The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

[Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres.]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

So I'm trying to decide which is worse: Opening a mailing today from a local funeral home about pre-planning for the inevitable, or watching ND lose to Providence.

I know, I know, it's early, but if someone had asked 10 days ago which of the 2 teams would be 2-0 and which would be 1-2 at this juncture, I would've guessed ND for the former and PC for the latter. Probably explains why I've never won the lottery.

I'm still seeing no defense on the ice. At least from the Irish. Brad Phillips needs some help from at least 2 of the guys in front of him, but PC's 3rd goal was really the result of bad puck control at the blue line by Ian Cole and Sean Lorenz. I fear that Phillips is the type of kid who can't shake things off, but 10 days ago that wouldn't have worried me because ND is the best defensive team in the nation. They rescue goalies. Boys, Brad needs a line.

And where's the communication? (I'm prepared for the bomb that will be dropped on me from you-know-who for this...) Our captain needs to take the cheerleader outfit off and put his leadership skills to work. Granted, I'm not privy to his lockerroom talks, but there doesn't seem to be a sense of panic-free urgency on the ice. I can't believe that this team puts stock into pre-season polls because polls don't win games.

Okay, rant over. Get 'em tomorrow night boys. BU's champin' at the bit.

 

[crazy_guy_in_section_1]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

Does anyone else think the defense puts up a better line for Tommy then they do for Brad?

 

[Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres.]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

Does anyone else think the defense puts up a better line for Tommy then they do for Brad?

It's hard to tell right now. The easy answer would be, "Yes," simply because they won that game. They gave up so few shots in front of O'Brien and Phillips gave up some juicy rebounds. Let's see how they do in front of Johnson tomorrow (well, tonight).

I reminded myself that last season ND was 2-3 after their first 5 games and I was quite pleased with the season as a whole...well, maybe not the last game, but I like seeing records set, regular seasons won, championships won...

And exactly 2 seasons ago, I threw the then-captain and my 2nd favorite player of all time under the bus for terrible decisions with the puck that led to goals for the opponent up in Big Rapids, as the team got shut out by a mediocre FSU, and look how that season turned out!

 

[Craig P.]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

I'm telling myself that there's no way this team will stay this out of synch for more than another couple of weeks...

(And for all of that, I'm not even convinced we should have lost this game.)

 

[IrishHockeyFan]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

I'm telling myself that there's no way this team will stay this out of synch for more than another couple of weeks...

(And for all of that, I'm not even convinced we should have lost this game.)

Out of synch seems to be just about the most accurate way to describe what's going on.

Even in the win last Saturday I'm not sure the team was working as well together as we have come to expect. It was more tap, rack and bang, and there's your game winner off a rebound of a wicked shot by an all-American. Talent coming through as opposed to hard work and smart, focused play for 60 minutes to put away an opponent they SHOULD beat. This is three consecutive games of less than acceptable effort, IMO. Even during the second half of the 2007/08 season, when the team went through a prolonged failure to solve some pretty significant offensive woes, the effort didn't tend to lag. There has been way too much individual play, from the freshmen right through to the senior leaders.

The coaching staff looks more frustrated than I've seen in Jackson's tenure here. After commenting that he could abuse officials but his players couldn't, Jackson proceeded to do just that last night to Langseth, calling him out following a phantom elbow call to Kyle Palmieri. I'm actually quite surprised his comments didn't get a follow-up bench minor, so sarcastic was the vitriol. And following PCs second goal I saw more disappointment reflected by the actions of the coaches than at any time in recent seasons.

But three games does not a season make. There's been a fair amount of upheaval in the line pairings through 3 games, and some juggling even within the game last night. As people get used to who is on either side of them, and roles are finalized, the passes will connect, the individual play will appear to subside, and the wins will come with alarming frequency.

 

[Craig P.]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

Somebody certainly threw an elbow when Palmieri got called there. I wasn't sure if it was Kyle or the PC player, but somebody near me was sure it was Kyle.

 

[Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres.]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

Hmmm.

 

[WeAreNDHockey]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

After commenting that he could abuse officials but his players couldn't, Jackson proceeded to do just that last night to Langseth, calling him out following a phantom elbow call to Kyle Palmieri. I'm actually quite surprised his comments didn't get a follow-up bench minor, so sarcastic was the vitriol.

Somebody certainly threw an elbow when Palmieri got called there. I wasn't sure if it was Kyle or the PC player, but somebody near me was sure it was Kyle.

