NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

[Eaglefan06]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

Hello. I'm a St. Louis native and big St. Louis Blues fan who will be attending the games this weekend. My only live college hockey experiences are the 2007 Frozen Four and a game between Minnesota and Northeastern at Marriucci Arena two years ago. That said I don't know too much on the teams. I know Michigan is coached by Blues great, Red Berenson. I know Scooter Vaughan on Michigan from his days playing for the St. Louis Bandits in the NAHL. Ditto for CC's Andrew Hamburg. I also know about Jaden Schwartz being Blues property.

Aside from those facts I was just wondering if I could kind of get a preview from posters on this forum on what to expect from each team this weekend. Otherwise I look forward to some great hockey this weekend at the Scottrade Center.

You are in for a treat I tell you! College Hockey is the best and you are lucky enough to get to go see the best regional there will be this year!

I don't know a lot about the other schools in this region, but I do know you won't be seeing any boring, "lets trap the other team to death" hockey. BC specific is an extremely entertaining team (which can make for some heart pounding moments for us BC fans) because of the fact that they can make something out of nothing in the blink of the eye. A minor mistake by the opponent in their offensive end will turn into a 3 on 1 before you can even say "woops." The first line of Cam Atkinson - Brian Gibbons - Joe Whitney is one of, if not the best line in college hockey yet none of them are taller than 5'8." Then you have the second line of Chris Krieder - Pat Mullane - Jimmy Hayes which features two of the best power forwards in the country in Jimmy Hayes (6'5" 220) and Chris Kreider (6'2" 214), but don't let their size fool you they are extremely fast as well. On defense BC has Mammouth's in Tommy Cross (6'3" 214) and Brian Dumolin (6'4" 210) who play on different pairings but they will both shut down other teams top players if they are asked to play that role.

You should have a great time watch these games and I hope you have fun and get into college hockey!

 

[tdzro]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

I am a huge UM fan and I am sick that we got seeded with BC. IMO BC should be the #1 seed overall and UM should not be lower than 6th or 7th, so we got semi-hosed IMO. There is no other team that I think we have less of a chance against. BC has proven to me that they are a mini-dynasty after seeing them dismantle UW last year at Ford Field, and win 3 years ago against Notre Dame. They are lightning fast, and scary good on the defensive end. BC should be 1:10 favorite to make it to the Frozen Four and a 1:2 favorite to win the whole tourney. They are that good IMO. They demolished Denver earlier this year twice and rolled through the last month in Hockey East.

As for the tourney set up in general, I think it stinks.
Yale is a joke to be a Top seed, that whole bracket is a joke with Union as the #2 in there as well. One of those 4 teams gets a gift to make the Frozen 4 (I pick Air Force) and will get rolled once they get there by either Miami or Notre Dame.
The Midwest I actually think Western MI has a shot against the overhyped WCHA teams. If they swapped Notre Dame and WMU, I would definitely think Notre Dame comes out of that bracket.
BC wins easily. Which sucks.

 

[wooderson]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

It all comes down to this: Faulkner not having a disastrous night. If he's Shutout Faulkner, then it's even money to the FF against BC and Michigan.

Don't forget about scoring more goals than the other team, that will also be key.

 

[Red Cows]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

Some BLATANT UNO electioneering:

http://www.omavs.com/custompages/gallery/insider/michigan/index.html

From last year, but, still works, under the circumstances.

 

[J.D.]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

I am a huge UM fan and I am sick that we got seeded with BC. IMO BC should be the #1 seed overall and UM should not be lower than 6th or 7th, so we got semi-hosed IMO.

It's all about the PWR.

As for the tourney set up in general, I think it stinks.
Yale is a joke to be a Top seed, that whole bracket is a joke with Union as the #2 in there as well. One of those 4 teams gets a gift to make the Frozen 4 (I pick Air Force) and will get rolled once they get there by either Miami or Notre Dame.

Don't overlook Merrimack. They are a very good team.

 

[tdzro]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

It's all about the PWR.

I know it is, but I didn't say that I like it. The problem is that there aren't enough matchups cross-conferences. I hope that the Big 10 being added to the mix can change that around.

Don't overlook Merrimack. They are a very good team.

Sorry, but their 1st winning season in 22 years is nice, but I am overlooking them until they do something...

