Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

[Huskies01]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

Watched my first game on Saturday night. Some thoughts. The reason for the lack of offense has to do with the defense. Like I said, first game I watched, but if the game plan has all 5 guys below the circles on defense, its going to be hard to even get offense off of the counter. Not to mention the opposing dmen had huge amounts of space to get off shots. Basically we are playing turtle hockey in our own end, something you would expect with a team under a first year coach and no talent, not one with a coach 4 years into his term with his "own guys." But here we are.

But when we did manage to get into the offensive zone, we created some chances, but the Colgate goalie was able to make all the saves. Not to many diving across the net or anything like that, but he made all the saves he had to make. We also seem to take lots of shots "fading away" from the net. Backing up as we shoot. Those never go in.

As for the PP, its showing marked improvement. 0-10 or whatever on the year, but they have not given up any shorties! So improvement!

As for the frosh, Stevens looks like a keeper. Cockerill can make a pass forward which is a rarity for this group of dman. Tape to tape too! #9 did not look good. But its early.

UMASS will be interesting this coming week.

 

[TheRevengeance]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

As for the PP, its showing marked improvement. 0-10 or whatever on the year, but they have not given up any shorties! So improvement!

They were sure trying on that PP to end the second though. There was the breakaway on Roy and at least 2-3 odd man chances going back.

 

[NU_Husky]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

As for the PP, its showing marked improvement. 0-10 or whatever on the year, but they have not given up any shorties! So improvement!

Could be worse. The NY Rangers are 0-17. I mean, 0% is 0%, but things can always be worse.

 

[Split-N]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

I just spent some time looking back at the off-season thread and came up with a couple of quotes that might be worth paraphrasing here:

--This team won't have any problems putting the puck in the net.
--Team defense looks to be the biggest limitation
--A lot depends on which Clay Witt we get: Pre-BP or post-BP.
--We'll know a lot about this team after the Colgate series.

The unpleasant surprise is that the offense has turned out to be a bigger liability than the defense. Just two goals (vs UVM after the outcome was no longer in doubt) in nine periods of play. Even allowing for the possibility that forwards may be hanging back too much to help the defense, the fact remains that not much seems to happen once they move into the attacking zone. The whole offensive scheme , to my eyes at least, seems to be aimless and uninspired, manifested by poor passing, inability to finish plays, and inability to sustain play in the attacking zone for protracted periods. If I'm an opposing coach or goaltender looking at video of NU's first three games, I find nothing to be overly concerned about.

So now it's on to UMass and a game that holds a level of significance that nobody thought it would. And for all the wrong reasons.

 

[Bad knees]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

What Split N posted is absolutely correct . I also have some real concerns. Roy with no goals and one assist and Szmatula with one goal. These 2 guys need to get going and then after them who can step up. Sikura has looked tentative and the one surprising player that has impressed me is the younger Stevens. The offense which has been taughted has sputtered from the start. The PP is non existant hopefully this will get going. On the positive side the defense has improved I really like Owens he fit well

 

[NU_Husky]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

Copied from my DHD post for those who don't read there:

Went to open skate again like I often do, and practice plans were up, with lines. Some very drastic changes, but some people will be quite happy.

Roy/Szmatula/NStevens
ZAR/Stevens/Snydeman
McMurtry/Hedges/Reid
Sikura/Rosenthal/Collier
Jameison/Pond

Dax/Darou
Cockerill/Benning
Owens/Schechter
Gunn/Fennell
Harms

I personally love the top line now. I also love the 4th line, I think that combo could make some things happen. Pond, while physical, added nothing offensively, so Rosenthal will aid that. It's a smaller line, but could be effective. No complaints with the D pairing either.

 

[beanstalk]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

Copied from my DHD post for those who don't read there:

Went to open skate again like I often do, and practice plans were up, with lines. Some very drastic changes, but some people will be quite happy.

Roy/Szmatula/NStevens
ZAR/Stevens/Snydeman
McMurtry/Hedges/Reid
Sikura/Rosenthal/Collier
Jameison/Pond

Dax/Darou
Cockerill/Benning
Owens/Schechter
Gunn/Fennell
Harms

I personally love the top line now. I also love the 4th line, I think that combo could make some things happen. Pond, while physical, added nothing offensively, so Rosenthal will aid that. It's a smaller line, but could be effective. No complaints with the D pairing either.

No doubt that Szmats and Roy need to be together. They should have been from day one (kudos to Huskies 01 for screaming that from the beginning of last year). But I think the reason you like the fourth line so much is that two-thirds of it should be our second line. Switch out Rosenthal and Collier with Stevens and Snyderman and we will have a more skilled second line, but still with some grit. I don't know why there's a rule that Stevens can never go lower than second line.

