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Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

Hokydad said:
dennehy and cannata

one will get hot, the other is going to make the right adjustments. Maine will go home empty handed.
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Maine has the advantage with the first line forwards, but Merrimack has better defensive forwards, better defensemen, better goaltending, better coaching and home ice. Anything less than 3 points for the Warriors and I will be gravely concerned about their chances in the second half.
 
Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

Runsub5 said:
On October 7th, MC defeated Maine 2-1 at the Alfond. Maine has developed since then (MC has as well), in many aspects of the game. Established better defense and a much improved offense with a good power play. Other players contributing on special teams (Anthoine), which means they haven't had to rely as much on their top line for scoring. MC has better goal tending in Canatta (sp.), but Sullivan has established himself as a starter and has been solid with Maine's defense playing better in front of him. Maine should win at least one game, the other possibly a tie. Should be a very competitive series.
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To summarize your post to be a little shorter for my Merrimack friends:

Maine's record has improved because they've played and beaten a lot of bad teams lately.
 
Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

As good as that first line of Maine's is, check out what they've done against BC, BU and MC first time around? In three games against the top three teams in the league, Flynn and Abbott have zero points. However, I think that top line might score some this weekend, but what I seriously doubt is the Maine defense and goaltending holding up.
 
Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

irishfan85 said:
As good as that first line of Maine's is, check out what they've done against BC, BU and MC first time around? In three games against the top three teams in the league, Flynn and Abbott have zero points. However, I think that top line might score some this weekend, but what I seriously doubt is the Maine defense and goaltending holding up.
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Diamond was all over the map the first time through. Clicking better now

MC is the better team. Only area we disagree is the D. Maine is better than given credit for.

O'Neill, Cornell, Hegerty, Nemec are a very solid top 4, prior solid also... Number one PP and that starts with blue line..
 
Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

irishfan85 said:
Maine has the advantage with the first line forwards, but Merrimack has better defensive forwards, better defensemen, better goaltending, better coaching and home ice. Anything less than 3 points for the Warriors and I will be gravely concerned about their chances in the second half.
Click to expand...

I agree with most of your comments but do have concern about whether MC has better defensive forwards. Coach Dennehy talks a lot about being on the wrong side of the puck which could be an issue. Also, special teams continue to be a question for me with respect to MC.
 
Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

icewarrior said:
I agree with most of your comments but do have concern about whether MC has better defensive forwards.
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MC is a better defensive team all the way from the net out IMO. Obviously that includes forwards. It's not necessarily because they are always on the right side of the puck but they are great positionally throughout the ice and of course they are physical and outmuscle teams (not hard given that they are all 25 years old).

Just a very difficult team to play against. They didn't do much offensively when I saw them, however.
 
Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

Nick Papagiorgio said:
MC is a better defensive team all the way from the net out IMO. Obviously that includes forwards. It's not necessarily because they are always on the right side of the puck but they are great positionally throughout the ice and of course they are physical and outmuscle teams (not hard given that they are all 25 years old).

Just a very difficult team to play against. They didn't do much offensively when I saw them, however.
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With respect to the physical play of MC I don't think it is because they are all 25 years old. Todd and Velleca are the only two forwards near 25, the rest of the Seniors are around 24. Average age of Sophomores and Juniors is about 22, with Freshmen just over 21. Are these ages generally older than other teams in HE?
 
Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

icewarrior said:
With respect to the physical play of MC I don't think it is because they are all 25 years old. Todd and Velleca are the only two forwards near 25, the rest of the Seniors are around 24. Average age of Sophomores and Juniors is about 22, with Freshmen just over 21. Are these ages generally older than other teams in HE?
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icewarrior, I know you are relatively new to this. Yes, MC's team may be the oldest average team in NCAA D1 given their model of bringing in players who have played Jr. hockey for a couple of years, many from British Columbia and western Canada. Even the local freshman (Toomey and Mansfield) are 20 I believe. Nick will remind you ad nauseum that Merrimack players are only a few years away from signing up for AARP. The age differential of these Western Canada reprobates (i.e. Bigos) is particulary apparent when you compare MC to Nick's BC Eagles, who, from an NCAA hockey perspective, are virtually pre-pubescent.
 
