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Quinnipiac Bobcats '11-'12 - Time to say bye?

Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats '11-'12 - Time to say bye?

Well... put a good squeeze on the toothpaste today! Colgate came out on fire and took it to us in the first. For a while late in the period I almost lost hope. The 2nd didn't start much better but we settled in and seemed to be skating a little better. 'Gate still had the upper hand but a really soft goal given up by the Raiders seemed to turn things around. From there things went from bad to worse for them giving up another 6 unanswered goals.

The Bobcats did a great job stifling Austin Smith which I think was really the key. They even managed to get under his skin as he took a dumb penalty in the 3rd well after the whistle on the 6th goal.

Admittedly it wasn't our best performance but anytime you can put a touchdown and extra point on the #12 team it has to be viewed as a good night.

Seven goals by seven different players. Well done boys. Now we just have to hope 20 days off doesn't cripple any of this momentum.
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats '11-'12 - Time to say bye?

MinniQUFan said:
Anyone know if there's a reason for such a long layoff
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My guess is we were top heavy during the first half with 3 mid-week games. Combine that with the fact that our travel partner has finals over the next week or so and there's a hole in January that needs to be filled. Nothing can be done about it now so we just need to hope for the best.
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats '11-'12 - Time to say bye?

After a layoff that was way too long, there's hockey at the Bank tonight!

Currently sitting in a tie for 6th place with only 8 games remaining, every point is critical. Hopefully there's no rust and the boys come out and take it to the Crimson and Big Green this weekend!

Go Q!
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats '11-'12 - Time to say bye?

MarkEagleUSA said:
My guess is we were top heavy during the first half with 3 mid-week games. Combine that with the fact that our travel partner has finals over the next week or so and there's a hole in January that needs to be filled. Nothing can be done about it now so we just need to hope for the best.
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Someone wrote on one of the news websites that Princeton had finals, so they couldn't play both weekends, and Rand had an exhibition game back out on him. He couldn't find any other games, I'm assuming since everyone is in conference play this time of year.

Strange game tonight. I was able to watch the stream -- TV guys kept talking about how the layoff didn't hurt QU, but I disagree. The Bobcats had the puck the entire first period, so their defense was never tested. Once Harvard woke up, they dominated play. QU took a lot of shots, but I can't think of more than 2 or 3 ten-bell saves by the two Harvard goalies. Quinnipiac threw a lot of pucks on net, but they weren't exactly grade "a" chances all night.

Defensively, I would have thought this team, which has been billed as an above-average defensive team, would have been better in their end zone. Because they really were not very good in their D zone. Lots of guys standing around, lots of guys reaching for the puck, lots of guys doing a real good imitation of a pylon. Did anyone go down to block one all night? I can't remember seeing one. Lots of guys trying to deflect shots with their sticks, but I don't remember seeing a guy lay out to eat a puck.

That game-winning goal by Harvard, Quinnipiac had three guys standing right around the net, so when the rebound came, they lost their high man, and the Harvard player was able to step into an uncontested rebound from the high slot. Obviously Hartzell was out of position after making the first save, but even if he was in position, he had a couple Bobcats screening him badly there.

I'm not sure if part of these mistakes was fatigue from the layoff, or just sloppiness. I'd think it was partly fatigue, since players are definitely not used to taking 20 games without competition. Obviously the team practiced, but you can't replicate game action in a workout.

Hope they do better against Dartmouth tomorrow. The mistakes the Bobcats made were more mental than physical, which is a good sign, I think. They're all fixable.
 
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Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats '11-'12 - Time to say bye?

ZYanksRule said:
I'm not sure if part of these mistakes was fatigue from the layoff, or just sloppiness. I'd think it was partly fatigue, since players are definitely not used to taking 20 games without competition. Obviously the team practiced, but you can't replicate game action in a workout.
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Sloppy is a good way to describe tonight. I think you could also use the word lazy. The layoff definitely showed in the second and third.

The mistakes the Bobcats made were more mental than physical, which is a good sign, I think. They're all fixable.
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I totally agree. Even Riga said in the post-game that he expects a different team tomorrow now that they have some game legs back. Unfortunately the guy who seemed to have the most trouble was Hartzell. After he gave up the second goal his confidence faltered and the third goal did him in. Rand said in his post game that the team did nothing to pick up Hartzy the way he's been saving them for the past several games.

While the loss was a tough one, it wasn't as bad as it could have been the way some of the other games went tonight. We're still in it so maybe this was the wake-up call the team needed. Tomorrow will tell us for sure. I hate the cliche but we're now in a must win situation. I do believe this team will respond the way they need to.

The $64,000 question will be who gets the start in net tomorrow. If it were me, I'd throw Hartzell right back into the fire and see how he responds.
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats '11-'12 - Time to say bye?

MarkEagleUSA said:
Sloppy is a good way to describe tonight. I think you could also use the word lazy. The layoff definitely showed in the second and third.

