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UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity
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HockeyRef
Well-known member
He’s the reason we were in it all weekend and considering where we are injury wise and the big mins we asked of Gildon and Wyse I think we did what we could. Would’ve loved some points tonight but onto Dartmouth we go!
Hats off to Kohei Sato for his excellent effort out there playing D! He had one really great SOG from the point and broke up some stuff. Here’s hoping we get a couple back for next weekend.
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Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity
For those of you who did not see the game, they were out shot from the outset tremendously but were somehow able to stay in the game. At one point 15-3. Took the lead and held it until midway into the third when Max went for the poke and was hung out to dry for the tying goal. A few minutes later he was once again beat down the boards and got a penalty for holding and moments later they score on the man advantage. Even though they were struggling to play with Providence, Robinson once again was able to make some great saves to keep them alive. A frustrating loss.
For those of you who did not see the game, they were out shot from the outset tremendously but were somehow able to stay in the game. At one point 15-3. Took the lead and held it until midway into the third when Max went for the poke and was hung out to dry for the tying goal. A few minutes later he was once again beat down the boards and got a penalty for holding and moments later they score on the man advantage. Even though they were struggling to play with Providence, Robinson once again was able to make some great saves to keep them alive. A frustrating loss.
deltabravo62
Active member
Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity
I can't say I'm very frustrated with this loss, we were rolling with only 5 d-men last night (didn't watch so I don't know how much time Hickey played last night) and tonight Hickey saw a total of 2 shifts in the first period with Kohei Sato being our 5th defenseman. Max Gildon was absolutely cooked at the end of this game, there was no way he was going to catch that breakaway and the late holding penalty down the wall at least gave UNH a chance to try to get something going with Robinson pulled to play it out 5 on 5 instead of it getting to 3-1 there. Didn't work out for us that way but at least there was a chance, that is what I wish he would have done in OT against BU a couple weeks ago.
I would be curious to know how many minutes were played tonight without Wyse or Gildon on the ice, I would bet it's in the 5-7 range. Those two kept this game respectable by doing much more than their share of the work and keeping their freshman and defensive debut (Sato) in great shape. I was really curious to watch how they were going to play in a heavily undermanned situation and those two stepped up. They were communicating with and assisting Verrier, Mackinnon, and Sato every time play stopped. You could see at the end Gildon has nothing left in the tank, nothing you can get mad about there. I feel like he was making a lot more quick puck movements tonight which was great to see.
Disappointed that there was a chance to win that didn't come through, but the weekend of playing short one on defense finally caught up to them late in the third. Still need to get the offense rolling which is also hard with Pierson and Kelleher out of a already thin offensive group. Robinson (and Taylor) will keep this team in a lot of games with a healthy defense. The scoring issues will probably follow this team throughout the year and beyond if they don't find some late grabs this off season up front. Unlike last year, there are signs of life that at least keep the team interesting, it's not translating into wins yet but I guess we will see as times go on.
I can't say I'm very frustrated with this loss, we were rolling with only 5 d-men last night (didn't watch so I don't know how much time Hickey played last night) and tonight Hickey saw a total of 2 shifts in the first period with Kohei Sato being our 5th defenseman. Max Gildon was absolutely cooked at the end of this game, there was no way he was going to catch that breakaway and the late holding penalty down the wall at least gave UNH a chance to try to get something going with Robinson pulled to play it out 5 on 5 instead of it getting to 3-1 there. Didn't work out for us that way but at least there was a chance, that is what I wish he would have done in OT against BU a couple weeks ago.
I would be curious to know how many minutes were played tonight without Wyse or Gildon on the ice, I would bet it's in the 5-7 range. Those two kept this game respectable by doing much more than their share of the work and keeping their freshman and defensive debut (Sato) in great shape. I was really curious to watch how they were going to play in a heavily undermanned situation and those two stepped up. They were communicating with and assisting Verrier, Mackinnon, and Sato every time play stopped. You could see at the end Gildon has nothing left in the tank, nothing you can get mad about there. I feel like he was making a lot more quick puck movements tonight which was great to see.