 

[Huskies01]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

No doubt that Szmats and Roy need to be together. They should have been from day one (kudos to Huskies 01 for screaming that from the beginning of last year). But I think the reason you like the fourth line so much is that two-thirds of it should be our second line. Switch out Rosenthal and Collier with Stevens and Snyderman and we will have a more skilled second line, but still with some grit. I don't know why there's a rule that Stevens can never go lower than second line.

I find moving ZAR down interesting, but not a big deal. I am not sure why Snydeman needs to be so high, but not a big deal. I think NStevens up on the first is a reward for playing well his first two games, plus his ability to dig out the puck.

Hopefully Roesnthal and Collier click and gets more time then a normal 4th line does.

While I did advocate for Roy and Szmatula together, I think the weekly changing on lines comes off as a panic move at this time. They need to chill out, and let guys settle in more. Eventually the two top guys were going to end up together, but it did not have to happen this week. Wait and see if someone else can center for Roy, before you go this route, just in case you do find a fit.

One of the issues up front has been lack of growth in both Stevens and Hedges from last year to this year. Good teams ate those two up last year, and what ya know, same in three games so far. Its still early, but still...

 

[NU_Husky]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

No doubt that Szmats and Roy need to be together. They should have been from day one (kudos to Huskies 01 for screaming that from the beginning of last year). But I think the reason you like the fourth line so much is that two-thirds of it should be our second line. Switch out Rosenthal and Collier with Stevens and Snyderman and we will have a more skilled second line, but still with some grit. I don't know why there's a rule that Stevens can never go lower than second line.

He did go down to 3rd at times last year. That's where I think he belongs, to be honest. He'd good on the faceoff dot, but no other skills stand out to me. Collier I also have tempered my expectations, seeing him get tossed around against Colgate. I don't think he's a 2nd liner, but I do think he can contribute on the stat sheet.

And obviously these lines were from Monday. Not a guarantee to be the case come Friday. A strong indication, but not gospel.

 

[Split-N]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

...Collier I also have tempered my expectations, seeing him get tossed around against Colgate. I don't think he's a 2nd liner, but I do think he can contribute on the stat sheet...

You make a valid point on Collier's being manhandled a bit but, from what I could see on the stream, I actually thought he showed more positives than negatives. He's apparently not bashful about getting physical and inserting himself into the play, and seemed to provide desperately needed spark. (Would have had a tip-in goal in the second game with a better feed.) He could very well turn out to be one of those smaller "gnat" type guys that have a knack for knocking opponents off of their game.

Speaking of physical presence, I keep waiting and waiting for Adam Reid to make himself a physical force to be reckoned with.

 

[TheRevengeance]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

I liked ZAR on Roy's line. Probably for no reason other than the one game last year they put up like 8 points together. Moving RR/Collier up to the third line and Pond onto the checking line to get McMurtry off the ice would also not make me sad at all.

 

[HHound]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

Copied from my DHD post for those who don't read there:

Went to open skate again like I often do, and practice plans were up, with lines. Some very drastic changes, but some people will be quite happy.

Roy/Szmatula/NStevens
ZAR/Stevens/Snydeman
McMurtry/Hedges/Reid
Sikura/Rosenthal/Collier
Jameison/Pond

Dax/Darou
Cockerill/Benning
Owens/Schechter
Gunn/Fennell
Harms

I personally love the top line now. I also love the 4th line, I think that combo could make some things happen. Pond, while physical, added nothing offensively, so Rosenthal will aid that. It's a smaller line, but could be effective. No complaints with the D pairing either.

Also copied from my DHD post. It would be great if more of you would visit and post there.

I agree with you about the lines. For those who have been around awhile (KUpton et, al): Hopefully, we appear to have a Charlie Huck at center, a Jim Martel at LW and we need to find a Dave Sherlock on RW (he played JV during most of his Fr. year). This was our all-time top line beginning in 1970 (the first year that freshman were eligible) through 1974. I would have preferred Torin, but if NStevens is a tiger along the boards and can muck to the puck out to the gunners, that's OK with me.

One last thought. We have had zero "puck luck" around the net so far. "Puck luck" is an area that the statisticians have not yet invaded, but my ample gut, and more than a few years of watching the game, tell me that these things tend to even out over the course of the season. And the harder we work, the luckier we'll get.



The fourth line is made up of three guys who earned their stripes on offense. They've probably spent very few shifts on a checking line during their hockey lives. What exactly will their role be? BC and Sikura look like they may be pretty good forecheckers. Rosenthal may have to supply the muscle. Should be interesting.