I totally agree. Even Riga said in the post-game that he expects a different team tomorrow now that they have some game legs back. Unfortunately the guy who seemed to have the most trouble was Hartzell. After he gave up the second goal his confidence faltered and the third goal did him in. Rand said in his post game that the team did nothing to pick up Hartzy the way he's been saving them for the past several games.

While the loss was a tough one, it wasn't as bad as it could have been the way some of the other games went tonight. We're still in it so maybe this was the wake-up call the team needed. Tomorrow will tell us for sure. I hate the cliche but we're now in a must win situation. I do believe this team will respond the way they need to.

The $64,000 question will be who gets the start in net tomorrow. If it were me, I'd throw Hartzell right back into the fire and see how he responds.
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Yeah, I think Hartzell should go right back out there. But he needs some help from his D. They were not very good tonight.

And Mark, in a league where everyone makes the playoffs, nothing is a must-win. Sure, I'd like a first-round bye, but as long as you're in, you've got a chance to get to Atlantic City. (No, I didn't almost type Albany. I swear).
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats '11-'12 - Time to say bye?

ZYanksRule said:
And Mark, in a league where everyone makes the playoffs, nothing is a must-win. Sure, I'd like a first-round bye, but as long as you're in, you've got a chance to get to Atlantic City. (No, I didn't almost type Albany. I swear).
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True, but my Bobcat pride usually gets the better of me! ;)

I also don't want to see yet another late-season stumble.
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats '11-'12 - Time to say bye?

MarkEagleUSA said:
True, but my Bobcat pride usually gets the better of me! ;)

I also don't want to see yet another late-season stumble.
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Oh make no mistake about it, they're want-to-wins, but I just can't call a game this time of year a must win, when all it means is a road game in the playoffs.

I'm not making a late-season stumble joke.
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats '11-'12 - Time to say bye?

Nice hard fought win tonight. For everything they did wrong last night, they made dramatic improvements tonight and pulled out the win by skating hard the entire game. Two surprises tonight: first, Clarke got the start. I thought for sure Rand would have thrown Hartzell right back into the fire but Clarke did a great job (and we need to know we can count on either 'tender down the stretch). The second surprise was Zerevinski as a scratch. Word is he has a slight hand injury and he missed only his third game as a Bobcat.

The win puts us solely into 6th place, only 3 pts out of 4th, but also 3 pts from 9th. Every point is critical from here on out.
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats '11-'12 - Time to say bye?

What are QU fans' thoughts on the 2012 East Regional at Bridgeport (3/23-3/24)? Are you planning on attending or only if the Bobcats make it and are playing in Bridgeport?
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats '11-'12 - Time to say bye?

bulldawg21 said:
What are QU fans' thoughts on the 2012 East Regional at Bridgeport (3/23-3/24)? Are you planning on attending or only if the Bobcats make it and are playing in Bridgeport?
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I doubt the Bobcats will be in Bridgeport if they make the tourney. They's most likely be a #4 seed and the low guys on the totem pole don't get moved.

I want to go to Bridgeport regardless but right now it looks like I can't make the 1st game on Friday.
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats '11-'12 - Time to say bye?

MarkEagleUSA said:
I doubt the Bobcats will be in Bridgeport if they make the tourney. They's most likely be a #4 seed and the low guys on the totem pole don't get moved.

I want to go to Bridgeport regardless but right now it looks like I can't make the 1st game on Friday.
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Hey MEUSA, You're gonna love this one. My wife--the lovely Mrs. Shot--attended a business luncheon today concerning the ski industry in Colorado. Lots of bigshots were in attendance. During lunch Mrs. Shot was seated next to the CEO of Vail Resorts. Get ready for it, he's Mr. Robert A. Katz. That's right, Mr. Bob Katz. Just thought you might get a chuckle outta that one. :p
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats '11-'12 - Time to say bye?

A tough weekend in the north country. We owe SLU for the OT loss at the Bank earlier this year and we need every point we can get to secure a top 4 spot. The Saints are on a high right now but we should be carrying some momentum from Saturday's win against Dartmouth. I expect to see a close game.

My guess is Clarke will get the start in net after his great performances last weekend. It would be sweet if the Jones-Jones-Peca line stays together and starts to produce as well as they look. I saw some potential from them last weekend.

It's crunch time with only 6 games left. We have to take care of our business and not worry about what anyone else does. We don't control our own destiny but no points won't get us anywhere. Play tough boys.

Go Q!
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats '11-'12 - Time to say bye?

Another tough weekend in central NY. We need to come home with a minimum of 2 points IMO in order to stay in the running for that 1st round bye. I know the bye isn't that big a deal to some, but I truly believe this team needs to take that "next" step and the bye is it. Again, every point is crucial and we need to take care of our own business and not worry about what others are doing.

Go Q!
 
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