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UMaine Hockey 23 - 24: The Barr Crawl to Glory!!!

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Can’t get upside down on penalties against a team like that and expect to win. Love the fight of our guys but feels like a missed chance. 5v5 Maine was at BU’s level if not better.
 
Really good 3rd period, they made BU earn it for sure. Proud of how they played in the 3rd after how bad the second was, even if they couldn't quite tie it up. Caron with a kick save and a beauty at the end to really nail down a BU win. If they dont carve a rut to the box they could very easily win tomorrow.
 
I think BUs coach had his team ready for Maines style of play . The word or the film is out on Maine. Penalties killed them, BU has too many studs on PP. Still got a chance to get some points, let’s see how well conditioned BU is.

On paper I see no one beating BU in the east once tournaments roll around. Of course it’s a long ways away but right now that’s the way I see it.

Also Maine needs a PP badly.
 
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walrus said:
I think BUs coach had his team ready for Maines style of play . The word or the film is out on Maine. Penalties killed them, BU has too many studs on PP. Still got a chance to get some points, let’s see how well conditioned BU is.

On paper I see no one beating BU in the east once tournaments roll around. Of course it’s a long ways away but right now that’s the way I see it.

Also Maine needs a PP badly.
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dunno about that. igles' freshmen are flicking studs. give them a season to learn how the game is and they will be smart money favorites
 
walrus said:
I think BUs coach had his team ready for Maines style of play . The word or the film is out on Maine. Penalties killed them, BU has too many studs on PP. Still got a chance to get some points, let’s see how well conditioned BU is.

On paper I see no one beating BU in the east once tournaments roll around. Of course it’s a long ways away but right now that’s the way I see it.

Also Maine needs a PP badly.
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BU/BC are top teams in the East...but on any given night any team can get beat...for Maine they are not there yet...climbing the ladder...every aspect in there game can get better...power-play has to be the concerning point as of now...considering they can be lethal 5x5...but not with the man advantage...even Barr said last night to the BU announcers that they still were aways from being a top team...still work to be done...still a work in progress...and patience to all. This team will look alot different by game 15/25 and end of season/imo.
 
Tonight comes down to who wants it more, simple as that. Not that much difference between these two IF Maine swarms the puck all night and makes BU play a lot of defense. Still gotta give tonights edge to BU given the game is in Boston.
 
walrus said:
I think BUs coach had his team ready for Maines style of play . The word or the film is out on Maine. Penalties killed them, BU has too many studs on PP. Still got a chance to get some points, let’s see how well conditioned BU is.

On paper I see no one beating BU in the east once tournaments roll around. Of course it’s a long ways away but right now that’s the way I see it.

Also Maine needs a PP badly.
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Not really sure if the book is out but teams with a lot of skill/speed can counter the forecheck Maine wants to run. Maine didn't let a BC do it last weekend for the most part, but BU is clearly a better team. Credit to BU as their forecheck was aggressive early and it looked like it caught Maine a little by surprise. They forced some really bad turnovers that lead to some Grade A chances that Ostman had to be sharp on.

BU maybe got a little complacent when they went up 3-1 as Maine started to return to the style that has worked for them by the end of the second and throughout the third period.

It's clear this Maine team can skate with any team in the country at even strength but definitely agree that the PP is going to be the biggest thing that holds this team back until it improves. PP looks fine when they win a draw and can just set up shop, but once they have to make a zone entry that slow moving drop pass rush eats up time and really doesn't work with our personnel (just look at how BU countered it last night on Maine's first PP with one skater high-pressuring).
 
My continuing beef is the blind backwards pass, usually from the boards, in their own end. Low percentage play that over time will burn ya and kills momentum, especially against quality teams. Pretty when it leads to a quick breakout, frustrating when a defender is there expecting it.
That said, we now know this team can be there come April….
 
It seems to me like Maine, and the first line especially, do a lot of their damage in transition and you don’t really have that on the PP. My advice would be to work the puck more below the dot instead of up high. I think they can get a lot better looks this way.
 
The PP needs to stop trying for that perfect pass...perfect play...sometimes just 1,2 passes and shoot...not on every power-play, but mix it up...Point men getting shots in and once in awhile a big body in front of the net to take eyes from the netminder/deflection or cash in on a pad save...easily said then done...but frustrating knowing this unit could just break games open on the PP....and we witnessed that last might by BU.
 
When the first PP unit is able to set up, they move the puck pretty well. They do look for the perfect shot a bit too much, I’d like to see Bradly nadeau shoot the puck a bit more, even when the perfect shot isn’t there.

The more I digest last nights game, the better I feel. Breen and Breazeale can’t be the ones to take the penalties and I think they know that. I absolutely love Breazeale but that may have been his worst game as a black bear last night.
 
tylerzx2002 said:
BU maybe got a little complacent when they went up 3-1 as Maine started to return to the style that has worked for them by the end of the second and throughout the third period..
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I thought that also. Really Maine had some great chances in the 3rd but their goalie was up to the challenge. One from Bradly to Josh right on the doorstep. Great pass and then a great save. I think its conditioning tonight.

I'll bet Duda would help the PP.
 
walrus said:
I thought that also. Really Maine had some great chances in the 3rd but their goalie was up to the challenge. One from Bradly to Josh right on the doorstep. Great pass and then a great save. I think its conditioning tonight.

I'll bet Duda would help the PP.
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Duda would...but not in the cards...now or pretty much this season.
 
BlackBearFan19 said:
I absolutely love Breazeale but that may have been his worst game as a black bear last night.
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You mentioned Breen in your post as well, but he was also pretty bad last night. Lots of turnovers and just floating passes to nowhere. I bet both will play much better tonight.
 
amkirby10 said:
You mentioned Breen in your post as well, but he was also pretty bad last night. Lots of turnovers and just floating passes to nowhere. I bet both will play much better tonight.
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He took a couple really heavy hits against BC, hopefully those aren’t slowing him down.
 
The big ice at BU makes it easier to escape Maine's forecheck. I really don't think BU is any better than BC. Both highly talented teams.
 
OronoKO said:
The big ice at BU makes it easier to escape Maine's forecheck. I really don't think BU is any better than BC. Both highly talented teams.
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I didnt realize bu was larger ice, looked it up, 200x90 but shallower corners than nhl.
Never understood why someone would build ice sheets other than nhl or olympic.

Went to game last night, dont think i'll travel into that rink again, maybe never again, just ain't fun getting there. Wouldnt go to many games if I was a fan of those commonwealth ave teams. Cant beat just driving through orono to go to a game.

Maine should be fine tonight if they get back to their style of play for the game plan. Like they started to do in the third last night. Chase the puck hard, forecheck, finish checks, no blind passes, get sticks in the way, goaltending, etc, disrupt bu's passing skills.

Sure is fun to watch #'s 82, 20 and 27 move the puck and make some sweet passes.
Too bad Renwick and Arnott are out.
Poisson is playing a bit like the old man on the team this year, lol, looking pretty slow with the speed Barr has brought in.
 
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