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

[9twenty]

Wretched weekend, that goes without saying. NH was sliding, and they absolutely bodied Maine for essentially 120 straight minutes, all weekend. I didn't see the first period tonight, which was by all accounts the best they played this weekend, but even so they threw it all away almost immediately after anyway. I think at this point, it's fair to say that Maine isn't the team they once appeared to be this season (#1 seed, national championship contender), but I also don't think they are as bad as they have looked recently and in particular this weekend (a team that can barely complete a tape to tape pass and can't break out of the zone). I think they are most realistically a #3/#4 seed caliber team, who could maybe win the first game of their regional if they have a great showing that day and nothing more. I do think that a lot of the issues Maine has currently stem from their youth and inexperience, they just don't fully know what it takes currently to sustain success at this level. I mean, come on, only 9/28 (32%) of the roster is an upperclassman, and one of those 9 is the third string goalie who never has seen the ice.

I thought both major calls tonight were correct, especially on Nobes. That was a really dangerous and reckless play, hits like that are how you seriously injure someone. The Houle play I thought was kind of borderline, and I thought it was hard to get a definitive shot of if there was head contact or not, but based on how the NH kid's head snapped back, and Houle's reaction to the play, it was probably the correct call as well. I didn't personally find the officiating all that bad, I thought it was a pretty well refereed game, as was Friday's game. It's well known that Maine is, in terms of PIM statistics, one of the more disciplined teams. I would be very curious how many majors Maine has called against them this season, and what share of their total PIMs comes from majors. It feels like they've had a lot this year, and I know part of that is recency bias between tonight's game and the visit to Historic Matthews Arena, but still would be very curious.

On the front of things that have concerned me, I felt like NH played like a team that was working together well as one, and was a room full of guys playing for each other. They looked and played, in my opinion, as a unit and were desperate to come together and save their season. By contrast, I didn't think Maine had much to speak of in the way of cohesion this weekend, their play felt very disjointed to me and lacking in chemistry. This is a big surprise to me, because previously this year I thought that very same topic was a strength of the team and that they had great chemistry. I hope this is either all in my head or just part of a broader slump in play, because room issues are not something we want to be dealing with right now.

Additionally, probably the single biggest thing that has been driving this cold streak is that the top six, and the first line in particular, have been almost complete no-shows. In my opinion, this applies most directly to Breen and Bradly Nadeau; while Josh Nadeau hasn't been amazing, I do notice him having more of an impact than the two others. I believe I said at some point early in the season that if Maine could get consistent secondary scoring, they would be a real force to be reckoned with. Well, they have been getting secondary scoring recently, it's just their primary scoring has been the ones to go missing. Maine's last ten goals (which coincidentally, and sadly, align perfectly with their last five games) were scored by the following players: Scott, Houle, Calafiore, Hanson, Chabrier, Poisson, J. Nadeau, Calafiore, J. Nadeau, Chabrier. The first line accounts for only 2/10, Josh's two tallies, and the top six in general only accounts for 4/10, adding in Scott and Houle's marks from tonight's game. That's just not going to cut it from guys that are supposed to be your top point producers. I also noticed that they have seemed to go ice cold at the face-off dot as well, it seems like they are getting buried on draws and can't win big o-zone draws when trying to push for a goal, or d-zone draws when pulling for a big clear.

Finally, and I've seen a few others mention it too, Im not very impressed lately with B. Nadeau's play, especially in his own end. Lots of gliding and lax backchecking, and I've noticed him trying to hang up by the blue line as well instead of helping out his teammates in the d-zone. He's also still trying to force the one-timer from the circle route, especially on the PP, which teams are totally prepared for and have been taking away for a while. I'd like to see him get a little more creative and be more of a complete, 200 ft player.

The whole team needs to figure it out fast. As I said, I don't think they're this bad, but they're going to be running out of time to try and turn it around coming up here.

