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NESCAC 24-25: This time for sure!

There are two teams that have a specific grudges against Midd. Trinity is one, Tufts is the other. Trinity was being over the top physical in their attempt to win the game, and the penalties really took their toll.

And yes, Midd takes down the 10-3 Purple Knights with a score of 7-0. I've not seen a score like that out of the Panthers in a long time. Like a decade or more. They were playing with a confidence and skill I'd really like to see in the next few games.
 
tjoneslo said:
There are two teams that have a specific grudges against Midd. Trinity is one, Tufts is the other. Trinity was being over the top physical in their attempt to win the game, and the penalties really took their toll.

And yes, Midd takes down the 10-3 Purple Knights with a score of 7-0. I've not seen a score like that out of the Panthers in a long time. Like a decade or more. They were playing with a confidence and skill I'd really like to see in the next few games.
Click to expand...
One of the goal scorers was a first time player Dmitri Tzaferis. The recap for the game said it was his first appearance as a Panther. Does anybody know if he was a recent add on to the team after the holiday or was this just his first time dressing?
 
tjoneslo said:
There are two teams that have a specific grudges against Midd. Trinity is one, Tufts is the other. Trinity was being over the top physical in their attempt to win the game, and the penalties really took their toll.

And yes, Midd takes down the 10-3 Purple Knights with a score of 7-0. I've not seen a score like that out of the Panthers in a long time. Like a decade or more. They were playing with a confidence and skill I'd really like to see in the next few games.
Click to expand...

Interesting, what's the back-story on Trinity's and Tufts's grudges? Never heard of that and don't think of them as typical big rivals. And certainly the gulf in results from Trinity to Middlebury has been pretty wide over the past 5-10 years.

Big result against St Mike's, real surprise. Did Middlebury do things differently that led to that type of performance - more attacking, different shape, etc.? Or just on their game?


neumyer said:
One of the goal scorers was a first time player Dmitri Tzaferis. The recap for the game said it was his first appearance as a Panther. Does anybody know if he was a recent add on to the team after the holiday or was this just his first time dressing?
Click to expand...

Middlebury hockey Instagram account listed him as an incoming player back in July. How'd he do?
 
MikeMidd said:
Interesting, what's the back-story on Trinity's and Tufts's grudges? Never heard of that and don't think of them as typical big rivals. And certainly the gulf in results from Trinity to Middlebury has been pretty wide over the past 5-10 years.

Big result against St Mike's, real surprise. Did Middlebury do things differently that led to that type of performance - more attacking, different shape, etc.? Or just on their game?




Middlebury hockey Instagram account listed him as an incoming player back in July. How'd he do?
Click to expand...
Tzaferis scored the lone goal against Plattsburgh. Too bad Midd couldn't hang on in OT for a tie. Plattsburgh outshot them 2 to 1 so credit is due the goalkeeper, Sullivan for keeping them in the game.
 
MikeMidd said:
Big result against St Mike's, real surprise. Did Middlebury do things differently that led to that type of performance - more attacking, different shape, etc.? Or just on their game?
Click to expand...

They were just on their game. For the whole game. There was one really perfect 2-on-1 goal. But most of it was just having the bounces go their way. The Purple Knights seemed like they were well organized, but just couldn't figure out the combination of Midd defense and goal tending. It also helped that Midd stayed out of the penalty box and that seem to let their offense get into a next gear.
 
Middlebury faces Bowdoin and Colby tonight on their ice. Midd defeated both teams on the opening weekend of the season. It will take a strong effort by the Panthers to duplicate that feat. They could use some points in the standings to get them in the top eight for the NESCAC tournament. After last year's success in the tournament, it would be a shame to be left out. I am guessing Sullivan will be in net for the and they will need him on his game. Special teams play, and staying away from dumb penalties should be key to the games.
 
A bad night at Bowdoin for Middlebury. While the Panthers had a healthy advantage in shots and Bowdoin got two ENGs, a 5-1 loss in Maine after a 5-0 win at home is not good.

