New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

Great finish to what I though was an otherwise disappointing game for the Wildcats. They seemed to give up after the Nyquist goal, had trouble breaking out of the zone, helped by Maine trapping for awhile. Great time out by Umile at the end. I don't think the puck ever left the zone after they pulled DiGirolamo. And speaking of him, read his quote about stopping Flynn's breakaway just before Silengo scored his first goal. Flynn is quoted saying that he tried to go five-hole but that it wasn't there. DiGi says, that he knew Flynn would have to go five-hole because there was a UNH guy coming on him and he wouldn't have time to deke and go backhand. I guess all goalies at that level go through the same thought process, but it is the first time I had ever seen it in print.

Tied for first, two games in hand heading into the break. We've seen this before, many times, but it is a surprise. Count me among those who did not see this coming. The goaltending has been much more consistent than I ever thought it could be. I wasn't sure that the first line could stay in tact, didn't think that the separate parts could mesh, but they have. And, although I thought the effort would be there, I never thought we would get the effectiveness we have had with the 3rd and 4th lines. A real team effort up to now, from Umile on down.

One football question, and I'll preface it by saying that I am certainly no expert. Why didn't UNH use the bubble screen last night? Very disappointed in the game plan more than anything. They did more than could be expected defensively, but to score only three points? Ycch! Good to see Chip Kelly at the game though. He'll be in the audience tonight at the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

 

[goblue]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

Great finish to what I though was an otherwise disappointing game for the Wildcats. They seemed to give up after the Nyquist goal, had trouble breaking out of the zone, helped by Maine trapping for awhile. Great time out by Umile at the end. I don't think the puck ever left the zone after they pulled DiGirolamo. And speaking of him, read his quote about stopping Flynn's breakaway just before Silengo scored his first goal. Flynn is quoted saying that he tried to go five-hole but that it wasn't there. DiGi says, that he knew Flynn would have to go five-hole because there was a UNH guy coming on him and he wouldn't have time to deke and go backhand. I guess all goalies at that level go through the same thought process, but it is the first time I had ever seen it in print.

Tied for first, two games in hand heading into the break. We've seen this before, many times, but it is a surprise. Count me among those who did not see this coming. The goaltending has been much more consistent than I ever thought it could be. I wasn't sure that the first line could stay in tact, didn't think that the separate parts could mesh, but they have. And, although I thought the effort would be there, I never thought we would get the effectiveness we have had with the 3rd and 4th lines. A real team effort up to now, from Umile on down.

One football question, and I'll preface it by saying that I am certainly no expert. Why didn't UNH use the bubble screen last night? Very disappointed in the game plan more than anything. They did more than could be expected defensively, but to score only three points? Ycch! Good to see Chip Kelly at the game though. He'll be in the audience tonight at the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

Yep. It's tough when the football team gets outscored by the hockey team. Congrats to Delaware.
(We now return to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress.)

 

[Howitz-ah]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

I don't get why, with the only game in the league, they'd send up their D squad. I thought the calls/non-calls favored UNH a bit the first 2/3 of the game, but they tried to make up for it late. I didn't see the play Timmy was whining about, but it doesn't surprise me.

We had Fyrer and Keenan (who I think is by far the worst) in a game, and it was brutal...

Want a good laugh? :

My wife started making small talk with an older lady sitting next to us (we weren't in our usual seats). During the 2nd intermission, she made a light hearted crack about the officiating. Turns out, one of the two was her son!! thought that was hilarious.

In all fairness though - I'm not sure I've ever attended a hockey game of any level where one team was without a man advantage through the first 50+ minutes of the game. Especially because (now, I didn't get to see a replay, but I was next to where it happened) I was dumbfounded when they gave Anthoine 5 minutes. At game speed, I didn't see anything but a nice, solid, clean hockey check. I messaged someone watching the game and asked what the replay looked like, and he said: "he turned at the last minute; it could have passed as 2 minutes for hitting from behind, maybe, but I didn't think it was boarding" I'd like to see the replay so I can actually speak to it.

I'm not blame throwing because Timbo is right: regardless of calls, that was situationally inexcusable. But there were just some odd, odd moments with the zebras for sure.

 

[Howitz-ah]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

I agree. That was where I was going with my score prediction.

I think NH gets an early one on Sully, but he settles down. Maine comes back to take a lead but blows it in the 3rd, like Providence. Both goaltenders look pretty good considering the opposing offenses theyre up against.