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Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

Merrimack takes 3 of 4 this weekend. Also just a reminder the SAT game is at 5 it was changed
 
Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

RENCEB said:
icewarrior, I know you are relatively new to this. Yes, MC's team may be the oldest average team in NCAA D1 given their model of bringing in players who have played Jr. hockey for a couple of years, many from British Columbia and western Canada. Even the local freshman (Toomey and Mansfield) are 20 I believe. Nick will remind you ad nausem that Merrimack players are only a few years away from signing up for AARP. The age differential of these Western Canada reprobates (i.e. Bigos) is particulary apparent when you compare MC to Nick's BC Eagles, who, from an NCAA hockey perspective, are virtually pre-pubescent.
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Toomey and Masfield are both already 21 turning 22. Which is old for a freshman but who cares. Within the rules and hats off to both for busting their as**** and not quitting
BC can do what they want and so cant MC. Quality kids off ice and good students.
 
Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

Nice to see some offense! Joe gave up the perfunctory 2 goals or less, and his offense (and offense from the defense) gave him some room to breathe tonight. Would LOVE to see the Flanigan-Madsen-Sheen line heat up. If they get back to the level they were at at the end of last year and into the playoffs it would be huge. Get the sweep!

Oh, by the way, great job staying out of the box the last 3 games.
 
Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

Goaltending was definitely the difference in tonight's game. Maine came out flying and Joe made two huge saves at the beginning that set the tempo. It was really nice to see Sheen-Madson-Flannigan back together.
 
Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

RENCEB said:
Nice to see some offense! Joe gave up the perfunctory 2 goals or less, and his offense (and offense from the defense) gave him some room to breathe tonight. Would LOVE to see the Flanigan-Madsen-Sheen line heat up. If they get back to the level they were at at the end of last year and into the playoffs it would be huge. Get the sweep!

Oh, by the way, great job staying out of the box the last 3 games.
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Agree, looked good tonight. Need the sweep.
 
Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

icewarrior said:
Agree, looked good tonight. Need the sweep.
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If you guys can complete the sweep tonight starting off by taking the first two in the middle of a five out of six stretch at Volpe until early February, it could be setting the table for a realistic run at a RS crown. Having a game in hand and plus a chance to win the BU tiebreaker on home ice is quite an advantage. Stealing that point at BC on Sunday may prove to be immense come mid-February when the BC series is decided. Also, looking at the teams below you in the standing, Maine would be separated by five points with Merrimack having two games in hand. Even though UML and PC both have two games in hand after tonight, there are still six points behind. This means nothing without the win and Maine's going to not be swept by Merrimack in the season series.

Without a win for the Black Bears, it's going to be awfully hard for Maine to hold that final home ice spot with both Lowell and PC having four games in hand against them and Amherst is still lurking around who only have six losses compared to a Maine team that could have eight at the end of the night.

Then again, if Lowell plays the way they did that third period and OT in last night's game by handing two points to UVM, you never know.
 
Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

Good point last night. Maine came out flying and dominated the first period. Merrimack did a much better job in the second and played very well in the third. The team got a gift when Benedetto could not see the puck in overtime. I could clearly hear the whistle but never lost sight of the puck. Once again a few questionable calls on both sides and from some reason Benedetto hate Flannigan as Ryan seems to get at least 2 in a Benedetto game.
 
Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

MCgrad07 said:
Good point last night. Maine came out flying and dominated the first period. Merrimack did a much better job in the second and played very well in the third. The team got a gift when Benedetto could not see the puck in overtime. I could clearly hear the whistle but never lost sight of the puck. Once again a few questionable calls on both sides and from some reason Benedetto hate Flannigan as Ryan seems to get at least 2 in a Benedetto game.
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Well, that's probably makeup for the moving pick that Diamond threw on Bigos just before the second Maine goal. To me, I thought that was an obvious definition of offensive interference. Let's be honest, Diamond and Bigos won't be going for HE's version of the Lady Bing and the no-call was probably part of it, but I think that's a call that has to be made. However, I don't have time to go through the calls on both the Maine and Merrimack side that should have been called.

On the other side, the Maine OT "goal" perhaps should have counted if I'm an unbiased observer. Then again, I had the benefit of instant replay, but then again, this Lowell fan can tell you in great detail about Benedetto and a certain goal in Boston around the Ides of March in 2009.

I thought Cronin was a bit overwhelmed as a referee last night and unfortunately had an impact on scoring plays. Too bad, it was a good game.

Flannigan, for all his offensive skills, needs to put a leash on it. Sure, he may win you a game or two, but he's going to give it back.
 
Re: Merrimack College 2011-2012 Season Thread - vita post Da Costa

So this is kinda strange. Surely, UNH has never been this far behind Merrimack at the midway point of the season. A very weird season up in Durham.
No reason MC can't get 3 or 4 points this weekend. Continue to stay out of the box (easier against a team like UNH which doesn't take many penalties themselves) and good things will happen.
 
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