 

[Eaglefan06]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

I know it is, but I didn't say that I like it. The problem is that there aren't enough matchups cross-conferences. I hope that the Big 10 being added to the mix can change that around.


Sorry, but their 1st winning season in 22 years is nice, but I am overlooking them until they do something...

You can overlook them all you want, but if a team that is playing them overlooks them they Merrimack is going to surprise the **** out of them.

 

[Khryx]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

How has Michigan performed against Hockey East teams over the last three years?

This season 2010-2011
Saturday, Oct 16
#3 Michigan at #9 New Hampshire = result 3-3 tie
Michigan usually starts the season pretty slow and this game seemed like an atypical start for them. Both teams showed up to play and scored on the power play. It was a fairly fast paced game and I think one of UNH's better ones of the season from the few games of their's I have seen but I defer to a UNH fan.

Last season 2009-2010
Oct 24
#4 Michigan at #3 Boston University = 3-2 BU win
Michigan outplayed BU almost the entire game but couldn't get any bounces. They feel behind 2-0 (2-7 on power play). Despite a major comeback in the third (2 goals on 21 shots), the defense had a really bad turnover behind the net and Hogan let in a wrap around.

2008-2009 Season
Oct 25
#5 Michigan at #7 BU = 7-2 BU win
Power plays were the story of the game. BU was 5 of 9 and Michigan was 2 of 12. This is an example of how Michigan starts their seasons very slow.

2007-2008 Season
Oct 12
#2 BC vs. #9 Michigan in St. Paul, Minnesota = 4-3 OT win for Michigan

Oct 26
BU at #3 Michigan = 4-2 Michigan win

Oct 27
BU at #3 Michigan = 6-2 Michigan win

Dec 28
#1 Michigan vs. Providence in Detroit, Michigan = 6-0 Michigan win
The score pretty much says it all despite 50 SOG for Providence.

The key things to take note about Michigan are

• They are only 8-7-2 on Friday while they are 16-2-2 on Saturday.
  
• They are 20-1-3 when scoring first while they are 6-7-1 when they score second.
  
• They are 16-1-3 when leading at the end of the first and 21-1-3 when leading at the end of the second.
  
• They are 6-5-1 against tournament teams this season (1-4-0 on Friday and 4-1-1 on Saturday and a win against CC on a pseudo Saturday)
  
• Michigan is not banged up but they are out their second leading scorer which could be a problem. They have also thrown two players off the team this season giving them less depth.

The moral of the story is that IF Michigan shows up on Friday and IF Michigan scores first, the odds are against UNO. However, these are two extremely big IF's in my opinion. I don't know UNO's stats but my wager is on whichever team scores first in the game and I think the odds are pretty even.

 

[sterlippo1]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

Sorry, but their 1st winning season in 22 years is nice, but I am overlooking them until they do something...

careful there believe York when he said he would not be surprised if Merrimack made it to the FF...........none of us BC fans would be surprised in the least. If they get there? they will not be scared of anyone. On the big stage at the Garden in the HE finals ? they didnt blink.............. they are THAT good

 

[FiveHole12]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

Aside from those facts I was just wondering if I could kind of get a preview from posters on this forum on what to expect from each team this weekend. Otherwise I look forward to some great hockey this weekend at the Scottrade Center.