From my view, admittedly from the other end but I had a clear line of sight, the elbow was a bit bogus. Palmieri looked to be trying to brace himself to battle for the puck and his arm came up but there was zero contact with the PC player. The PC player threw his head and body back, clearly attempting to influence the official. My old rule book says simply the player cannot use his elbows in a manner as to foul an opponent and I don't believe the language has changed much, if at all, in the current version of the rules. This isn't the NBA where simply throwing a punch is grounds for ejection and suspension. Contact is needed for some penalties. Slashing isn't one for instance as the rule book further clarifies that it is the gesture and whether or not contact occurs isn't the issue. Not so with elbowing. The penalty should have been a diving call (not simply an embellishment penalty added to a Palmieri minor) not in fact the way it was called. I believe Jackson's comment was basically "that's why your only good enough to be a linesman in this league." It was audible to me from across the bench.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

Hmmm.

I wondered what you thought of that.

GFM

 

[Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres.]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

I wondered what you thought of that.

GFM

I don't like the "...calling each other out..." It should be "...calling ourselves out..."

I know this ship will right itself very soon, but I hate crossing the wake when the water is already choppy.

 

[NDHockey9]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

We the fan base need to support this team tonight. Don't act like ND fans..act like hockey fans. If there is a key face off or a power play opportunity..stand up and cheer on the team....show your support rather than sitting on your hands and waiting for a goal. Maybe the people next to you stand up and support the team. There will be a lot of out of town fans here with this being a football weekend so the regulars need to be loud tonight!

Fans need to need to do their part tonight and push these guys to victory

 

[Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres.]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

Man, who do you sit next to? You need to sit by us. I can't watch hockey passively. I've actually (accidently) knocked my husband's glasses off his face at a hockey game.

 

[uwbadgers14]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

I know its early but yall have some issues, those are 2 horrid teams that beat you... Its not like you were playing the USC of college hockey or anything

 

[Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres.]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

Holy crawlin' out of the woodwork, Pippin, it's Captain Obvious!

 

[gfmorris]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

Man, who do you sit next to? You need to sit by us. I can't watch hockey passively. I've actually (accidently) knocked my husband's glasses off his face at a hockey game.

Me, I just sing the fight song to a silent arena. [Did you hear me, JJfP? I sang it after the first UAH goal on Friday night. My friends over by the band cracked up because they knew what I was doing.]

JJfP is pretty darn passionate. I'm hopeful that the Irish will turn it around tonight ... mainly because I don't want people to think that UAH sucks more than {PROVICED.

GFM

 

[yuenight_for_IRISHICER]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

I'm pleased.

From my observation the team is playing better each game- they lost the weird Thu game but I still think they played a neater game than last week. Although I could only listen the pbp of today's game, I heard much less misconnection than the last 3, and actually it sounds like they found eachother better later into the game than at the beginning So it's reasonable to look forward to good things coming up.

And I'm happy to see (hear) Calle and Billy are paired again, though it's slightly odd to have Billy center the line... anyway I like to see the two play together. They are each other's catalysts.

Calle 10 SOG? Really?

And of course congrates to frosh Mike Johnson for the shutout win of his first Collegiate game!
(Do the defensemen hate Brad? )

 

[crazy_guy_in_section_1]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

And of course congrates to frosh Mike Johnson for the shutout win of his first Collegiate game!
(Do the defensemen hate Brad? )

Yes congrats to Mike Johnson...

Congrats to Larson's first career goal for the Irish & congrats to calle as well!

As for the defense men hating brad... I don't think they hate him, I think they just want it more for Tommy....

 

[Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres.]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

Now that was more like it. On ice communication. Better passes that found their targets. Cycling down low. Better puck protection. Better work along the blue line. Better D in front of Mike Johnson. Another freshman getting his first goal. A freshman getting his first shutout/win. Calle getting his first goal of the season. Fewer trips to the penalty box. And Dan VeNard's dad in the stands. What more could a girl want?

More physical play actually. Harder shots from Ryan Thang's mom. And more of those awesomely tasteless jokes by Chuck Clemency.

Let's keep up the work-in-progress, boys. You're gettin' there!

 

[IrishHockeyFan]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

I wonder if we are going to see more of Mike Johnson, and soon? He was great last night. I think Jackson will have to give him the next start. Of the three, he's done the most to earn one. Better effort last night all the way around, but still a way to go.

 

[yuenight_for_IRISHICER]

Re: The University of Notre Dame Hockey: 09-10. Let's Live It Up!

Just a random note before I leave Venice: "Calle" is the local term for "street (or little street)"... so I've seen thousands of Calles during the last 3 days... and most of them are super cute!

But of course the best Calle is the one who scores for Notre Dame hockey team