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Northeast Regional: BC vs Denver, Lowell vs Mankato

Re: Northeast Regional: BC vs Denver, Lowell vs Mankato

We'll see on Saturday, but being 'mediocre' down the stretch as BC was could be a blessing for them. No doubt they have to 'dream it up all over again' and will probably have to skate through some early first-period lethargy due to the long layoff. But I also agree that BC's swoon late in the season had more to do with how Notre Dame played them than how BC played itself. Denver, to me, comes across as the penultimate 'happy-to-be-here' team.
 
Re: Northeast Regional: BC vs Denver, Lowell vs Mankato

Fishhawk said:
You should have got 60 seconds on the selection show.
Click to expand...

HawkUnderground said:
This was great, thanks for the nice outline of the team.
I wish I could return the favor about UML but I fear I wouldn't do it justice.
Sounds like we have a real battle ahead of us.
Click to expand...

Thanks guys.

I'd agree with the sentiment that this i the deepest regional in the country. I think you have three teams that are legit National title contenders, as well as another who is a legit Frozen Four threat.

Also, the team isn't going to be worked up about some guy on a message board saying the Riverhawks will run away with this game, none of you should either.
 
Re: Northeast Regional: BC vs Denver, Lowell vs Mankato

Minnesota State 12-0-1 in its last 13... After the North Star Cup they really turned around their season. Anyone that is overlooking WCHA teams is in for a real surprise. I believe Ferris and Minnesota State has the Goaltending and depth to beat anyone in the tournament. This is the toughest Region this year. Denver is playing very well right now and shouldn't be over looked by BC. BC went on a tear up until they had to face Notre Dame. UMass Lowel won their Conference tournament as well. The first 10 minutes of each game could decide it. If a team comes out with with first round jitters it could cost them big time because all of these teams play very tight in their D Zones and do not give up much. Once play settles in it will be a battle of attrition. I am picking Denver or MN State to come out of this Region. Denver and MN State seem to playing extremely well right now.
 
Re: Northeast Regional: BC vs Denver, Lowell vs Mankato

Shootin Muffins said:
Minnesota State 12-0-1 in its last 13... After the North Star Cup they really turned around their season. Anyone that is overlooking WCHA teams is in for a real surprise. I believe Ferris and Minnesota State has the Goaltending and depth to beat anyone in the tournament. This is the toughest Region this year. Denver is playing very well right now and shouldn't be over looked by BC. BC went on a tear up until they had to face Notre Dame. UMass Lowel won their Conference tournament as well. The first 10 minutes of each game could decide it. If a team comes out with with first round jitters it could cost them big time because all of these teams play very tight in their D Zones and do not give up much. Once play settles in it will be a battle of attrition. I am picking Denver or MN State to come out of this Region. Denver and MN State seem to playing extremely well right now.
Click to expand...

you has bad grammar
 
Re: Northeast Regional: BC vs Denver, Lowell vs Mankato

Chris_NH said:
We'll see on Saturday, but being 'mediocre' down the stretch as BC was could be a blessing for them. No doubt they have to 'dream it up all over again' and will probably have to skate through some early first-period lethargy due to the long layoff. But I also agree that BC's swoon late in the season had more to do with how Notre Dame played them than how BC played itself. Denver, to me, comes across as the penultimate 'happy-to-be-here' team.
Click to expand...

i would agree with you except all of a sudden our goalie was mediocre at best . We need him to get it back
 
Re: Northeast Regional: BC vs Denver, Lowell vs Mankato

MavHockey14 said:
Thanks guys.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the great description. I wish I had the team to return the favor in full, but I'll do a quick write-up.

Lowell's offense is good, but not great. There is no one line that scares the bejeezus out of you, like at BC. Lowell's leading point scorer is Senior Joe Pendanza (who passed the 100 point mark for his career this year) with just 29 points. They have a solid defense, and everyone on that roster has no problems throwing their bodies in front of a puck. Of the top 10 scorers, half are underclassmen. I've already raved about Connor, the sophomore goalie. The surprise of the season I think has to be sophomore Adam Chapie (12-11-23, 36 games) who only had 6 goals his freshmen year. He really stepped up this, but he missed the HE semifinal and final due to injury. Most talented skater ... Junior Scott Wilson. His numbers aren't as good as I think we (or even he) expected, but the kid is good.

Don't recommend falling behind the Hawks, 19-2-3 when scoring first this year, 18-0-3 when leading after 1 and 20-1-2 when leading after two (record is drastically the opposite when the scores are reversed).

Their PP has been OK this year, but looked pretty good at the Garden this weekend. The penalty kill was the same ... but then again, they only took 3 penalties in the 120 minutes.
 