The Panthers are 1-7-0 in away and neutral games, 6-1-0 at home. And some of those away losses have been real thumpings. Interesting to know if that's down to their set-up and approach for away games, something in mental preparation and attitude, or something else.

Nine more games for Middlebury (five home, four away). A couple weeks ago, I said .500 in conference and a good playoff spot would be a reasonable ambition. With a 3-6-0 NESCAC record, now it is just about securing a playoff spot and trying to get up to the six seed to avoid Hamilton or Trinity in the first round.

As for the rest of the NESCAC, Hamilton and Trinity pick up wins again. While Colby is quietly putting together a very good season, it's clear that there are two top-tier teams in the league. Will be interesting to see if Trinity's experience gives them an advantage down the stretch over a Hamilton team that has been building nicely over the past couple years.
 
Middlebury managed to avenge their loss by a 6-4 defeat of Colby, and Williams taking a tie with Bowdoin. This sets up a four way tie for 6th place in NESCAC.

This coming weekend ought to clear up the top spot pretty cleanly as the Amherst/Hamilton travel partners host the Trinity/Wesleyan travel pair.

Middlebury/Williams is hosting the Tufts/Conn College. We can only hope the Midd at home record holds up.
 
tjoneslo said:
Middlebury managed to avenge their loss by a 6-4 defeat of Colby, and Williams taking a tie with Bowdoin. This sets up a four way tie for 6th place in NESCAC.

This coming weekend ought to clear up the top spot pretty cleanly as the Amherst/Hamilton travel partners host the Trinity/Wesleyan travel pair.

Middlebury/Williams is hosting the Tufts/Conn College. We can only hope the Midd at home record holds up.
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Midd still can't hold a lead. Within minutes of gaining a 2 goal lead in the second period, they surrendered one goal and shortly thereafter were tied up. This inability has doomed them in several games this season, particularly in the third period, but against Colby it was good to see them regain the lead for good in the third period.
 
Big win for Middlebury over Colby, which had been looking like the best of the pack behind Hamilton and Trinity. But agree about that challenge of holding a lead. Not unlike the excessive penalties, feels like a discipline and focus thing.

Elsewhere, a surprise loss by Trinity to a Tufts team currently in eighth place gives Hamilton a five point advantage. The NESCAC is theirs to lose.

Meanwhile, Conn College has lost six in a row and that promising start has taken a hit.

Mid-pack on down looks to be really competitive this year, making the playoffs could be tight or come down to half-points or tie-breakers.

Let's go Midd.
 
This weekend will be an interesting one. Hamilton is facing off against Trinity for the second time, who is their only NESCAC loss. Can Trinity break the Hamilton 7 game win streak.

The Tufts / Middlebury isn't so much as a rivalry as Tufts seems to pull out the stops to win games against two teams: Trinity and Midd. For the past several years, against Midd, this has been a blowout win that Tufts never seemed able to do against any other team in the league.

Really like the new forums.
 
I was real optimistic that Middlebury would defeat Tufts Friday night, until the final minutes of the first period when the Panthers coughed up the puck in their own end and surrendered the tying goal. Despite outlplaying the Jumbos and using the big ice surface to their advantage, the game was knotted at 1-1 and the Panthers would give up two more goals before drawing within one in the waning minutes of the third period on a powerplay with the EA on the ice as well. Midd outshot Tufts by a large margin, but could not finish. I guess the Tufts goaltender should get some credit, too. On Saturday, the Panthers found the scoring touch netting 6 goals in a shutout win. It was a good thing, too. Points are precious at this point in the season and had they lost, chances are the likelihood of a berth in the NESCAC tournament would be even more iffy. Once again, the Panthers out shot their opponent by a large margin and made me wonder how they could have lost to the Camels in their barn early in the season. Andrew Heinze did a nice job for the Panthers in net, too. With 3 weekends remaining, the Panther need at least a split at Trin/Wes, hopefully more than 3 points against Williams and a split against Amh/Ham. Anything less than that could lead to an earlier than desired end to the season. Something higher than the 8th seed would be nice, too. Selfishly, whatever might have them playing at Colby would be nice. Midd has two wins against them this season.
 