This is a very good synopsis by carltonbarrett. I'll add my 2 cents below…
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Here's an overveiw of what to expect from BC. Top line is smallish, but very fast and very, very dynamic with great hockey sense. Two of the three have already broken the 50 point mark and Cam Atkinson, who has 30 goals, may be the best pure goal scorer in the country. Second line is pretty much line 1-A, especially with Kreider apparently back in the mix now. They're big, great at cycling and depending upon who's on the line, could all be 1st (2) and 2nd (1) rd NHL picks - again, very talented and at times can flat out dominate. Third line is also very talented (see Steve Whitney's goal vs NU), but they are a bit younger than the first two lines and don't yet produce points at the same rate as the first two lines, though they have picked up the pace as of late. Not sure who will be on the 4th line now with Kreider back, but that line has generally been any energy line that can hold its own, but that is not much of a scoring threat. On defense, Domoulin, who is piling up the assists and Cross, who has a great wrist shot are both All-American caliber players who rarely make a mistake. Wey doesn't have the same offensive skills as those two, but is still a very smooth skating, dependable D-Man. Those 3 will be on the ice for sure during crunch time. Samuelsson, who was a 2nd rd pick can look very good at times but can also make the occasional bonehead play. Alber is a quick smallish guy that has been inconsistent lately, as has Shea. They definately get less minutes than the other 4. As a whole, it's a talented bunch with several high draft picks and great size at 1-4. They are also a bit young, but still very experienced having won the title last year. In net, what else is there to say about Muse? 8-0 in the NCAA's and something like 23-1 in the playoffs overall. Really gets up for the big games and rarely lets in a softie. In summation, expect relentless speed and pressure from BC's forwards and the best way to beat them on D is to get the puck to the net and hope for rebounds, screens and lucky bounces. They are too quick to try and pass the puck around the perimeter and are excellent at blocking shots. It will take dirty goals to beat them. Hope that helps!

With Chris Kreider returning to the lineup, BC will be near full strength and Jerry York will have many options with his game plan this weekend (full strength is dependent upon the return of 4th liner Tommy Atkinson).

Projected lines: (the Whitney's, Atkinson's and Hayes's are 3 pairs of brothers).

Offense: #3 nationally in Team Offense (3.92 goals/gm)
15 J. Whitney - 17 Gibbons - 13 C. Atkinson
19 Kreider - 11 Mullane - 10 J. Hayes
22 Carey - 24 Arnold - 21 S. Whitney
9 Almeida - 28 T. Atkinson - 12 K. Hayes … or … 9 Almeida - 12 K. Hayes - 23 Brown/14 Dyroff

Note: The Gibbons line does not always start the game as 1st line, so they may be listed as the 2nd line on the score sheet in any particular game. However, whenever a BC refers to BC's 1st line, they are referring to 15/17/13, or BC's top line, regardless of where they started a game.

Defense: #6 nationally in Team Defense (2.26 goals against/gm)
4 Cross - 6 Wey
2 Dumoulin - 27 Alber
5 Samuelsson - 8 Shea

Goaltending:
John Muse: 27-5-1, .926 save %, 2.13 goals against average, 3 Hockey East Championships, 2 National Champion Titles.

Power Play: #6 nationally (24.04%)
1st PP unit is 5 forwards… Carey/Almeida - Gibbons - Atkinson with the Whitney brothers at the points.
2nd PP unit is the 2nd line with Dumoulin and Cross at the points.

Penalty Kill: #4 nationally (86.9%) … Shorthanded Goals: #1 nationally (13)
Sometimes you will see 3 forwards and a D-man on the kill… dependent on Coach Yorks desire for a shortie. In 5 on 3 kill situations, sometimes 2 forwards/1 D. The forward playing D in these situations would be J. Whitney.

Boston College attacks the puck all over the ice, including while on the penalty kill. A relentless forechecking team. Plays very good team defense and are very quick in transition from defense to offense. Aggressive play in the offensive zone sometimes leads to odd man rushes for the opponent, but they have great confidence in their goaltender and their ability to recover to the d zone.

This BC team never seems to panic when playing from behind. They are capable of scoring in bunches and have the ability to turn their game up a notch or two when needed.

Sounds like the perfect team? Nah… they lost 7 games this season, and may possibly lose another. But win or lose, guaranteed you'll enjoy the heck out of their play on the ice. A very talented group of hockey players and very exciting team to watch.

Good luck to all. May the best team win.

Go Eagles!

 

[sterlippo1]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

^^^ excellent

 

[J.D.]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

I know it is, but I didn't say that I like it. The problem is that there aren't enough matchups cross-conferences. I hope that the Big 10 being added to the mix can change that around.

Let's wait and see who advances to the regional finals first...

Sorry, but their 1st winning season in 22 years is nice, but I am overlooking them until they do something...

They've already done plenty this year. Not sure who you're a fan of, but using that logic, what has Nebraska-Omaha ever done in the NCAA tournament? Does that mean they should be overlooked? Or a Western Michigan under Jeff Blashill?

 

[Red Cows]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

Let's wait and see who advances to the regional finals first...



