around.

To Lee's credit while at one point in the season sat at 12 goals and 3 assists continued to work through a very difficult stretch and now is second on the team in assists, and leads the team in primary assists at 13.

Actually when Lee scored his 12th goal in the Alaska series, he also had 5 assists. His game will always be about goals more than distributing the puck. He's collecting assists at about the same rate as he did last year, and if you subtract his best weekend, it's a little worse. I don't place the same premium on first or second assists as some do. As an example I note the OT game winner against BC. Calabrese made the more difficult play IMO. Without his stick check and settling the puck, then flipping it to Lorenz before he could be checked off of it, Lorenz would have never made the play he did. Yet Lorenz is credited with the "primary" assist. Over the course of a single possession, all five skaters will likely touch the puck, even on an odd man break. I think any one play that leads to a goal is as important as any other. In fact sometimes the most important part is played by someone who doesn't even get credited with an assist or a +/- point. You can finish a check that forces a turnover and make a shift change before your teammates are finished with a scoring play.

The simple fact that Lee still leads the team in goals at this point is all the information you need to realize this problem is not related to a just a few individuals not being able to score.

Again, when no one else is scoring, Lee will continue to lead by default. And believe me, I don't think for a second the play of late is related to just a couple of players who can't score. Hell, our scoring defense and penalty kill our currently dead last in the CCHA. Think about that. On a note I have struck a lot lately, with the talent on this team both on the ice and behind the bench, Notre Dame should not be dead last in any statistical category.

My biggest concern is the system-wide failure we are witnessing. It is a failure of nearly everyone on the team to perform at levels they have proven capable of. Including the coaches. This is 2 out of the last three seasons where great promise was (apparently) short circuited. We've all gone over the reasons as to the problems 2 seasons ago, but the fact remains that when things didn't go right on the ice the team fractured off it. The fracturing was evident in the play throughout the season and especially over the last month. That it is happening again, and in much the similar fashion should be of valid concern to anyone rooting for this team. If the path continues to the same conclusion as two seasons ago, I'm sure we'll hear of the same fracturing around August or September when the next season draws near. And if I'm wrong, go prove it. Make a run like Michigan did in 2010. They decided they weren't going to be defined by being the team that ended a near 2 decade run to the NCAAs by going on an unbelievable run to the CCHA championship, and were perhaps one bad no-goal call away from yet another Frozen Four. The team I saw that refused to lose to Boston College in what was one of the better games I have seen in years could do it. The "team" I have seen take the ice in the last few weeks doesn't have a chance. Funny that both are made up of the same players.

 

[IrishHockeyFan]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

By the way NDGolden, I think the insights you've given on things like secondary and primary assists and who helps who on different goals in an interesting take.

 

[MeridianStreet]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

Oh well. Thank God they've got the solid training facilities at the Compton. Imagine how awful they'd be if they still had to play in that dump on the other side of the parking lot.

If so, you would probably be in 2nd or 3rd place in the CCHA and 8-10 in the PWR

 

[Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres.]

Re: Irish Hockey: Straight Inta Compton

IIRC, this is the first week all season that Notre Dame has not been in INCH's power rankings. I expect the same from the 2 polls later today.