3-3 final

Well...I was an overtime goal away from nailing that one... (swap goalie names)

...and for the record, I also called for Adam Shemansky being a healthy scratch. I did miss the call on Mangene netting his first though

 

[walrus]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

. I messaged someone watching the game and asked what the replay looked like, and he said: "he turned at the last minute; it could have passed as 2 minutes for hitting from behind, maybe, but I didn't think it was boarding" I'd like to see the replay so I can actually speak to it.

Not sure how it was boarding when the UNH player was against the boards before he got hit, hitting from behind maybe.

 

[whatever]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

Let's face it, at some point UHN will have to be awarded a trophy. This one should make up for the 5 minute power play.

http://www.solarnavigator.net/films_movies_actors/film_images/Oscar_trophy_academy_award.jpg

 

[UNHhockey29]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

I'm not sure I've ever attended a hockey game of any level where one team was without a man advantage through the first 50+ minutes of the game.

Then you haven't seen UNH play this year. We haven't been drawing many penalties. I believe I saw a game earlier this season without UNH taking a penalty (but I could just be remembering that wrong).

 

[RockTheWhit]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

Then you haven't seen UNH play this year. We haven't been drawing many penalties. I believe I saw a game earlier this season without UNH taking a penalty (but I could just be remembering that wrong).

They had one minor penalty at BC while BC had none.
http://hockeyeastonline.com/men/boxes11.php?mbc_unh1.n05

 

[C-H-C]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

Then you haven't seen UNH play this year. We haven't been drawing many penalties. I believe I saw a game earlier this season without UNH taking a penalty (but I could just be remembering that wrong).

Darci calls it again. UNH has the second fewest penalty minutes per game in Hockey East.

 

[UNHhockey29]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

I was pretty close!

 

[IrishWildcat]

Darci calls it again. UNH has the second fewest penalty minutes per game in Hockey East.

To me, that seems quite surprising. From what I've seen we seem to be a bit more physical, yet we're taking fewer penalties. One tends to lead to the other.

 

[ClOuD 9]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

you mean "did you get caught?".

how DID Maine get caught, by the way?
who was the rat who squealed and squealed and kept squealing? Is he still on these boards, by any chance?

I mean other coaches ignore what is right in front of them, Shawn did too, but someone within the program squealed. Lucky for Jerry and most every other coach, nobody squeals.

I'm pretty sure that Fairbanks and Northern Michigan were the final straws, when they had been told Tory was inelligible, but Walsh took him and played him at the start of the 93-94 season.


The interpretation of Tory's grades was brought to Maine's att-
ention by Alaska-Fairbanks, which had recruited Tory when he was
in high school. When Alaska-Fairbanks came across Tory's pass/
fail marks, it asked the NCAA what the marks would be interpreted
as. The answer, according to The Maine Campus, was the marks
would be interpreted as D's.



Chad Finn, sports editor of The Campus, reported an anonymous
source as saying Tory's high school transcript may have been mis-
interpreted by UMaine officials. Tory, the source said, took sev-
eral courses at his high school in Penticton, B.C., on a pass/
fail basis. UMaine officials interpreted the passing grades to
be C's, instead of C-'s, like other NCAA insitutions interpret
them.

Maine head coach Shawn Walsh said the potential error was brought
to Maine's attention by another NCAA school.

http://lists.maine.edu/cgi/wa?A2=ind9312&L=HOCKEY-L&P=R4170&I=-3

^ http://board.uscho.com/archive/index.php/t-58235-p-2.html

 

[JB]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

Not sure how it was boarding when the UNH player was against the boards before he got hit, hitting from behind maybe.

T.V. said it was hitting from behind, apparently they didn't hear the official call. I watched the game on the tube and with a DVR. I looked at the play a couple times. I can definitely see the 5 for hitting from behind, boarding well that seems an odd call. I don't know the official rule about when you go from a 2 to a 5 but it was pretty blatant. Even at full speed it didn't appear Beck turned at the last moment. What was clear was the Maine player driving his shoulder between the numbers on the back of the jersey. He even finished his check; there was no attempt to minimize the contact to the back. I think it was the right between the numbers and finishing the check that got him the 5 minutes.

The box score on the Hockey East website lists it as a 5 - hitting from behind.

