Granted the season is only 2 games old, but Middlebury seems to have improved. They played a gritty game against Bowdoin yesterday, although they took way too many penalties. Both goalies performed well over the week-end. They already have earned half of last year's total number of NESCAC victories and have surpassed the number of empty netters from the entire 2017-18 campaign.
What's changed in Middlebury this season?!! It would be a bit premature to start planning for the playoffs or anything like that, but thus far they look like a completely different team. In fact, they look like a team. In just 3 games they have scored 10 goals (notched their 10th last season on December 30th), won 2 away games (they only won 2 in 2017-18), outshot their opponents in 2 games (a feat they accomplished 3 times last season), and have 2 more empty netters than in the entire last season. I hope they can continue playing at this level.
Haven't logged on to this forum in a long time. Now that Midd has a hockey team again, its time to reconnect. CongraTulations to the Cadets - good job! One thing I have to say is that 17 penalties in two games or a total of 34 minutes is a bit ridiculous, but it's early days.I was impressed with the Panthers last night. Nice job by Coach Sinclair and company looking like a much different team so far this year. Looking forward to another Norwich/Middlebury showdown tonight!
Over the Thanksgiving break, the Jumbos came up with a pair of defensive gems in back to back shutouts of St. Anselm and St. Michael's. Maybe NESCAC needs a few more saints. It will be interesting to see if they carry over some of that momentum against an upgrade in competition this weekend at Williams and Middlebury.
Any thoughts, predictions?
Tufts is an interesting team. They have been the bottom dwelling team in NESCAC for so long, everyone assumes they are still there. But take them for granted and they will hand you your ***. They manage to come up with some surprising wins. That said, Midd defeated them 6-2 tonight.
Midd has now managed to match their win record for last season. So they can't be any worse than last seasons.
What is going on in Middlebury?! The Panthers I've seen play so far this season bear no resemblance whatsoever to the rag-tags who spent most of the last 3 seasons staring into the headlights. They are coming off their first 4 point NESCAC weekend since the 2013-14 season, and they are playing exciting hockey from end to end and start to finish with every line contributing. I hope they can continue this level of play as it was fun to be in Chip Kenyon arena these past 2 days.
Hard to score with backhanders...
What's changed in Middlebury this season?!! It would be a bit premature to start planning for the playoffs or anything like that, but thus far they look like a completely different team. In fact, they look like a team. In just 3 games they have scored 10 goals (notched their 10th last season on December 30th), won 2 away games (they only won 2 in 2017-18), outshot their opponents in 2 games (a feat they accomplished 3 times last season), and have 2 more empty netters than in the entire last season. I hope they can continue playing at this level.
In the third period of yesterday's Bowdoin Middlebury game, Bowdoin took a penalty shot for a Delay of Game penalty against Middlebury. Does anyone know the rules regarding this particular event?