As for the D: I am learning to avert my eyes when Benning comes over the boards. Based on his play so far, he is doing the same thing. I'm sorry to say that I'd rather see 61 out there or play with 5 Ds. Has anyone heard a prognosis for Sauce? It would be nice if he could return for the Q series, but if he isn't able to practice.... . He had a serious knee injury and operation during his last year in the USHL. I'd hate to think this ding is related to that.

 

[Motorboaters]

. As for the D: I am learning to avert my eyes when Benning comes over the boards. Based on his play so far, he is doing the same thing. I'm sorry to say that I'd rather see 61 out there or play with 5 Ds. Has anyone heard a prognosis for Sauce? It would be nice if he could return for the Q series, but if he isn't able to practice.... . He had a serious knee injury and operation during his last year in the USHL. I'd hate to think this ding is related to that.

I believe I saw Saucerman walking around at the second game in Colgate so I don't think it is that bad.

I still don't understand why the staff keeps sending out McMurtry. He is a turnover machine and seems to negate whatever talent his linemates have. Last weekend they kept throwing him out there with Roy and on the PP and it is obvious that he is a third liner at best.

As for the PP, maybe the coaching staff could take a couple of points from the Bruins PP. They seem to be clicking pretty well right now.

 

[NU_Husky]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

it is obvious that he is a third liner at best.

As for the PP, maybe the coaching staff could take a couple of points from the Bruins PP. They seem to be clicking pretty well right now.

I honestly think you're being generous with that 3rd line comment. Huskies01 had a good stat on Murchy during the game, I forget what it was. But basically, Murchy has put up less-than-middling numbers in his time here.

Funny enough about the B's PP, Keefe I know watches them religiously. So he's seeing the success just like you are. Hope some of assimilates into his thoughts for his own PP units

 

[RossiRules]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

I said he needed to fix the lines last week, well I kinda said that, and they have at least attempted it! Hopefully it shakes out. Although, I totally believe that if ZAR and Roy aren’t together, not only aren't we going to score many goals but I rest my case, that JM is the idiot I remember him to be from Constitutional Law, American Presidency, and Western Civ. However, perhaps he feels he has no other choice because clearly those two Stevens Bros., when paired together, appear to have the offensive fire power and accuracy of a Daisy Red Rider BB gun. See you all at the UMASS game on Friday night, However, if we don't score at least 3 or 4 goals Friday night against a sub par UMASS team, and I really don’t care what Michigan team they just beat, as they are not a great HE team, we are going to be in for a seriously long season. I mean any season you start 0-4 may be a good indicator of future failure in a 35 game season when you play in a league where you are going to have 10 or 12 league games against ranked opponents. Also is Roy now the guy between the pipes ? or is this going to be a platoon approach, becasue I think D Roy played well enough last week to earn the start on Friday night.

 

[TheRevengeance]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

I don't think you can possibly go away from Witt. He imo played better on Friday than Roy did on Saturday (nothing against Derick, he had a good game himself) and he has the experience and captaincy on his side. I think it was more of a team wake up and get it together change than a future indicator, unless Witt turns back into 4 GAA Witt and the magic of last winter shows to be a complete fluke.

 

[NU_Husky]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

I don't think you can possibly go away from Witt.

I agree. Whether it was luck, sustained success, skill finally shining through, whatever you want to call it, Witt has shown that he can have serious shut-down ability in hockey east. Derick has shown struggles against the likes of Huntsville, St. Lawrence, and (albeit a much better team) Colgate. I say ride Witt all year, especially in HE games. Sprinkle Derick in for non-conference games, keep him sharp and prep him for next year, where the competition again is wide open between Roy, Theut, and Ruck. There is a reason it was said in the preseason that Witt will carry this team, et al. Because he is the guy. Live and die by way of the Witt Wagon.

 

[Huskies01]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

Witt lost his magic fairy dust after the BC Beanpot loss. I have no issues with either of the backups getting time, as I think the guy who was Top 3 in Save % for most of last season will not be returning. Not saying he will be bad, but I do not think he is going to steal as many games this year as he did last. Roy was fine on Saturday except for the 2nd goal where he pushed his save into a bad spot that led to the rebound goal. Cant kick the puck out to the circle like that.

As for lineup. JM's way has to always been to move guys around. The only change I would make is to put the 3 Americans back together, and keep ZAR on the first. The Americans would make a fine checking line with some offensive upside if they could get the puck to the front of the net and crash. They finally got guys on this team who can play with Reid, and then we only it give it one game. Stupid.