Watched some highlights of the Trinity-Hamilton game. A fortunate but well-earned Hamilton winner, with the puck cleared out of the zone by Trinity but then put back in by Trinity, meaning a Hamilton player who would've been offside was part of the build-up to the winner.

Still a tough road ahead but they're clearly in the driver's seat for the regular season title. But with only a few at-large NCAA spots and a couple leagues sure to get two, like both Utica and Geneseo from the UCHC as it stands, wouldn't want to slip up in the NESCAC tournament.

Frustrating result for Middlebury against Tufts, a win would've been significant in the standings and it's annoying that the shots just didn't go in. But an impressive rebound against Conn College, especially after giving up a lead against the Camels earlier this season. They've really crashed down to earth after a nice 4-2 league start, losing six in a row in the NESCAC.

The middle of the NESCAC pack is ridiculous, with spots 3-8 separated by just three points. Given their home form, it's helpful that Middlebury ends with three in a row at Kenyon, but that final game against Hamilton could be a heart-breaker if they need a result to make the playoffs.
 
MikeMidd said:
The middle of the NESCAC pack is ridiculous, with spots 3-8 separated by just three points. Given their home form, it's helpful that Middlebury ends with three in a row at Kenyon, but that final game against Hamilton could be a heart-breaker if they need a result to make the playoffs.
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This isn't unusual for the NESCAC. I clearly remember this being a standard practice almost every year. Watching teams jump or fall 4-6 spots in the standings based upon a split weekend was always amusing. Not knowing the final make up of the NESCAC Tournament until the Monday after the final weekend of the regular season seems to be a pretty standard outcome.
 
tjoneslo said:
This isn't unusual for the NESCAC. I clearly remember this being a standard practice almost every year. Watching teams jump or fall 4-6 spots in the standings based upon a split weekend was always amusing. Not knowing the final make up of the NESCAC Tournament until the Monday after the final weekend of the regular season seems to be a pretty standard outcome.
Click to expand...

Absolutely true - ridiculous, entertaining but not unusual. This year in particular it does feel like there's very little to differentiate the teams in the middle pack. Though may be my faulty memory, as Middlebury's not been in that group too often over the past several years.
 
Like the first game, Midd could have beaten Trinity, but could not hold onto the lead, after scoring the initial marker, the almost immediately gave up two quick goals. It was nic that they would come back and tie it at 2, but they could not hold onto that for long either. Fortunately, they beat Wesleyan to stay in the discussion for the NESCAC tournament and the goaltending was good. The Panthers have some underclassman that can play and if they get a few more next year they may be able to challenge in the league.

Does anybody know if you are assessed a 10 minute misconduct at the conclusion of the game as players did in the Wes game, does that affect your playing eligibility in the next scheduled game?
 
neumyer said:
Does anybody know if you are assessed a 10 minute misconduct at the conclusion of the game as players did in the Wes game, does that affect your playing eligibility in the next scheduled game?
Click to expand...
From the NCAA hockey rules
A player who receives three (3) game misconduct penalties in the same season (including exhibition games) shall not be permitted to play in the team’s next regular-season or tournament game against an NCAA member institution. For each additional game misconduct penalty (e.g. four, five, etc.) assessed to the same player in the same season, the player shall be suspended for one (1) additional game. This shall not be part of a progressive penalty structure. Exhibition games cannot be used to fulfill the suspension for this violation
Click to expand...
 
This weekend, Midd could really use a sweep in the home and home against Williams. A split might work out, but 6 points on the weekend, followed by 3 on the following would give them 9 more points and potentially put them in lofty position for the playoffs. Both the first weekend and second weekend will be difficult to pull off. Gaining a split against Ham and Amh will take scoring and penalty free play, both of which they have struggled to produce at times. Realistically, a loss to top seeded Ham means that the Panthers have to beat the Mammoths or whatever they’re called this week. They should be able to do the latter, but lately Amh has usually found a way to end up on the winning side against the Panthers.
 
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