Good take on all the above...this is a team that played with no pressure at the start of the season to a team that knows each and every time they play now there's a target on them...and they have not handled it well....and #82 needs a wakeup call...play both ends no matter if your a 1st rounder...he needs a blunt message from the Coaching staff...this is still a blue collar/lunch pail team in progress.

 

[walrus]

It appears to me that Maine isn’t tough enough. Maybe it’s not physical enough? Too small to handle in your face hockey which started with Colgate.? I laughed in first period last night, Calafiore lined up unh no 28, literally bounced off the guy and landed on the ice. No 28 acted like a mosquito landed on him. Now none of us want slow big guys but Barrs love of smaller D man seems to be hurting us in the D zone. Unh cycled with ease in 2nd and 3rd periods.

A lot of pressure on the Nadeau boys after that great start, they aren’t handling the physical play well and every coach is making sure they are laying bodies on them.

Feel bad for Ostman, while 2nd goal was soft, two majors, w tf.

Hard to be very confident about next weekend. NU can certainly beat them up and I expect more of the same. I guess we shall see if Barr is worth his big raise?

 

[9twenty]

It appears to me that Maine isn’t tough enough. Maybe it’s not physical enough? Too small to handle in your face hockey which started with Colgate.? I laughed in first period last night, Calafiore lined up unh no 28, literally bounced off the guy and landed on the ice. No 28 acted like a mosquito landed on him. Now none of us want slow big guys but Barrs love of smaller D man seems to be hurting us in the D zone. Unh cycled with ease in 2nd and 3rd periods.

A lot of pressure on the Nadeau boys after that great start, they aren’t handling the physical play well and every coach is making sure they are laying bodies on them.

Feel bad for Ostman, while 2nd goal was soft, two majors, w tf.

Hard to be very confident about next weekend. NU can certainly beat them up and I expect more of the same. I guess we shall see if Barr is worth his big raise?

I don't think money should be brought into the equation....not long ago people wanted extensions and Brinks trucks going to Barrs driveway...this is purely a hockey issue...we the fans...the players and Barr himself know it has to be solved there...on the ice.

 

[walrus]

I don't think money should be brought into the equation....not long ago people wanted extensions and Brinks trucks going to Barrs driveway...this is purely a hockey issue...we the fans...the players and Barr himself know it has to be solved there...on the ice.

When you are the highest paid state employee expectations are high

 

[Runsub5]

When you are the highest paid state employee expectations are high

True. But money doesn't always = performance.

 

[grooverider]

Sully Scholle didn't travel with the team because he had the flu. Not making any excuses but I wonder if anyone else was sick this weekend.

 

[walrus]

True. But money doesn't always = performance.

Expectations changed from preseason also.We all know the team has exceeded preseson thoughts.

 

[umhockey91]

Bradly Nadeau is going to have to learn to play a 2 way game or he will not be playing in the NHL....plain and simple.

It's a tough break for Barr to have this slump peak (hopefully) right after he got the big raise....but thems the breaks. I think that we all know that this was a good move. Most of us were clamoring for it...a slight short term embarrassment for him and some easy fodder for detractors of his new contract though.

I hate to see this season trend down with no end in sight. My hope is for home ice for HE and an NCAA bid.....that's where my expectations end. Anything else will be gravy considering what has transpired.

At least this as exposed Maine's future needs when it comes to recruiting. They definitely need a blue chip goaltender. I think that Boija can be a solid back-up.....but I don't think he is the answer if we want to challenge for championships. And Maine absolutely needs to recruit some size and toughness.....preferably with talent to go along with it. Barr needs to break into the top tier recruiting circles and hopefully get some of the USNDPT U17 guys down the road. He needs to break up the BC/BU/Michigan/Minnesota/UND/Denver grip on some of these top line guys.

 

[acs64]

You can’t lay this weekend on Barr. He has the team he has and they are better suited to compete with the skating teams like bu, bc and quinnipiac than the muckers.

This past series looked more like football than hockey to me. But it’s what opposing teams have to do . Too bad Houle got the gate cuz he was thriving in that atmosphere. Nadeaus struggle obviously in that style of play where there is little open ice to work with and every stride is met with a whack from front or behind. . Ironically unh now thrives better on the smaller rink, Maine probably better on an Olympic sheet.

