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Quinnipiac Bobcats 2018-19 - Let's shuffle off to Buffalo

Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats 2018-19 - Let's shuffle off to Buffalo

Here are my 2 cents on this season and this last weekend for what its worth.

- There are very few that thought this team would be where they are today. I think the preseason poll had us somewhere between 6-8 place and the ECAC pick the final standings thread has us at an average of 6th. We are doing better than anyone thought.

- We are not as bad as some think if we were we could never have beat UMass or Cornell or any number of other teams. But yes we have issues. We have played better out of conference, we have played better away than home and if we play both Friday and Saturday the Saturday game is usually a bit of a mess.

- We have a tough time with teams that have a aggressive forecheck we have serious problems getting out of our own zone. This has cost us quite a few games. Our guys are almost always looking for the pass up and if they cant find it they just bang it up the boards. If a team has a good forecheck they should just sit one guy in the center on the blueline we will cough it up. Rafferty has done that o numerous occasions trying to go across ice and has led to several goals. This is where we are missing Fortunato when he would get in a bad situation he had the skating and puck handling ability to bring it up ice. Saturday night I noticed that Cukste was playing a more offensive game than he usually does maybe trying to make up for Fortunatos loss.

- Honestly I think it will take a little more time but they will work it out. I'm glad we have Brown on Friday as I think at this point they are a stronger team than Yale who we play Saturday. Our guys always get up for the Yale game. But either way if we wind up in 5th place and having to play St Lawrence that might not be such a bad thing.

- I think we will make it Lake placid. I dont how far we will get there or in the NCAA but I think we have a shot at doing well.
 
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Turk said:
Here are my 2 cents on this season and this last weekend for what its worth.

- There are very few that thought this team would be where they are today. I think the preseason poll had us somewhere between 6-8 place and the ECAC pick the final standings thread has us at an average of 6th. We are doing better than anyone thought.

- We are not as bad as some think if we were we could never have beat UMass or Cornell or any number of other teams. But yes we have issues. We have played better out of conference, we have played better away than home and if we play both Friday and Saturday the Saturday game is usually a bit of a mess.

- We have a tough time with teams that have a aggressive forecheck we have serious problems getting out of our own zone. This has cost us quite a few games. Our guys are almost always looking for the pass up and if they cant find it they just bang it up the boards. If a team has a good forecheck they should just sit one guy in the center on the blueline we will cough it up. Rafferty has done that o numerous occasions trying to go across ice and has led to several goals. This is where we are missing Fortunato when he would get in a bad situation he had the skating and puck handling ability to bring it up ice. Saturday night I noticed that Cukste was playing a more offensive game than he usually does maybe trying to make up for Fortunatos loss.

- Honestly I think it will take a little more time but they will work it out. I'm glad we have Brown on Friday as I think at this point they are a stronger team than Yale who we play Saturday. Our guys always get up for the Yale game. But either way if we wind up in 5th place and having to play St Lawrence that might not be such a bad thing.

- I think we will make it Lake placid. I dont how far we will get there or in the NCAA but I think we have a shot at doing well.
Click to expand...

Turk, nice overview. I think we all enjoy rooting for the team. QUalum, Z, Mark and the rest of us enjoy this time in the light with a top 10 nationally ranked team and we hate it when the wheels turn into pumpkins and in this case, Brandon Fortunato turned into Ethan DeJong or Karlis Cukste.

Year in and year out, 1 player away from crumbling - Sam Anas, Mathew Peca

I like your optimism and respect the coaching staff.

Who is that 1 player going to be? Who do you all think it will be?
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats 2018-19 - Let's shuffle off to Buffalo

SnowDogFlyer said:
Turk, nice overview. I think we all enjoy rooting for the team. QUalum, Z, Mark and the rest of us enjoy this time in the light with a top 10 nationally ranked team and we hate it when the wheels turn into pumpkins and in this case, Brandon Fortunato turned into Ethan DeJong or Karlis Cukste.

Year in and year out, 1 player away from crumbling - Sam Anas, Mathew Peca

I like your optimism and respect the coaching staff.

Who is that 1 player going to be? Who do you all think it will be?
Click to expand...

One player away from crumbling? So basically you're saying that every one of our really good teams has had a superstar? Hate to break it to you, but that's how every good team does it. I'm **** happy we had those players, because without them we don't appear in two national title games.

We've had one of the most successful programs in the nation over the last 8 years or so. Do I think we're really the 6th best team in the country this season? No, I don't. The team has played above its heads this year, but the future is so bright around here I need a pair of sunglasses.
 
