Clarkson is Really Good
Seventh Straight Loss
Record: 4-10-0
The Friars lost 5-1 Friday and 4-0 Saturday to Clarkson. I was very impressed with the Team play of Clarkson they attack and defend as a group of 5 and created the man advantage in all three zones because of it. Glad I made the trip to see them, Clarkson will be in the hunt in March. They were physical and used their strength to outmuscle the Friars who competed hard all weekend. I hope the Friars watch and learn from the video how and why Clarkson shut them down. Howe is an excellent goaltender best I have seen this year.
Both games the Friars played well in the first period only yielding goals late in the period. Friars started the games well dumping, chasing and forechecking hard. They would get the puck and move it around the zone, out to the points and showed patience.
The Team, coaches and players obviously felt the pressure to beat Clarkson and end their losing streak. In both games it was a different Team in the 2nd and 3rd period once they fell behind - they tried to win alone versus play as a Team. A lot of the Team is from MN and at times it looks like all the players are trying to play like MN HS hockey lugging the puck end to end. D and F showed this and it just is not a winning approach for success at D1 and in Hockey East. The Team needs to have D pairs that work together to help lower Goals Against, not try to rush and score in the offensive zone. Clarkson did not need the help of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-1 they created because Friar D were down to low in O zone, tightening up D is clear need. Friars were outshot in both games and that is not going to work as it did in the Lacasse era. Forwards in the O zone need to play like they did in the first period, get the puck low, move to the points, control the puck and move to scoring opportunities. The Team forwards are great players but you can't rush 1 versus 3 or even 1 vs 4 and expect success. When shut down on these rushes the forwards took careless O zone penalties, hooking, tripping or checking from behind penalties - this Team or no Team can win from being in the penalty box, right!? This is not a winning approach and until it changes the results and frustration will continue to show. It is not lack of effort that is resulting in losses, it is lack of Teamwork and each player doing their given role and working with their D partner or their line mates, trust is a a big thing in the success of a hockey team. It is a strong coaching staff and I have faith they will get the Team back to basics and play the players who execute in the game plan for a full 60 minutes - success won't come till they do.
I watch a lot of hockey but don't understand the current Friar Power Play putting a F back on D at the point? it is not generating more scoring chances for PC only short handed scoring opportunities for opponents which we clearly don't need when trailing? I do love seeing D Rebecca Morse as a F on the power play and based on scoring challenges would love to see her move to F as we get through injuries. It would also resolve the odd 7 D rotation PC has tried all year.
The Team does have some injuries and may have received a couple of more in the last minute of the game yesterday.
This adversity stretch can hopefully build a stronger Team and come in handy as the Team moves forward versus Maine, Brown and Yale leading up to break.
GO FRIARS!!