The problem with trying to copy the Bruins PP is that we do not have dmen who can move or shoot the puck like Torey Krug. Maybe the new kid can get to that point, but I wouldn't put that pressure on him yet. They tried to make Roy that guy last year, but he is our best forward, the other teams collapse to him because they have zero respect for the other guys out there with him, and who can blame them? Someone other then Roy needs to score a few on the PP to make teams respect the entire 5 man unit. That's when time and space will open up. Right now you pressure our guys they either turn it over with a bad pass, or shoot hard and wide which gets by everyone and leads to odd man breaks.

I was expecting this team to be middle of the pack anyway. If they end up towards the bottom of the middle, so be it. They were do some regression anyway after last season. They were worse then their record showed. Its just been catching up since after the Beanpot.

by the way - remember last season when our freshmen class was ranked so high? Take out Szmatula, what is everyone thinking now? Time for the sophomores to pick it up.

 

[HHound]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

I said he needed to fix the lines last week, well I kinda said that, and they have at least attempted it! Hopefully it shakes out. Although, I totally believe that if ZAR and Roy aren’t together, not only aren't we going to score many goals but I rest my case, that JM is the idiot I remember him to be from Constitutional Law, American Presidency, and Western Civ

Rossi/Mike, whoever - You are a special kind of rectal-cerebral inversion! You have been carrying around a massive axe that you are trying to grind on Jim Madigan's neck, yet you have no idea who you are talking about. It may surprise you to learn that JM never took Constitutional Law or American Presidency classes. Why would he? He is/was a Canadian citizen who was raised in Montreal and Toronto. He was a marketing/management major with a minimal interest in those subjects as he expected to return to Canada to pursue a career. He ws four years ahead of you and carrying a B- average.
Don't you think it would be rather unlikely that he would have had three classes with you in your freshman year?

What happened? Did someone tell you that the person you saw was Jim Madigan - and you believed him. It isn't enough that in your posts you have usurped the name of one of our most colorful players, you have significantly exaggerated your role as a Co-op employer, you intimated that you are a important donor to the University/hockey program (which you are not). That isn't enough for you. You have maligned an individual who has been a major asset to Northeastern for close to 30 years, in a variety of ways, and who has earned the respect of many hundereds of co-workers, athletes, and alumni who have had dealings with him.

I have two suggestions for you. First, show that you are a man with the bawls to call Jim and to reintroduce yourself to him. Apologize for your boorish behavior (some might call it "stupidity"). If you think you know so much about the sport of hockey, use that call to share some of your "insights". I guarantee that he'll show more respect for your amateur observations than you have shown for his professional efforts to field a competitive team.

Second: Stick to commenting on the team and its play. You apparently know a little bit about the sport and your views may enlighten other posters. Stop your self-aggrandizement (a.k.a) bragging and your disparaging comments about someone you really don't know and apparent have never spoken to.

The other posters and I will be interested to know what you learned from your conversation with Jim - assuming that you call him at 617-373-3376.

 

[retsap71]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014-15: Release the Hounds!

Rossi/Mike, whoever - You are a special kind of rectal-cerebral inversion! You have been carrying around a massive axe that you are trying to grind on Jim Madigan's neck, yet you have no idea who you are talking about. It may surprise you to learn that JM never took Constitutional Law or American Presidency classes. Why would he? He is/was a Canadian citizen who was raised in Montreal and Toronto. He was a marketing/management major with a minimal interest in those subjects as he expected to return to Canada to pursue a career. He ws four years ahead of you and carrying a B- average.
Don't you think it would be rather unlikely that he would have had three classes with you in your freshman year?

What happened? Did someone tell you that the person you saw was Jim Madigan - and you believed him. It isn't enough that in your posts you have usurped the name of one of our most colorful players, you have significantly exaggerated your role as a Co-op employer, you intimated that you are a important donor to the University/hockey program (which you are not). That isn't enough for you. You have maligned an individual who has been a major asset to Northeastern for close to 30 years, in a variety of ways, and who has earned the respect of many hundereds of co-workers, athletes, and alumni who have had dealings with him.

I have two suggestions for you. First, show that you are a man with the bawls to call Jim and to reintroduce yourself to him. Apologize for your boorish behavior (some might call it "stupidity"). If you think you know so much about the sport of hockey, use that call to share some of your "insights". I guarantee that he'll show more respect for your amateur observations than you have shown for his professional efforts to field a competitive team.

Second: Stick to commenting on the team and its play. You apparently know a little bit about the sport and your views may enlighten other posters. Stop your self-aggrandizement (a.k.a) bragging and your disparaging comments about someone you really don't know and apparent have never spoken to.

The other posters and I will be interested to know what you learned from your conversation with Jim - assuming that you call him at 617-373-3376.

I also personally know Jim and Rossi's comments are so off base. I have just assumed all along that nobody takes any of them to heart. JM must have beaten him up somewhere on campus as a lonely freshman cause this guy definitely has an major ax to grind.