Split-N
All Hail
I'm told that the "blog folk" have already submitted applications to some highly selective old folk's homes!
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Northeastern 2022-23: Unfinished Business - Great Expectations
- Thread starter Split-N
- Start date
I'm told that the "blog folk" have already submitted applications to some highly selective old folk's homes!
Providence is going to be looking to get bodies in front of the net to take away Levi’s eyes and cause havoc. Hopefully we do a better job managing that than Colgate who let pvd do whatever they wanted.
Colgate is a pushover this year so I wouldn’t read in too much to providences triumph against them. That said i know providence has historically given us a hard time with their playstyle.
I haven’t seen the line charts but hoping for a healthy struble for this one.
NU 2-1
Colgate is a pushover this year so I wouldn’t read in too much to providences triumph against them. That said i know providence has historically given us a hard time with their playstyle.
I haven’t seen the line charts but hoping for a healthy struble for this one.
NU 2-1
Split-N
All Hail
That was textbook Providence hockey: Clog the middle, block shots, shut down the passing lanes, and cash in on breaks. Not sure which is more concerning: Anemic offense or somehow allowing a defense-oriented opponent to get 51 SOG.
Squandered chance to win friends and influence people in front of the best crowd in recent years. On to BC.
Squandered chance to win friends and influence people in front of the best crowd in recent years. On to BC.
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I’m more concerned about the offense I think. If we don’t give providence a helping hand by passing the puck to them all game and failing to break out of the neutral zone I don’t think they get 51 shots.
speaking of failing to win friends - I heard a lot of grumblings in the stands about not selling beer. I personally don’t care, but I think the decision to shutter the varsity club is one that doesn’t help us attract fans. I’m all for the bball team getting better facilities, but they couldn’t find another spot? Im not in on all the inner workings of this decision but I’d love any insight if someone has it.
Split-N
All Hail
Say what...the hoopies have taken over the club space??? Say it ain't so.
That’s the word I picked up on the street!
Expecting an empty house tomorrow vs BC, but I’m hoping the huskies come out with something to prove. Still don’t know why non conference game is on our schedule!
Split-N
All Hail
The club area was originally reserved for donors and season ticket holders before a certain former AD turned it into a glorified concession stand. If it's permanently closed, that's not good in terms of the overall Matthews experience and something of a disincentive for current and potential future donors.
Blame Colorado College for the non-con game. There was a scheduling agreement wherein Colorado played both NU and BC in Boston last year and both would return the visit this season. But for some reason, Colorado pulled the plug on the return visits. It's almost impossible to plug a scheduling hole on such short notice so both were pretty much forced to play an "extra" game against each other.
Blame Colorado College for the non-con game. There was a scheduling agreement wherein Colorado played both NU and BC in Boston last year and both would return the visit this season. But for some reason, Colorado pulled the plug on the return visits. It's almost impossible to plug a scheduling hole on such short notice so both were pretty much forced to play an "extra" game against each other.
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RossiRules
Registered User
We actually aren't very disciplined. This team isn't very good and wont likely beat any really good teams. I've seen 4 games and sorry no way they are a top 20 team. The team is worse than it was last year and certainly not as good as the teams that won 3 bean pots in a row. I know expectations are high but it's going to be a rough road. Big holes in D and not physical enough. Tonight is end to end and it shouldn't be. PC had a better game plan and we lost. We may beat BC tonight and we might not, but something is missing. Not sure what?
RossiRules
Registered User
Yeah, they just don't seem right. Playing to the level of competition maybe a bit of an issue. However they just aren't in sync. That's all I am saying, they don't look like a Top 20 team, they play in spurts and sometimes look kinda lost especially in transition. I think they will be dominated by physical teams. Don't get me wrong they are going to win some games but the real goal is to make the tournament and win a game or two. Right now I just feel like they don't have the confidence to really play to their tallent and potential
Split-N
All Hail
Agree that this team just isn't playing up to its potential, especially offensively. I really expected the NU forwards to be much more dominating than they've been so far. There's just too much firepower upfront for them to drop back into a shell, depend on Levi to work miracles, and wait for breaks. And when they get those breaks, they don't seem to be able to sustain anything in the O-zone.
Time to unleash the attack dogs.
Time to unleash the attack dogs.
I agree on not playing up to potential as well.
I think a lot of it is from poor passing and positioning making it hard to maintain ozone time. Our positioning against Bc was terrible offensively and defensively. On offense the point was never hustling to move in in the action when the puck was swinging around the boards, often too drawn to the other side. On defense we let Bc just walk in by their bench all game. I realize it’s hard as we change in the opposite, but too be so consistent in letting BC cross the blue line with no pressure was tough to watch.
lastly Bc and providence out hustled us. They skate hard for every puck vs we skate hard for every other puck. At some point you need to make your own bounces and it happens by reading the play and hustling relentlessly
I think a lot of it is from poor passing and positioning making it hard to maintain ozone time. Our positioning against Bc was terrible offensively and defensively. On offense the point was never hustling to move in in the action when the puck was swinging around the boards, often too drawn to the other side. On defense we let Bc just walk in by their bench all game. I realize it’s hard as we change in the opposite, but too be so consistent in letting BC cross the blue line with no pressure was tough to watch.
lastly Bc and providence out hustled us. They skate hard for every puck vs we skate hard for every other puck. At some point you need to make your own bounces and it happens by reading the play and hustling relentlessly
I can agree with you about passing being off at times, but I’m not savvy enough to critique their positional throughout the game. As for hustling, we were out hustled at times, but not dominated except for several occasions when we couldn’t get the puck out of our zone. Where we seemed to struggle was in battle against the boards in the O-zone. BC seemed to have at least two players battling a single forward for possession. The other area where we could have helped ourselves, was by controlling faceoffs that weren’t won cleanly.
I realize that Devon made some great save in OT and the shootout, but l thought he could have stopped #11’s breakaway and was out of position on the other two, especially Gauthier’s.
This could be partially true. He underperformed my expectations last year, but they were set extraordinarily high. I thought he’d put up Jeremy Davies pt per game type numbers (35pts soph, 36 jr.) while Harris put up 20 his sr season in more games, clocking in at just over half a point per game. That said our offense was surprising lackluster and Harris was a little better a 2 way player.
It does seem like we don’t have any offensively minded defensemen that can help in transition or jump into the play. Struble being out against BC compounded this. Hopefully we see him tonight.
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RossiRules
Registered User
We are in big trouble. Can't say if DL would have stopped the break but the O is the issue. Was at the game with some scout pals who don't think their is anything wrong at all. They simply don't see the team as talented as many believe they are. I am starting to feel the same way.
PullTheGoalie
Active member
The talent is fine. NU has come a long way. Its the kind of talent they have. This team doesn't look to have anyone that can create problems for the opponent in a flash. The Sikura, Aston-Reese, Gaudette guy. The offense lacks sizzle. In the last few years you can argue that NU's best player has been their goalie. Primeau and Levi. NU has gone as far as the goaltending has taken them. When the goaltending has blinked (Cornell, Western Michigan), it's ended the season. There are some high draft picks that are very good players but not snipers. Five forwards on the PP isn't the answer with this group. He's a freshman and it is early but I was hoping for a bigger impact from Lund. (Not a slam. Had read enough to get my hopes up is all.) If Levi had played tonight, NU probably gets at least a point.