Unh deserved each win, they worked their azzes off both nights. Ms7 obviously is their guy for the future and the grinding in your face style of hockey suits them now in the smaller Whitt. I think that style of play only takes you so far on neutral ice and tighter refereeing.

 

[AmaineBlackBear]

While this weekend did suck, we are still in a really good place this season after being a program in the doldrums for the better part of a decade.

This is the first weekend we lost in points since our losses to BU earlier in the season. The first game in Durham was a wash and the second game was going well for Maine until undisciplined penalties bit us in the ass. Much like the second providence game and the game in Northeastern, Maine found themselves with a lead, poised to expand the lead only to take stupid penalty after stupid penalty en route to losing the game. I think the next 6 games are all winnable considering that 4 of them are going to be in front of sellout crowds we just CANNOT shoot ourselves in the foot with stupid penalties. In 3 of the last 5 games, we have shot ourselves in the foot by playing shorthanded for at least 1/3 of the game in winnable games.

Ive see a lot of doomers looking rather pessimistic after a bit of a rough stretch. We are going to be fine and I trust that Barr will push the team to play with a higher IQ that he knows the team is possible of playing at. Lots of top teams got swept this weekend (NoDak, Wisconsin), so im not too stressed about the shellacking we took, hell even Walsh got his ass handed to him in Durham.

We are going to finish the season with at least 20 wins, we are going to have home ice for hockey east playoffs and we are going to play in the ncaa tournament for the first time in 12 years.

Roll Bears.

 

[walrus]

You can’t lay this weekend on Barr. He has the team he has and they are better suited to compete with the skating teams like bu, bc and quinnipiac than the muckers.

This past series looked more like football than hockey to me. But it’s what opposing teams have to do . Too bad Houle got the gate cuz he was thriving in that atmosphere. Nadeaus struggle obviously in that style of play where there is little open ice to work with and every stride is met with a whack from front or behind. . Ironically unh now thrives better on the smaller rink, Maine probably better on an Olympic sheet.

Unh deserved each win, they worked their azzes off both nights. Ms7 obviously is their guy for the future and the grinding in your face style of hockey suits them now in the smaller Whitt. I think that style of play only takes you so far on neutral ice and tighter refereeing.

He has the team he has but with that he has to get them to play against grinders and not roll over. Houle was by far the best Maine had before that hit.

Can you imagine BUs Mike Grier playing college hockey today. Any time he hit someone he knocked them into next week.

 

[9twenty]

When you are the highest paid state employee expectations are high

Maybe in your book...

 

[acs64]

Bradly Nadeau is going to have to learn to play a 2 way game or he will not be playing in the NHL....plain and simple.

And thats why I think we have him for at least one, probably two more years. Needs more meat and muscle......and a desire to use both.

 

[acs64]

He has the team he has but with that he has to get them to play against grinders and not roll over. Houle was by far the best Maine had before that hit.

Can you imagine BUs Mike Grier playing college hockey today. Any time he hit someone he knocked them into next week.

So without Houle in the lineup causing disruption and hate and discontent, Maine was handicapped. He's a mucker who can really skate....and snipe

 

[grooverider]

Sat right by the bench last night. Clear frustration on their faces and it's not like they were not trying just having another bad weekend a couple of boneheaed plays. Lesakowski had an awful one behind the net that turned into the goal.

 

[AmaineBlackBear]

Sat right by the bench last night. Clear frustration on their faces and it's not like they were not trying just having another bad weekend a couple of boneheaed plays. Lesakowski had an awful one behind the net that turned into the goal.

This is what I have gathered as well from watching them play the last 2-3 weeks. Just boneheaded plays and horrible penalties. IMO We should have won that Saturday Providence game by a lot but we spent 28 MINUTES IN THE BOX. We spent another 21 minutes in the box in the 6-3 loss to northeastern after having a lead and a whopping 34 minutes in the box last night in Durham after having a lead. I thought we were playing well against UNH Saturday until the Houle penalty and then the wheels came off. They seemed to get frustrated when calls aren't going their way.