Re: Northeast Regional: BC vs Denver, Lowell vs Mankato

hockeynut92 said:
UML will take this game running away.
Click to expand...
Anything is possible, of course, but highly unlikely. This, and other reasons, are why you won't see any long-time posters saying many things like this on the boards. Exception being Patronick's comments re: Connor, of course.
 
Re: Northeast Regional: BC vs Denver, Lowell vs Mankato

Chris_NH said:
Denver, to me, comes across as the penultimate 'happy-to-be-here' team.
Click to expand...

LOL, Denver will be making its seventh consecutive NCAA appearance and its 25th overall. Second best streak going behind UND. Every player on the team except the frosh have made the dance every year. Even with all the turmoil surrounding the team with the coaching change the players dug down deep and did what they had to do to make the dance. While this team may not be the offensive juggernaut of past years, it will hit you and make you pay for every foot you try to gain in the rink. Arguably the best defense in the country along with the best goalie. Watch out for the crash line (Larraza-Jacobson-Arnold) as they hit everything that moves. Average size of 6'2'', 210 lbs. This team wears opponents down and in the past two weekends have stopped the high octane offenses of UNO and Miami. Czarnik, Barber, Coleman and Archibald. This should be a great match-up against the locked-in Hobey Baker winner of Johnny Gaudreau. I am sure Josiah Didier 6'4", 225 lbs on D will be assigned to Mr. Hobey. I would expect DU to be in another close game like they all have been this year.
 
Re: Northeast Regional: BC vs Denver, Lowell vs Mankato

du78 said:
LOL, Denver will be making its seventh consecutive NCAA appearance and its 25th overall. Second best streak going behind UND. Every player on the team except the frosh have made the dance every year. Even with all the turmoil surrounding the team with the coaching change the players dug down deep and did what they had to do to make the dance.
Click to expand...

Reads like a UML fan, reword the same accomplishment as many times a possible and raise a banner for each! :D
 
Re: Northeast Regional: BC vs Denver, Lowell vs Mankato

HE teams are a combined 12-0-0 against the WCHA... Mankato doesn't stand a chance

HE teams are a combined 10-5-5 against the Nacho league...

If UML or BC doesn't win this regional Jack Parker will retire.
 
Re: Northeast Regional: BC vs Denver, Lowell vs Mankato

UMLFan said:
Thank you for the great description. I wish I had the team to return the favor in full, but I'll do a quick write-up.

Lowell's offense is good, but not great. There is no one line that scares the bejeezus out of you, like at BC. Lowell's leading point scorer is Senior Joe Pendanza (who passed the 100 point mark for his career this year) with just 29 points. They have a solid defense, and everyone on that roster has no problems throwing their bodies in front of a puck. Of the top 10 scorers, half are underclassmen. I've already raved about Connor, the sophomore goalie. The surprise of the season I think has to be sophomore Adam Chapie (12-11-23, 36 games) who only had 6 goals his freshmen year. He really stepped up this, but he missed the HE semifinal and final due to injury. Most talented skater ... Junior Scott Wilson. His numbers aren't as good as I think we (or even he) expected, but the kid is good.

Don't recommend falling behind the Hawks, 19-2-3 when scoring first this year, 18-0-3 when leading after 1 and 20-1-2 when leading after two (record is drastically the opposite when the scores are reversed).

Their PP has been OK this year, but looked pretty good at the Garden this weekend. The penalty kill was the same ... but then again, they only took 3 penalties in the 120 minutes.
Click to expand...

Good summary! I think the best way to describe Lowell's offense is "balanced". 8 goals by 8 different guys in 2 games at the Garden. Up that to 12 different scorers if you include the Vermont series. None of their lines have a "just hold the fort" mentality, all are aggressive and try to make things happen. Big tough freshmen forwards Campbell and Gambardella have made solid contributions in the post season. UML had a hard time getting bodies in front of the net against Vermont but were often at the right place/right time against ND and UNH. UML is nasty at intercepting breakouts in the neutral zone and quick to transition back to offensive mode which is how they did a lot of their damage over the weekend.
 
Re: Northeast Regional: BC vs Denver, Lowell vs Mankato

Interesting regional. I'll definitely be scoreboard watching.
 
Re: Northeast Regional: BC vs Denver, Lowell vs Mankato

MavHockey14 said:
Minnesota State (26-13-1 overall, 20-7-1 WCHA)

Probable Line Chart
21 Chase Grant - 18 Matt Leitner - 9 Bryce Gervais
25 Zach Stepan - 23 Teddy Blueger - 22 Jonny McInnis
12 JP Lafontaine - 26 Dylan Margonari - 19 Zach Lehrke
24 Brett Knowles - 17 Michael Huntebrinker - 8 Max Gaede

27 Brett Stern 7 Zach Palmquist
28 Jon Jutzi 6 Casey Nelson
11 Sean Flanagan 3 Blake Thompson

34 Cole Huggins
35 Stephon Williams

*If D Josh Nelson or D Carter Foguth can go, I'd assume Thompson is first man out, Nelson is the second man out.

