UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

Progress has been made, no doubt. Swayman is the reason, mistakes can be made and he covers them up. I thought Maine played better last night but you have to wonder about time of possession. I don't believe there is such a stat in hockey but UMass was able to keep the puck in their zone for long periods of time. Project that to a team like Providence and you won't win, period.
Anyway, they are way more fun to watch, certainly exceeding my expectations so far. Hopefully they can keep it up and gets some wins next weekend. Got a ticket for Saturdays game, Friday is on TV. Merrimack lost to Vermont, what the heck.

UNH losing 2 to UConn is unreal. Amazing how they are following us down the road(to hell) after all those great years. HE is better when Maine and UNH are going at it tooth and nail instead of being irrelevant.

You are sooooooooooooo right that Hockey East would be a whole lot be better with strong teams in Maine/UNH...

 

[Drew S.]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

Progress has been made, no doubt. Swayman is the reason, mistakes can be made and he covers them up. I thought Maine played better last night but you have to wonder about time of possession. I don't believe there is such a stat in hockey but UMass was able to keep the puck in their zone for long periods of time. Project that to a team like Providence and you won't win, period.
Anyway, they are way more fun to watch, certainly exceeding my expectations so far. Hopefully they can keep it up and gets some wins next weekend. Got a ticket for Saturdays game, Friday is on TV. Merrimack lost to Vermont, what the heck.

UNH losing 2 to UConn is unreal. Amazing how they are following us down the road(to hell) after all those great years. HE is better when Maine and UNH are going at it tooth and nail instead of being irrelevant.

I think its just the way Maine plays. If you look at this weekend none of Maine's six goals came after having the puck in UMA's end for any amount of time. You do think they're playing with fire but it seems to be working.

UNH got away from what made them successful. Maybe getting Van Riemsdyk was the worst thing that ever happened to them. I really hope they do get their act together.

 

[BlackI]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

I think its just the way Maine plays. If you look at this weekend none of Maine's six goals came after having the puck in UMA's end for any amount of time. You do think they're playing with fire but it seems to be working.

UNH got away from what made them successful. Maybe getting Van Riemsdyk was the worst thing that ever happened to them. I really hope they do get their act together.

Well, play on the road on a big sheet with a Maine team larger than what we are used too... you can expect to have some fits and chase around. On top of that I would guess Umass is near the top of the league in team speed.

The biggest difference of this team is they thrive at going to the net and scoring tough goals. They are playing up front like they are coached by Guite. So it shouldn't be shocking. And the goaltending is improved and in that interview Swayman credits Michaud for improving his game by helping him simplifying and being less aggressive. Now just need someone to tweak the penalty killing and improve defense in front of the net.

I will say this, the defense has only given up an average of two goals a game in the last 5. But in 4 of those 5 Swayman masked defensive breakdowns. But Holway and Muehlbauer pairing appears to be doing very well(together since Michel came back). Since thanksgiving 11/25 game until now Muehlbauer has the best plus minus for defensemen(followed closely by Holway). I should state though that the last seven games they have played together.

Edit: Also Muehlbaer now leads the team in blocked shots. I think he had at least 7 this weekend. But I can't find the stats for that.

 

[amkirby10]

Well, play on the road on a big sheet with a Maine team larger than what we are used too... you can expect to have some fits and chase around. On top of that I would guess Umass is near the top of the league in team speed.

The biggest difference of this team is they thrive at going to the net and scoring tough goals. They are playing up front like they are coached by Guite. So it shouldn't be shocking. And the goaltending is improved and in that interview Swayman credits Michaud for improving his game by helping him simplifying and being less aggressive. Now just need someone to tweak the penalty killing and improve defense in front of the net.

I will say this, the defense has only given up an average of two goals a game in the last 5. But in 4 of those 5 Swayman masked defensive breakdowns. But Holway and Muehlbauer pairing appears to be doing very well(together since Michel came back). Since thanksgiving 11/25 game until now Muehlbauer has the best plus minus for defensemen(followed closely by Holway). I should state though that the last seven games they have played together.

Edit: Also Muehlbaer now leads the team in blocked shots. I think he had at least 7 this weekend. But I can't find the stats for that.

That’s a bit shocking to me, I would never have thought that. I’m tough on Kieth, but maybe I’ve been wrong the whole time.

 

[BlackI]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

That’s a bit shocking to me, I would never have thought that. I’m tough on Kieth, but maybe I’ve been wrong the whole time.

I think the problem is that when he's had a bad play its been noticeable. For example, he got toasted and turned by Umass forward and then went in alone on Swayman... luckily that Umass guy didn't score. But that is a play everyone sees and remembers. Another is the swing puck out to the point and he doesnt get into the zone enough to coral it. He fumbles with it and it slides out of the zone when nobody is near him. You get mad and curse under your breath. But what we don't notice is how often he's grinding on the boards, clearing the guys out away from net, getting pucks and players outside. Blocking shots and things are easily not noticed and forgotten. Chipping a puck up out of the zone to relieve pressure goes unnoticed.

But also he is playing with Holway. And Holway is a good offensive defensemen. So that helps the plus minus. But that pairing has been outperforming the Binner/Keeper pairing lately.