 

[walrus]

Maybe in your book...

In the universities book, not just mine. You don’t pay someone to fail, you pay them to succeed. Barr knows that, so far he is exceeded what most of us thought possible. That line has moved.

 

[9twenty]

In the universities book, not just mine. You don’t pay someone to fail, you pay them to succeed. Barr knows that, so far he is exceeded what most of us thought possible. That line has moved.

Never said he was getting paid more now and failing would be a after thought...he's earning his money,no matter what book it's in. Just now the focus is on the spiral streak of late...and some not all will point to the money...which imo is pretty short-sighted...and with that...that ends that topic...he knows his job and will maneuver his plans on the program forward.

 

[JB]

This past series looked more like football than hockey to me. But it’s what opposing teams have to do . Too bad Houle got the gate cuz he was thriving in that atmosphere. Nadeaus struggle obviously in that style of play where there is little open ice to work with and every stride is met with a whack from front or behind. . Ironically unh now thrives better on the smaller rink, Maine probably better on an Olympic sheet.

Unh deserved each win, they worked their azzes off both nights. Ms7 obviously is their guy for the future and the grinding in your face style of hockey suits them now in the smaller Whitt. I think that style of play only takes you so far on neutral ice and tighter refereeing.

Wait, so now Maine is the SMT? Is the game a little too physical for your team? Would they be more comfortable with no checking?

Honestly, UNH must play this way. They don't have the talent depth to play any other way. What they have is a bunch of guys that can skate (shoot not so much) and so they need to be in your face and grinding away, causing chaos. When they get into trouble is when they don't play that hard a game, and try and get fancy. What is funny is the further you go into playoff hockey the more they generally put the whistles away. It is what has traditionally bit UNH in the butt, too soft. My thought on this last weekend is this UNH team looked sorta/kinda like some of those Jack Parker BU teams (the less talented ones that still hung out up in the Hockey East Standings) that hammered the opposing D all night long, using extra steps to hit the D even if the puck is gone. It is a style that honestly makes me a little crazy and if UNH had simply been as consistent doing it all year they would be much better positioned.

Side Note: something that always impressed / annoyed me about Walsh, he played the game his players needed to win. It was clear he loved a skating scoring game, but if the roster in any year needed to play hard hockey/football that is what Maine did.

 

[acs64]

Wait, so now Maine is the SMT? Is the game a little too physical for your team? Would they be more comfortable with no checking?

Honestly, UNH must play this way. They don't have the talent depth to play any other way. What they have is a bunch of guys that can skate (shoot not so much) and so they need to be in your face and grinding away, causing chaos. When they get into trouble is when they don't play that hard a game, and try and get fancy. What is funny is the further you go into playoff hockey the more they generally put the whistles away. It is what has traditionally bit UNH in the butt, too soft. My thought on this last weekend is this UNH team looked sorta/kinda like some of those Jack Parker BU teams (the less talented ones that still hung out up in the Hockey East Standings) that hammered the opposing D all night long, using extra steps to hit the D even if the puck is gone. It is a style that honestly makes me a little crazy and if UNH had simply been as consistent doing it all year they would be much better positioned.

Side Note: something that always impressed / annoyed me about Walsh, he played the game his players needed to win. It was clear he loved a skating scoring game, but if the roster in any year needed to play hard hockey/football that is what Maine did.

Nah, I doubt anyone will take the SMT moniker away from UNH. (smiley). Nothing wrong with physical hockey, its just that I prefer to watch college hockey games where the skaters (both sides) get to skate a few strides and dangle with the puck before someone brings the hammer down on them. Or even worse, watching someone going out their way to finish a check when its clearly not warranted and distracts from the game. But if its win at all costs, then so be it I guess. Can you name a Walsh coached Maine team that specifically played hard hockey/football for me? I'm having a little trouble seeing any of the Kariya brothers laying any one out on the ice.