Key Players

Matt Leitner (12-32-44): Leitner is the most skilled player on this team, and when he's consistent with his effort, which he has been as of late, he's arguably the best player on the ice. With good speed, great hands, and an innate ability to get the puck to his linemates, Leitner is a force offensively and on the power play.

Jean-Paul Lafontaine (20-20-40): LaFontaine is an important piece of the nation's 4th best power play; 14 of his 20 goals have come on the power play. While his game has been somewhat inconsistent as of late, JP finds his way to the score sheet regularly. Lafontaine does a great job finishing, and can move the puck as well.

Johnny McInnis (21-16-37): The captain of the Mavericks, McInnis scores big time goals, including 6 gamewinners. 10 of his 21 tallies have come on the power play, and with good net presence, Johnny creates numerous chances for himself. McInnis' on ice leadership has continued to improve and grow this season, and it's no coincidence the team continues to do the same.

Zach Lehrke (8-20-28): With 28 points in only 30 games, Zach Lehrke just may have saved this season for the Mavericks. Without him, the team struggled out of the gate, to the point where fellow teammates and coaches had to virtually beg him to rejoin the team. The quarterback on the power play, Lehrke is extremely hard working, great on the forecheck, and a well rounded player. He racks up points on the power play.

Bryce Gervais (16-10-26): Gervais is a small, speedy forward who improves every single night. I'd say he's been the best player on the ice for the Mavericks the last month. He's elevated his game greatly, and has become a very complete player. He's one of the best two way forwards on the team, currently with a team leading plus/minus of 13.

Cole Huggins (21-7-1, 1.91 GAA and a .924 save percentage): Freshman goaltender Cole Huggins boasts the nation's fourth best GAA, and is tied second nationally with six shutouts. Huggins is an extremely fundamentally sound goaltender who makes virtually every save he should. As mentioned before, he's not particularly flashy, but he makes the big time saves when they're needed. He's really come on as of late.

Why will the Mavericks win the regional?

This team returns NCAA tournament experience, and features three balanced scoring lines; 1st line 87 points, 2nd line 83 points, and 3rd line 85 points. Additionally, their fourth line, known as their "energy" line, has eaten up quality minutes keeping the other nine forwards rested by playing good, disciplined hockey. They are 12th nationally in offense and defense, and have a goaltender whose confidence is through the roof right now. Extremely balanced, the Mavericks have fantastic special teams. Minnesota State boasts the nation's 4th best power play, which clicks at 25.26%, and is over 30% with Lehrke in the lineup. Additionally, its penalty kill is also 4th best in the country, killing off 86.7% of penalties. The catalyst for this team? It believes. The self proclaimed "pesky Mavs" believe they're not done yet, and they believe that they have a room full of guys who are capable of a deep post season run.

Why won't the Mavericks win the regional?

If Minnesota State struggles at all with their special teams, a quick exit is likely. The Mavericks are good 5 on 5, but they're exceptionally good on the power play and penalty kill. If those two aspects struggle, it will be virtually impossible for the Mavs to be successful. Consistently pressuring and moving their feet has been an issue for some stretches, and we're at the time of year where that type of mistake sends you golfing. Additionally, Minnesota State can ill afford to turn the puck over. Their defenseman have been solid, but when they make mistakes, it's likely due to forcing the puck up ice;some of which happens due to lack of support from the forwards. They're without 2 of their top 6 defenseman right now, and their status for this weekend is unknown. The replacements did a fine job in the Final Five, but what happens when the stage is even bigger?
Click to expand...

du78 said:
LOL, Denver will be making its seventh consecutive NCAA appearance and its 25th overall. Second best streak going behind UND. Every player on the team except the frosh have made the dance every year. Even with all the turmoil surrounding the team with the coaching change the players dug down deep and did what they had to do to make the dance. While this team may not be the offensive juggernaut of past years, it will hit you and make you pay for every foot you try to gain in the rink. Arguably the best defense in the country along with the best goalie. Watch out for the crash line (Larraza-Jacobson-Arnold) as they hit everything that moves. Average size of 6'2'', 210 lbs. This team wears opponents down and in the past two weekends have stopped the high octane offenses of UNO and Miami. Czarnik, Barber, Coleman and Archibald. This should be a great match-up against the locked-in Hobey Baker winner of Johnny Gaudreau. I am sure Josiah Didier 6'4", 225 lbs on D will be assigned to Mr. Hobey. I would expect DU to be in another close game like they all have been this year.
Click to expand...
We already know what Lowell brings to the table. Now this.
Things aren't looking so good for the Eagles. :eek: :(
 
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