 

[walrus]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

Since thanksgiving 11/25 game until now Muehlbauer has the best plus minus for defensemen(followed closely by Holway). I should state though that the last seven games they have played together.

Edit: Also Muehlbaer now leads the team in blocked shots. I think he had at least 7 this weekend. But I can't find the stats for that.

I think Muehlbauer started season pretty slow, wasn't he hurt for awhile? Lately Red has been punishing those bad mistakes by sitting a game.

 

[Fishman'81]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

You are sooooooooooooo right that Hockey East would be a whole lot be better with strong teams in Maine/UNH...

Any truly strong teams would be good. Wasn't long ago that HEA had 3 or 4 teams make the NCAA's. This year, they might have none. If that happens, I'm pretty sure that it'll be the first time it's ever happened, since the conference was formed.

 

[keepdachange]

Any truly strong teams would be good. Wasn't long ago that HEA had 3 or 4 teams make the NCAA's. This year, they might have none. If that happens, I'm pretty sure that it'll be the first time it's ever happened, since the conference was formed.

Unless it has changed, each of the conference champs receive an automatic bid so there will be at least one team moving on...

 

[Fishman'81]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

Unless it has changed, each of the conference champs receive an automatic bid so there will be at least one team moving on...

Of course, you're right. Was just wondering if HE would actually deserve a bid when all is said and done. I get so crazy about the BS AQ's that I sometimes try to forget that they exist.

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

I think you'll see a least 2 teams from Hockey East in the NCAA's...but 3 would be a stretch...been a tough season for Hockey East, not the top League anymore.

 

[PPGuru]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

I was looking at this last night. If the regular season ended today only Providence (9) and NU (14) would be inside the top 16. The Atlantic Hockey Champ would tale the 16th spot. If Union in the ECAC, BC in HE, and N.Mich/BGU, or Bemidji in the WCHA were to win their league playoffs, then the 15th, 14th and 13th spots might be in jeopardy, too. Still a month to go but will be interesting to see.

 

[dogtagger]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

If you look at plus minus Rob is minus 1 and Swayman is plus 22. Swayman leads hockey east in save percentage and in plus minus. So yes, huge difference between Swayman and McGovern.

Looking at statistics Maine as good or better than almost any team in hockey east for 5 on 5 play. The power play conversion rate ranks 5th, which is average. But penalty killing is 2nd worst. So my point is, the defensive play short handed is the particular weakness.

I thought Hamilton's last couple games were off. Hopefully he can return to form blocking shots and clearing net front.

Kind of interesting if you sort by plus minus and look at the most negative player's graduation classes. That to me makes a distinct indicator of the future of the program.

My take on this team is that they could be in the top 5 in HE and in a much better position in the pairwise if they would clean up their penalties and work on the PK.

Look at the stats on PK and team penalties http://www.uscho.com/stats/overall/division-i-men/ Maine is #58 in PK and #4 in team penalty minutes. If they were just average in these two categories they would almost certainly have at least a couple more wins.

 

[ticapnews]

Edit: Also Muehlbaer now leads the team in blocked shots. I think he had at least 7 this weekend. But I can't find the stats for that.

I'm on my phone so I don't have the link handy but college hockey Inc has a great stats tool which includes blocked shots.

 

[ticapnews]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

Jeremy Swayman is Hockey East defensive player of the week.

 

[walrus]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

My take on this team is that they could be in the top 5 in HE and in a much better position in the pairwise if they would clean up their penalties and work on the PK.

Look at the stats on PK and team penalties http://www.uscho.com/stats/overall/division-i-men/ Maine is #58 in PK and #4 in team penalty minutes. If they were just average in these two categories they would almost certainly have at least a couple more wins.

That's a telling couple of stats right there

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[ticapnews]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

The only Hockey East team that should be safe for the NCAAs is Providence. Barring a collapse the Friars will get in. Northeastern is on the right side of the bubble for now but can afford no slips. BC, BU and Maine have an outside chance of getting a bid but the AQ is their best bet. Lowell and below will only get in with an auto bid. At this point in the season the pairwise are about 80% locked. It'll take something special to get a third team into the tournament.

 

[bogeybear]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

Just looking at the standings/schedule for this weekend. I think 3 or more points puts Maine in 4th.

 

[BlackI]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

Just looking at the standings/schedule for this weekend. I think 3 or more points puts Maine in 4th.

Ok. Well, probably Maine should plan on taking all four.

 

[amkirby10]

Just looking at the standings/schedule for this weekend. I think 3 or more points puts Maine in 4th.

I don’t want to be presumptive or greedy, but I honestly expect four points this weekend. Merrimack just got swept at home by Vermont, and I think they match up in Maine’s favor. They have a pretty good goalie, and an average defense, but they have trouble scoring most of the time. This means they might not be able to exploit Maine’s biggest weakness, in my opinion the defense. Their power play is lethal, though, so Maine will need to kick their bad habit of carving a path to the penalty box to have a successful weekend.

 

[walrus]

Re: UMaine Black Bears, 2017-2018, reds last stand part 2

. Their power play is lethal, though, so Maine will need to kick their bad habit of carving a path to the penalty box to have a successful weekend.

Chances of that are slim and none. Merrimack used to like gooning it up some, that will work in their favor if their PP is money.

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