ZYanksRule said:
One player away from crumbling? So basically you're saying that every one of our really good teams has had a superstar? Hate to break it to you, but that's how every good team does it. I'm **** happy we had those players, because without them we don't appear in two national title games.

We've had one of the most successful programs in the nation over the last 8 years or so. Do I think we're really the 6th best team in the country this season? No, I don't. The team has played above its heads this year, but the future is so bright around here I need a pair of sunglasses.
Click to expand...

I will say that in each of our last 4 tournaments one of our best players will not be fully healthy. Anas in 14, 15 and 16 battled injuries and wasnt the same player in the tournament and this year Fortunato is done for the season. Wish we can go into a tournament game without an important player hurt.
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats 2018-19 - Let's shuffle off to Buffalo

ZYanksRule said:
One player away from crumbling? So basically you're saying that every one of our really good teams has had a superstar? Hate to break it to you, but that's how every good team does it. I'm **** happy we had those players, because without them we don't appear in two national title games.

We've had one of the most successful programs in the nation over the last 8 years or so. Do I think we're really the 6th best team in the country this season? No, I don't. The team has played above its heads this year, but the future is so bright around here I need a pair of sunglasses.
Click to expand...

I agree that this team might be playing over its head this year not because they are not good but because we have a bunch of freshman (13) who have stepped up and did more than was expected. Are we a 6th in the nation team overall no but on any given night this team has shown itself to be just that.

Im not sure what the best comparisons are with the teams that went to the frozen 4 but if we look at 2 parameters wins and team goals before starting the playoffs we are not that far off pace.

2012/13 wins 24 goals 129
2015/16 wins 26 goals 139
this year wins 23 goals 118 with 2 games to go

Post season I think they can make it to Lake Placid. Will they go all the way who knows. We have beat and/or tied every team in the ECAC this year so its possible. Its really going to come down to can they get over the loss of fortunato and work out the kinks? As for the NCAA we beat the number 2 team (UMass) 4-0 and then went in to their building and held our own for 2 periods with a 1-0 lead. third period they scored and then went ahead and we could not fight back in the remaining time. So can they beat top 10 teams yes will they who knows if they can work out the kinks before then.

This team has done more than I expected and going forward hopefully they will just continue to get better. My one fear for next year is defense. With only 2 upper class man Rafferty and Cukste who both may leave at the end of the year (no evidence but possible) the remaining defenseman are all freshman except O'Conner who has been playing forward but could move to the back line.

All in all Im looking forward to the post season and we will see what happens.
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats 2018-19 - Let's shuffle off to Buffalo

Turk said:
I agree that this team might be playing over its head this year not because they are not good but because we have a bunch of freshman (13) who have stepped up and did more than was expected. Are we a 6th in the nation team overall no but on any given night this team has shown itself to be just that.

Im not sure what the best comparisons are with the teams that went to the frozen 4 but if we look at 2 parameters wins and team goals before starting the playoffs we are not that far off pace.

2012/13 wins 24 goals 129
2015/16 wins 26 goals 139
this year wins 23 goals 118 with 2 games to go

Post season I think they can make it to Lake Placid. Will they go all the way who knows. We have beat and/or tied every team in the ECAC this year so its possible. Its really going to come down to can they get over the loss of fortunato and work out the kinks? As for the NCAA we beat the number 2 team (UMass) 4-0 and then went in to their building and held our own for 2 periods with a 1-0 lead. third period they scored and then went ahead and we could not fight back in the remaining time. So can they beat top 10 teams yes will they who knows if they can work out the kinks before then.

This team has done more than I expected and going forward hopefully they will just continue to get better. My one fear for next year is defense. With only 2 upper class man Rafferty and Cukste who both may leave at the end of the year (no evidence but possible) the remaining defenseman are all freshman except O'Conner who has been playing forward but could move to the back line.

All in all Im looking forward to the post season and we will see what happens.
Click to expand...

This will be my concern too for next year and I bet there is a good chance Shortridge goes pro this year as well. They should be ok with the talent they have up front but they really need at least of one Cukste and Rafferty back next season but if both are good then the D will be really young.
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats 2018-19 - Let's shuffle off to Buffalo

I don't see Rafferty leaving. Cukste would be a big maybe IMHO too. Losing Shorty might happen but I doubt it as well.

I think we're safe in that regard.
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats 2018-19 - Let's shuffle off to Buffalo

MarkEagleUSA said:
I don't see Rafferty leaving. Cukste would be a big maybe IMHO too. Losing Shorty might happen but I doubt it as well.

