Northeastern 2022-23: Unfinished Business - Great Expectations

[OnePack]

This game could have gone so many different ways. Overall I thought we looked good but sometimes get a little lost in the offensive end. We dominated the first few minutes of the game but didn’t have a single shot to show for it. Lowell takes one pot shot from the blue line and it goes in. Can’t score if you don’t out shots on net (and I mean net, what’s with these massively wide ones and shots straight into the D?)

Lund has a little acclimating to do. He started off looking great but is making little mistakes here and there when under pressure. Felt the same way about Hughes last year (who I think still has a lot of room to grow)

I’ve been massively disappointed in the power play. Talk about dreadful. Look better 5v5.

Nice to see the D jump in on the play more. I think they could get more aggressive in the ozone and on neutral pucks.

 

[SkinsFan09]

Not panicking at all, it's very early in the season. Denver has already been swept I believe, and the No. 1, 2 and 3 teams in the country were all defeated this weekend. Minnesota was swept. Everyone is finding their footing. The cream will rise to the top mid-season as always.

 

[Split-N]

So, some semblance of offense and they run into a goalie who stands on his head. Still, 28 SOG is hardly overwhelming, and the PP is blah. Now they get to spend a weekend in Orono, where the Maineiacs blanked #3 QPac enroute to a split. Golden opportunity for them to finally make a statement.

 

[OnePack]

A statement weekend for us would be great. If I’m Maine though the game plan is pretty simple, clog the slot and let NU pass the puck away

 

[OnePack]

Does positivity work better for getting y’all hyped?

This team has serious firepower potential until proven otherwise and I don’t think we’ve seen enough games to make a judgement.

levi in or out shouldn’t make a difference this week.

 

[Split-N]

...This team has serious firepower potential until proven otherwise...

This! Hope some of that firepower is finally unleashed. Really, it shouldn't matter who's in goal.

 

[OnePack]

Levi back in but wtf is this stream.

First goes mostly well but nothing to show for it. Need to stop taking penalties. Colangelo taking that guy down at the end of the period was pure stupidity

 

[RossiRules]

Levi back in but *** is this stream.

First goes mostly well but nothing to show for it. Need to stop taking penalties. Colangelo taking that guy down at the end of the period was pure stupidity

Totally agree and he's done this a few times so far this short season

 

[OnePack]

Nevermind. This team is garbage. Extremely undisciplined. Taking bad penalties and being extremely lazy with the puck on the power play bites them again.

 

[Split-N]

How did this happen?

 

[RossiRules]

How did this happen?

What I said last week. They are undisciplined and lack a real scoring threat, the past 5 years we had at least one NHL caliber D man and forward, now we don't. I don't mean drafted. If I had a nickel for all the guys I know who were drafted who work in investment management I'd be rich. What we did have the last few years was discipline. Now oddly even that eludes us too. Maine is not a very good team and neither are we. Don't expect much as their is a lot of parity in HE this season. Also noteworthy, in a newsflash kind of way is that Levi seems pretty average all of a sudden and he likely should have taken last year's great season and signed an entry level contract when he was a hot item. Still, I would bench a few kids who are taking the poor penalties. I think we finish 500. tops. The good news is that the Bruins are awesome and I have awesome season seats right on the center ice 7 rows up. I've decided that I'll focus on them and donate my NU seasons to New England Home for Little Wanderers, if by the grace of God they improve I'll buy a few one offs after I go to the remaining BU and BC contests.

 

[Split-N]

...If I had a nickel for all the guys I know who were drafted who work in investment management I'd be rich...

Actually, if they're working in investment management (except for cleaning toilets) they're much better off financially and otherwise than if they were slogging it out in the ECHL or (God forbid) the SPHL.

 

[RossiRules]

Actually, if they're working in investment management (except for cleaning toilets) they're much better off financially and otherwise than if they were slogging it out in the ECHL or (God forbid) the SPHL.

Yeah those minor leagues are brutal but some of these draft picks like #350 are ridiculous picks never going to play a game in the NHL, don't grab a degree and never make a dime in the US minor leagues..hopefully they play in Europe where a good living can be made on a multi year minor contract

 

[Split-N]

...don't grab a degree and never make a dime in the US minor leagues...

Well, if you aren't good enough to play in the NHL, hanging in there long enough to pick up a degree and eventually run several NHL clubs isn't a bad consolation prize. Ask David Poile about that.

Moving on to this weekend, picking up only four of six points vs a bottom-three team last weekend is something that absolutely, positively cannot happen again!

 

[RossiRules]

Finally a 3 period performance worthy of the pre season ranking. However still 25 in the pairwise. I know it's early but they need to beat a good team by a couple of goals soon. However, I liked what I saw tonight. Lots of puck movement in the O zone, strong skating in transition and lots of blocks on D. Great 3 period hockey. Levi looked pretty solid too. Nice job. Let's see if you can grab three more at the Whitmore Center.
​​​​​​

 

[Split-N]

...still 25 in the pairwise...

Much too early to draw PWR conclusions but the quote above is an object lesson on just how devastating even a tie with a much lower ranked team can be. But plenty of season left to climb out of the hole they find themselves in. A repeat of last night as a visiting team would be a good start.

The injury bug seems to have paid a visit. Borgesi, Walsh and Spott all down and no estimate of return dates (that I know of). I guess that's why coaches recruit depth.

Edit: Add Jack Hughes to the casualty list.

Late edit: Maybe Cam Gaudette too?

 

[RossiRules]

UNH as both a university, it's fans insight and a hockey program in general are so out of touch with what hockey is in what college hockey in 2022 is

 

[Split-N]

UNH...it's fans...in general are so out of touch with what...college hockey in 2022 is

Respectfully disagree. I was able to meet and chat with some of their fans during the 2019 Belfast trip. They're loyal, passionate, and know what the realities are. Whether or not the UNH administration understands those realities is another matter.

 

[Darius]

UNH as both a university, it's fans insight and a hockey program in general are so out of touch with what hockey is in what college hockey in 2022 is

Yeah, no. The school has it together, the program is struggling no doubt, but out of touch? I don't think so. I can see how you might have that impression if you are judging that and our "fans insight" from posts on our thread after a dismal weekend.

 

[McBain75]

Sweeping teams like the recent versions of UNH and UVM doesn't tell me anything I don't already know/assume about this team. Real answers about what it is and what it's ultimately capable of come from those games vs PC, UML, BC, and the upcoming huge weekends vs BC and BU. They're just a tease until they show they can consistently win those. I don't buy the whole "they lost so-and-so from last year" - if the recruits are as good as they're hyped to be, and if Levi is as good as he can be and is hyped to be, there shouldn't be too much of a let-off. I have very high expectations for this team these days.