They've already done plenty this year. Not sure who you're a fan of, but using that logic, what has Nebraska-Omaha ever done in the NCAA tournament? Does that mean they should be overlooked? Or a Western Michigan under Jeff Blashill?

Agree. I've always wondered how people think whatever went on last year, or the year before that, or the year before that, has any real bearing on what happens this year. That thought process sure isn't limited to college hockey, either. While UNO sports an all time 7-25-3 record against Michigan, that sure doesn't have any bearing on what's gonna happen on Friday. This is the best team that UNO has ever had and, more important still, in this instance, the best coached. There can not possibly be any comparison to "things past" since the circumstances are entirely different. The best team is going to win, period.

 

[Rich]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

Hello. I'm a St. Louis native and big St. Louis Blues fan who will be attending the games this weekend. My only live college hockey experiences are the 2007 Frozen Four and a game between Minnesota and Northeastern at Marriucci Arena two years ago. That said I don't know too much on the teams. I know Michigan is coached by Blues great, Red Berenson. I know Scooter Vaughan on Michigan from his days playing for the St. Louis Bandits in the NAHL. Ditto for CC's Andrew Hamburg. I also know about Jaden Schwartz being Blues property.

Aside from those facts I was just wondering if I could kind of get a preview from posters on this forum on what to expect from each team this weekend. Otherwise I look forward to some great hockey this weekend at the Scottrade Center.

CC is a very young, hard working team that is gelling at the right time. That's not to say they don't have any talent - but when you compare their skill level and more importantly their experience to BC and other top teams they're definitely less dynamic. They do play a similar up tempo, attacking game to BC, but with only 3 seniors and 4 juniors who play regularly, they're still developing as a team. They will roll four lines no matter what - the 4th line was on the ice with about 2 minutes to go in their deciding first-round WCHA playoff series with a one goal lead. However, they will ride their top 4 defensemen - the top pair often logs 30+ minutes a game. Joe Howe has been good in net, but recently has seemed to give up a very soft early goal before stealing a few late in the game.
Basically, at even strength CC will attack, pressure the opponents everywhere, and finish their checks. They're just as aggressive on the PK. Their downfall has been on the PP, where they have given up a ton of shorthanded goals (11, if I remember correctly). They have 4 F and 1 very offensive defenseman on the top PP unit, and they get burned often. I think the best thing they could do in practice this week is to put a reliable defenseman on the point of their top PP unit.
If they have a weakness other than on the PP, it's at defense. They're solid but not great, and have a few guys who think offense first.

That sounds like a pretty lukewarm description, but part of it has been the opposition they've faced this year. I'd bet that they've faced either the toughest schedule in the country during the second half of the year or nearly the toughest. The average KRACH rating of their opponents since January 22 is HIGHER than the average KRACH of the 16 team NCAA field. That means they've been facing NCAA-tournament caliber teams every week for 8 weeks, and they've won just over half of those games. It also means that they haven't been dominating at all during that stretch, so it's easy to overlook how well they've been playing. When they have won during that stretch it's been due to outworking their opponents, and using that effort to make up for an experience deficit. CC has had some teams in the past that had the dominating kind of skill that BC has this year, but this isn't one of those CC teams.

Blues fans will want to watch Jaden Schwartz. The things that set him apart are his hockey IQ and his vision. He sees and then makes plays that noone at this level should see. But, they're often pretty subtle - a pass that you didn't see coming, or something like that. I don't think he's a spectacular skater, or has a particularly hard or accurate shot, or anything else that would stand out in a skills competition. You can not really notice him on the ice as a great player and check the box score and see that he set up all 3 goals CC scored that game. He does all the little things right as well - he times his cross in front of the net just so he arrives when the puck is passed there, and he is responsible defensively. Jaden led the WCHA (not just freshmen - the entire league) in points per game with 1.47. He missed part of the year with a broken ankle, so his totals were modest.

 

[billmich88888]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

rick, what in the world do i have to be bitter over? Let's put it this way... If michigan fans are toolz then uno fans are the home depot. Thanks for playin', though. A bit of pot>kettle> black. Funny how all the cute, old bit acronyms about michigan get tossed about by neutered cow fans when these two teams get ready to play. Michigan fans: *crickets* and rightly so. Give us a reason to hate you. Better yet, give us a more than a reason to respect you other than tdean and some random wins.