I think we're safe in that regard.
Click to expand...

I think Shortridge time to capitalize is now if I were him. Going to be 24 in April and he's going to be coming off a possible Mike Richter award season. That same pro money might not be there in a year. Look I want him back too but I'd be pretty surprised if he returned as I believe their future goaltender pipeline has planned for this as there could be two goaltenders coming in next year.
 
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ZYanksRule said:
One player away from crumbling? So basically you're saying that every one of our really good teams has had a superstar? Hate to break it to you, but that's how every good team does it. I'm **** happy we had those players, because without them we don't appear in two national title games.

We've had one of the most successful programs in the nation over the last 8 years or so. Do I think we're really the 6th best team in the country this season? No, I don't. The team has played above its heads this year, but the future is so bright around here I need a pair of sunglasses.
Click to expand...

Every team has more than 1 star, but several players that feed well and play above their heads as result of that star(s). The loss of that player, star or team MVP (same thing in this context) is a problem.

I never looked at Brandon as that star, but look at the result.

The team captains could not rally the team last year, as result of other issues I genuinely have no idea about, but the results on the ice over the season were a lost year.

This year, we all know they played over their heads, and surprised everyone, including opposing coaches. But, that single person that appears to have responsibility in elevating the team play may be Brandon.

Problem with college hockey is that many players will be gone next year or new next year so team chemistry is a fleeting thing...here one moment and gone the next.

So, who is that player OR coach that ignites this team again..?
 
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Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats 2018-19 - Let's shuffle off to Buffalo

SnowDogFlyer said:
So, who is that player OR coach that ignites this team again..?
Click to expand...
Saturday night Mr. Priske did everything in his power to carry the team. He is by far the best captain I've seen in blue & gold, and he will get the troops motivated.
 
QUAlum2004 said:
I think Shortridge time to capitalize is now if I were him. Going to be 24 in April and he's going to be coming off a possible Mike Richter award season. That same pro money might not be there in a year. Look I want him back too but I'd be pretty surprised if he returned as I believe their future goaltender pipeline has planned for this as there could be two goaltenders coming in next year.
Click to expand...

Unless he hasn’t graduated, and even then, I can’t see a scenario where Shortridge returns. His stock can’t get any Higher than it is now. Priske’s return might have earned him a bigger Payday than leaving last year but I don’t see that with Shortridge. What else can he do to improve his stock next year? Maybe Priske’s success will give Rafferty and Cukste an incentive to stay. We can hope at least
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats 2018-19 - Let's shuffle off to Buffalo

MarkEagleUSA said:
Saturday night Mr. Priske did everything in his power to carry the team. He is by far the best captain I've seen in blue & gold, and he will get the troops motivated.
Click to expand...

I agree Priske as the Captain is the man to do it. The other person is Tufto he always seems to be up and enthusiastic if hes down I can see it affecting others.
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats 2018-19 - Let's shuffle off to Buffalo

I just saw Priskie's goal on top five plays of the week, holy moly ! I wasn't aware that he's your top goal scorer with seventeen, and a defenseman, very very impressed. HRU Mark, you making the trip to Placid this year ?

Hoping he's a Bruins draftpick.
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats 2018-19 - Let's shuffle off to Buffalo

sshablak said:
I just saw Priskie's goal on top five plays of the week, holy moly ! I wasn't aware that he's your top goal scorer with seventeen, and a defenseman, very very impressed. HRU Mark, you making the trip to Placid this year ?

Hoping he's a Bruins draftpick.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately not he's a Washington Capitals draft pick.
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats 2018-19 - Let's shuffle off to Buffalo

I have question and hope someone may have a suggestion. Is anyone else having issues with the broadcast from ESPN+ having a lot of lag and having the picture jump around. Makes it hard to watch. I thought it might be the WiFi so for the Union game I plugged the computer directly into the network using an ethernet cord and the quality was no better. But next day I watched the RIP game which is not through ESPN+ and it was crystal clear with no lag even using WiF. So I think its their broadcast. Any suggestions as to getting a better signal would be appreciated. I have tickets to the Yale game but want to watch the Brown game and am dreading watching the players jump all over the ice. I hope the ECAC did not sign a multi year deal with ESPN+
 
Re: Quinnipiac Bobcats 2018-19 - Let's shuffle off to Buffalo

I myself have only had one instance where the ESPN+ feed went dead. Ither than that I've had decent success watching it. There have been numerous complaints in other threads about flags, jumping, etc. It has to be the feed. It's a shame anyone has to put up with it and I'm sure neither ESPN or the league really care.
 
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