As for the game: UNH was sloppy with the puck for long stretches. Some of that was Maine’s speed and aggressive defensive play (great back checking). Some however looked to be unforced sloppy play. There were multiple unforced whiffs at the blue line. The 2nd Maine goal was the result of unforced sloppy play by the UNH D, leading to further forced sloppy play and eventually a well won turnover and a short time later the goal. Maine’s 3rd goal was a solid play all around by Nyquist, starting with a nice shot block.

My view was UNH cleaned up their play in the later part of the 3rd. Maine also started looking worn down. I have not seen anywhere ice time is reported but this year UNH has done well running out 4 lines. I do wonder if the injuries to Maine’s D had the remaining top 4 playing too much and caused them to be gassed at the end.

UNH cleaned up their play in the 3rd but that was still a lucky win.

 

[Stevo1091]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

Even at full speed it didn't appear Beck turned at the last moment. What was clear was the Maine player driving his shoulder between the numbers on the back of the jersey.

I watched it on my DVR and if you play it in slow motion, Beck clearly sees two Maine players coming and turns right before they get to him. He could have easily avoided getting hit like that and risking an injury.

 

[WildShawn]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

I watched it on my DVR and if you play it in slow motion, Beck clearly sees two Maine players coming and turns right before they get to him. He could have easily avoided getting hit like that and risking an injury.

Not sure 'easily' is something that can be determined by watching a very fast game in slo-mo

 

[Crazy4UNHhockey]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

I watched it on my DVR and if you play it in slow motion, Beck clearly sees two Maine players coming and turns right before they get to him. He could have easily avoided getting hit like that and risking an injury.

So is that during the 8 seconds of slo-mo replay that he could've avoided getting hit or during the <1 second he had in real-time?

 

[Stevo1091]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

So is that during the 8 seconds of slo-mo replay that he could've avoided getting hit or during the <1 second he had in real-time?

He had enough time to react and turn his body, it was obviously his first instinct was to turn that way and try to avoid the hit....but it didn't work and he put himself in harms way.

 

[JB]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

He had enough time to react and turn his body, it was obviously his first instinct was to turn that way and try to avoid the hit....but it didn't work and he put himself in harms way.

If that is the case the Maine player had enough time not to hit him between the numbers and finish his check. Much like a high stick, it doesn't mater if a player lifts your stick and you hit somebody with it you are required to control your stick in all situations. When checking your opponent you are not free to be reckless and charge, board, or hitting from behind. If Beck had time to react so did the Maine player.

 

[Erix_The_Red]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

If that is the case the Maine player had enough time not to hit him between the numbers and finish his check. Much like a high stick, it doesn't mater if a player lifts your stick and you hit somebody with it you are required to control your stick in all situations. When checking your opponent you are not free to be reckless and charge, board, or hitting from behind. If Beck had time to react so did the Maine player.

I think he's saying that the UNH player had enough time to react by turning his back to the Maine player. Which would mean the Maine player would need double that time (the time for the UNHer to see the hit and start turning away plus the time for the Maine-ah to react and avoid the hit)

 

[JB]

Re: New Hamphsire at Maine, Friday 12/10, CBSCS

I think he's saying that the UNH player had enough time to react by turning his back to the Maine player. Which would mean the Maine player would need double that time (the time for the UNHer to see the hit and start turning away plus the time for the Maine-ah to react and avoid the hit)

I know what he is trying to say. I just think his is wrong on this play, Beck didn't move late.

However if you just watch the play the hit for behind is unnecessary and completely avoidable. The puck was dumped into the corner. When Beck (UNH D) gets to the puck his back is to the ice as he gets control of the puck along the dasher. For the rest of the play Beck does not change his positioning, he is stopped, constant distance from the wall, looking to move the puck up the near wall, until he is hit. When Beck first gets to the puck the 2 Maine players are just above the face-off dot. As Beck doesn't change his positioning that is a long distance for an NCAA hockey player to adjust and not drill the guy in the back. When Beck feeds the puck up the wall the Maine players are at the goal line, now the distance is tight but there is still room to not hit a non-moving back to you player square between the numbers. One Maine forward angles to make contact and finish his check "down" the wall into Becks side the direction he is facing. The other drives his shoulder between the numbers.

I can't see how this is not hitting from behind. Could have also been called a charging, boarding is a stretch.

I agree it is difficult when a guy turns late (which Beck didn't) but a hit from behind is a hit from behind. It isn't about a guy intending to hit a guy from behind it is doing it.