You've officially reached defcon 2 on the "we're the wcha" bs meter.

awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Red Cows]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

Sheesh, Michigan fan's response to being sent to St Louis? Don't go?:

http://mgoblog.com/content/other-bracket

If that's the way they feel (and I have a hard time believing this is so), then maybe it explains this synopsis:

http://www.westerncollegehockeyblog.com/2011/3/21/2063081/the-ncaa-hockey-tournament-bracket

Michigan's apathetic?

 

[kdilks]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

Sheesh, Michigan fan's response to being sent to St Louis? Don't go?:

http://mgoblog.com/content/other-bracket

If that's the way they feel (and I have a hard time believing this is so), then maybe it explains this synopsis:

http://www.westerncollegehockeyblog.com/2011/3/21/2063081/the-ncaa-hockey-tournament-bracket

Michigan's apathetic?

Not apathetic, just tired of the regional site selections. It's bad enough that they give both the Midwest and West regionals to the WCHA on a fairly regular basis. And now when the CCHA does get a bid, they put it nowhere near the member schools? It's completely unacceptable, and Michigan fans showing up en masse would only encourage crap like this to continue.

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

It's bad enough that they give both the Midwest and West regionals to the WCHA on a fairly regular basis.

2011: West Regional (St. Louis, MO)
2010: Midwest Regional (Ft. Wayne, IN)
2009: Midwest Regional (Grand Rapids, MI)
2007: Midwest Regional (Grand Rapids, MI)
2005: Midwest Regional (Grand Rapids, MI)
2004: Midwest Regional (Grand Rapids, MI)
2003: Midwest Regional (Ann Arbor, MI)
2002: West Regional (Ann Arbor, MI)*
2001: West Regional (Grand Rapids, MI)*
1998: West Regional (Ann Arbor, MI)*
1997: West Regional (Grand Rapids, MI)*
1996: West Regional (East Lansing, MI)*
1994: West Regional (East Lansing, MI)*
1993: West Regional (Detroit, MI)*
1992: West Regional (Detroit, MI)*

Since the switch to Regional Sites, there have been 20 NCAA Tournaments. There has been at least one in Michigan in 13 years, and in "CCHA" territory 15 years. That leaves 5 years where there were no Regionals in CCHA territory (1995*, 1999*, 2000*, 2006, 2008). In that same time span, there have been 8 years in which there were no Regionals in WCHA territory. Saying that the WCHA gets both the Midwest and West regionals "on a fairly regular basis" is completely untrue. In fact, the CCHA has received far more regionals since they came into being than the WCHA.

* = only 1 regional for the "West"

 

[billmich88888]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

lets only look since 2003 when the "regional sites" got split 4 ways, and the placing of teams really stopped being regional.

There have been years where a regional out east would have 2 wcha and 1 ccha teams; its not truly geographically regional anymore

 

[Chris_NH]

Re: NCAA West Regional - 3/25, 3/26 - BC, Michigan, UNO, CC

You are in for a treat I tell you! College Hockey is the best and you are lucky enough to get to go see the best regional there will be this year!

I don't know a lot about the other schools in this region, but I do know you won't be seeing any boring, "lets trap the other team to death" hockey. BC specific is an extremely entertaining team (which can make for some heart pounding moments for us BC fans) because of the fact that they can make something out of nothing in the blink of the eye. A minor mistake by the opponent in their offensive end will turn into a 3 on 1 before you can even say "woops." The first line of Cam Atkinson - Brian Gibbons - Joe Whitney is one of, if not the best line in college hockey yet none of them are taller than 5'8." Then you have the second line of Chris Krieder - Pat Mullane - Jimmy Hayes which features two of the best power forwards in the country in Jimmy Hayes (6'5" 220) and Chris Kreider (6'2" 214), but don't let their size fool you they are extremely fast as well. On defense BC has Mammouth's in Tommy Cross (6'3" 214) and Brian Dumolin (6'4" 210) who play on different pairings but they will both shut down other teams top players if they are asked to play that role.

You should have a great time watch these games and I hope you have fun and get into college hockey!

I agree with the above. Also, watch out for BC while they're killing a penalty. File under, 'We've got them where we want them.'