Re: Northeastern Huskies 2011-2012 Season Thread: Year of the Mad Dog
Ok, I was at the game tonight with some good Jr players form both the Boston Jr Bruins and the South Shore Kings and I may have to admit, I was surprised. NU skated a woeful 1st period and was out shot by a wide margin however, with some sloppy NH goaltending and some ferotious NU hustle to the pucks in front of the net they came out of the period 3-0. Granted as a creature of habbit, I was still not comfortable, then to my astonishment they settled down and played 2 solid periods of the best hockey in the offensive zone I have seen since 2009 and then back to the 1980’s. However, I noticed something very strange as I watched and waited in the front row of Section 50 for an classic NU unraveling that thankfully never transpired. The team is disciplined, the most disciplined hockey I have seen in 20 years. Lots of smart play, no giving up odd man rushes, control through the neutral zone and then, dumping when no good opportunity presented itself to allow fresh legs on the ice. It was like watching a clinic on fore checking and cycling! Clearly, the top NH players, were, for the most part, better skaters, faster, & better stick handlers, but tonight they weren't better hockey players and they were not a better team by any stretch of the imagination. They pressed on 2 or 3 power plays and NU answered the call like they haven’t done in decades. Nice job boys! Also, Chris made some great saves and turned away perhaps 27 shots, However, aside from 1 cross bar and another one or two through the crease, NH was never really even close to scoring a goal, Why? because if Rawlings has a chance to square up and see the puck he might be one of the best goalies in the country he is so big that its like shooting a slap shot into a garage door, He was technically near perfect, with rebound control and the best lateral movement I have seen in him since the BU opener a couple years back. The d got out of his sight lines every time they needed to & let him make the save that he needed to make. They also most have blocked like 30 shots. They never got chip-ie, a style that I loved to play and embraced, and that Cronin seemed to tolerate and even condone at times, but it seems that Coach M will have no part of it and when things escalated he changed up lines and took players out for a shift or two, and all this without Rob Dongara tonight, who was dressed but didn't see the ice. I suspect, you wont be seeing much of him either, too bad, as he is exciting to watch, but adds little to team "O" outside of his abilty to make you look foolish on the odd man rush. Although one of the fastest players in college hockey, & he may have specific uses on PP, set play, etc, he is one dementional in some aspects, thus I hope the coaches work with him to improve his on ice sensability. Anyway, I have been critical over the years and I know this was not New Hampshire’s night, but some of the Cronin teams would not have been able to slam this door. NH warmed up the bus at 10 minutes of the 3rd and that I have not seen in all my 25 + years ever, playing or watching. I was impressed at times with the will and determination. It was fun to watch them tonight! I don't recall any shut outs against New Hampshire. I know its early, but, all you can ask for is quality effort and tonight I saw that! That was a well deserved win.
). Regardless, i know he will find his way back in the line up sooner rather than later.
