Re: UML '09/'10 Season Thread Part II
I couldn't make the game today, how did the team look? I just saw the final score, tough one to lose giving up a late goal. They'll need to take some points in Orono as BU, NU and MC all won tonight. At the moment I believe the Hawks are in 7th place.
Probably this was the best weekend I've seen them play this season. More of the same from last night and they didn't let up. They did play a full 60 minutes. Dehner tried to go but couldn't. Overall, I was rather pleased with the effort tonight
Sorry, I have to put this game on the coaches.
What cost them the game? Groundhog Day #269
- Dehner unable to play. Folks w/o your best defenseman you aren't going to sweep anyone, especially a top four team in HE.
- Lack of putting the biscuit in the basket on USDA Grade A chances. Three chances in front of Milner with no one in sight and they couldn't put it home.
- A very poor power play with 2:50 to go in regulation, like most Lowell PP, dump and chase; dump and chase. They got nothing out of that PP. BC was all over them in the final minute and our defensemen couldn't clear the zone with under :30 to play. A unfortunate bounce over Edwards' stick and Krieder is alone in front of Hutton hung out to dry. Another classic "Big 4" we got more scoring talent than you and another one-goal defeat.
On the plus side,
- Lowell shut BC down for about 57 minutes of that game.
- Wright, Wetmore, and Ickert had stellar games. The future does look bright with these kids.
- Hutton had no chance on either of the two goals, in fact he played better tonight than last night.
I slammed my water bottle down because it was another predictable Lowell loss. I'm simply disgusted how the same scenario plays out time and time again. I can understand the system, but unless (long term) this team can find some scorers that you count on in the clutch, Lowell will lose 2-1 or 3-2 in big games 100% of the time.
The River Hawks are in 7th place and are not safe from missing the playoffs, especially if Tim Whitehead's crew does to us practically every time in a two-game series at Maine, sweep. The good news is that UVM is at UNH, the bad news, Merrimack has a two game set against UMA (of whom is in deep $h!t). If the River Hawks don't win one in Maine, they could be out of the playoffs in 9th place next week if Merrimack sweeps and UVM splits. Conversely, with a sweep of Maine, and splits, there could very well be a four way tied for third with three weeks to go.
I've done some calculating and while home ice is still possible, it is now very likely we will be on the road. I will put early odds that 40% to BU, 35% to ME, 20%BC/UNH, and 5% hosting BU. The only way I see us getting home ice is winning five of the six remaining games and that may not be enough. The UMA series cost us a seed and the BU game will cost us a seed.
Gut feeling we will go to BU, lose first game 5-3, win second game 3-1, and lose third game after going up 2-0 in OT 3-2. In any case, if we do go to BU or ME, I won't be in attendance. It's bad news when we play them in the playoffs.
