UMaine 25-26: Marques My Word: Back to the Big Time

[Mac910]

Someone mentioned it a little earlier in this thread, but I think they were correct, when they said that Maine hasn't really had a goalie "steal" a game for them all season. None come to mind for my based off the eye test, and Ive watched every Maine win this season, several of them in person. The stats seem to back it up, at least by CHNs xGoals metric, where there hasn't been a single instance all season of a game where Maine won by a goal or two, and the goalie had a huge game as per xG that they otherwise would have lost.

Maine's offense/scoring really hasn't declined much, if at all, compared to the last two seasons. In 34 games this year they have 116 GF, compared to 124 in 38 games last year, and 119 in 37 games in 2024. The GA column has taken a hit, 91 in 34 this year, compared to only 75 in 38 last year, but interestingly 94 in 37 in 2024. So their GF/GA ratio is actually pretty similar to 2024 when we made it back to the national tournament and were a high #2 seed. That was also in a much better Hockey East overall in 2024 compared to the current Hockey East in 2026. So why the pretty significant gap in results? My theory is that its a combination of worse goaltending this year and just plain old bad luck. I dont think this team is significantly worse than 2024, in fact taken as a whole package, I think they're probably a better team, or at least about equal at worst.

So I guess in summary, what I'm trying to say is, I view goaltending as this team's biggest weakness currently and going into next year, which I would never have expected to say about a year ago from now.

this is pretty in line with the post last week that on an xG basis we'd be at 23+ wins if i remember correctly... agree wholeheartedly

 

[umhockey91]

Someone mentioned it a little earlier in this thread, but I think they were correct, when they said that Maine hasn't really had a goalie "steal" a game for them all season. None come to mind for my based off the eye test, and Ive watched every Maine win this season, several of them in person. The stats seem to back it up, at least by CHNs xGoals metric, where there hasn't been a single instance all season of a game where Maine won by a goal or two, and the goalie had a huge game as per xG that they otherwise would have lost.

Maine's offense/scoring really hasn't declined much, if at all, compared to the last two seasons. In 34 games this year they have 116 GF, compared to 124 in 38 games last year, and 119 in 37 games in 2024. The GA column has taken a hit, 91 in 34 this year, compared to only 75 in 38 last year, but interestingly 94 in 37 in 2024. So their GF/GA ratio is actually pretty similar to 2024 when we made it back to the national tournament and were a high #2 seed. That was also in a much better Hockey East overall in 2024 compared to the current Hockey East in 2026. So why the pretty significant gap in results? My theory is that its a combination of worse goaltending this year and just plain old bad luck. I dont think this team is significantly worse than 2024, in fact taken as a whole package, I think they're probably a better team, or at least about equal at worst.

So I guess in summary, what I'm trying to say is, I view goaltending as this team's biggest weakness currently and going into next year, which I would never have expected to say about a year ago from now.

The other thing we've witnessed multiple times this season is a losing a lead late and ultimately losing the game because they can't clear their zone.....and then the goaltending fails to make the big save.

 

[Drew S.]

Maine has five wins at home against terrible teams with a cumulative result of 30-4. I think this massively skews the numbers in Maine’s favor when you try to look at them analytically.

 

[AMC]

Maine found a way to fund $200+ million for athletic facilities....certainly they can find $1 million annually to acquire hockey players....no? Not saying that the Alfond Foundation or 3 surviving Alfond children owe UMaine anything.....but Harold Alfond's name is plastered all over campus. You would think that they would want the premiere program on campus to be able to compete with other top programs on a national level in the building that bears their father's name. Harold Alfond's children are each worth $3.5 billion. The Alfond Foundation is managing $1 billion in assets. Find a way.

Half of them are busy suing the state to avoid paying taxes on their trusts.

 

[grooverider]

Maine has five wins at home against terrible teams with a cumulative result of 30-4. I think this massively skews the numbers in Maine’s favor when you try to look at them analytically.

I know you've cited this logic before but Holy Cross was not that bad this year and barely lost to Quinnipiac in ot in one game. And Lindenwood beat Denver. Im not sure what the fifth game you refer to is but both of those teams are not as bad as you are making them out to be we just smoked them

 

[blackbears9]

Maine found a way to fund $200+ million for athletic facilities....certainly they can find $1 million annually to acquire hockey players....no? Not saying that the Alfond Foundation or 3 surviving Alfond children owe UMaine anything.....but Harold Alfond's name is plastered all over campus. You would think that they would want the premiere program on campus to be able to compete with other top programs on a national level in the building that bears their father's name. Harold Alfond's children are each worth $3.5 billion. The Alfond Foundation is managing $1 billion in assets. Find a way.

People here waaaaay overestimate how much is being spent on NIL, a million a year would put Maine top 3 in the country.

 

[BlackBearHockeyFan]

What's being built by the river across from the Alfond?

 

[BlackBearHockeyFan]

Goaltending is why No NCAA Tournament this season

 

[BlackBearHockeyFan]

People here waaaaay overestimate how much is being spent on NIL, a million a year would put Maine top 3 in the country.

When I win the powerball we will be getting players