Disappointed that there was a chance to win that didn't come through, but the weekend of playing short one on defense finally caught up to them late in the third. Still need to get the offense rolling which is also hard with Pierson and Kelleher out of a already thin offensive group. Robinson (and Taylor) will keep this team in a lot of games with a healthy defense. The scoring issues will probably follow this team throughout the year and beyond if they don't find some late grabs this off season up front. Unlike last year, there are signs of life that at least keep the team interesting, it's not translating into wins yet but I guess we will see as times go on.
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity
Pretty much the way of it and good post DB62. You can't ask anymore from the D when they are playing down like that, and hats off to Gildon and Wyse for leading the way for the others out there. Personally I thought Sato did a decent enough job; I mean, the kid can skate, broke up some plays, took a few shots, what else could you expect? If we can get our offense going and healthy D, this team will pick up the wins. Not sure you could ask anymore from Mike Robinson either. Those HE points, tho….gptta have them! Lots can happen in that regard; we are in 8th at the moment with plenty of hockey left to play...go 'Cats!!
ps from the paper about our Dman situation over the weekend: UNH’s D-corps Saturday consisted of three freshmen, a junior and two sophomores, one being Kohei Sato, a converted forward.
Pretty much the way of it and good post DB62. You can't ask anymore from the D when they are playing down like that, and hats off to Gildon and Wyse for leading the way for the others out there. Personally I thought Sato did a decent enough job; I mean, the kid can skate, broke up some plays, took a few shots, what else could you expect? If we can get our offense going and healthy D, this team will pick up the wins. Not sure you could ask anymore from Mike Robinson either. Those HE points, tho….gptta have them! Lots can happen in that regard; we are in 8th at the moment with plenty of hockey left to play...go 'Cats!!
ps from the paper about our Dman situation over the weekend: UNH’s D-corps Saturday consisted of three freshmen, a junior and two sophomores, one being Kohei Sato, a converted forward.
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Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity
Thanks to Greg, Chuck, chickod, d.gerry, and Dan (sorry if I missed someone) for the discussion....was it chickod who mentioned the attendance being affected by online coverage? Well, that is my mea culpa, for sure....too many surgeries make watching online SO much more convenient and better for me physically...(of course, with that said, when teammates call, you go).....I find many of the points broached are directly impacting the college hockey product.....I can only hope that Bertagna and other officials have similar discussions looking for some answers! But back to my original thought.....what UNH has to do to get the best prospects to visit campus! I mentioned money because we know it will mean a thorough commitment to sending the first email to a possible visit....I must concede though, that Chuck’s points about the overall desire to bring UNH back to the top, now make me wonder.....does Scarano see the return on investment to small with hockey? Look at the hockey programs decline with his tenure....has men’s B-ball, football returned better investment?
So be it attendance woes, Administration commitment, program changes for better or worse.....are the die hard fans who believe in UNH hockey simply fooling themselves or can we expect any efforts we put forth, to be considered as possibilities to help bring us back to the NCAA playoffs and championship game?
Thanks to Greg, Chuck, chickod, d.gerry, and Dan (sorry if I missed someone) for the discussion....was it chickod who mentioned the attendance being affected by online coverage? Well, that is my mea culpa, for sure....too many surgeries make watching online SO much more convenient and better for me physically...(of course, with that said, when teammates call, you go).....I find many of the points broached are directly impacting the college hockey product.....I can only hope that Bertagna and other officials have similar discussions looking for some answers! But back to my original thought.....what UNH has to do to get the best prospects to visit campus! I mentioned money because we know it will mean a thorough commitment to sending the first email to a possible visit....I must concede though, that Chuck’s points about the overall desire to bring UNH back to the top, now make me wonder.....does Scarano see the return on investment to small with hockey? Look at the hockey programs decline with his tenure....has men’s B-ball, football returned better investment?
So be it attendance woes, Administration commitment, program changes for better or worse.....are the die hard fans who believe in UNH hockey simply fooling themselves or can we expect any efforts we put forth, to be considered as possibilities to help bring us back to the NCAA playoffs and championship game?
Agree with you about everything, db, except for the last 3 minutes. I think that Souza should have continued "to dance with those blue liner pairs that brung him" to that point in the game. Instead, for the first time in the game, he paired Gildon and Wyse, presumably in an attempt to get back the lead for a W. But, after an entire game of being double shifted (I did not see Hickey again after the opening minutes), those two were spent. The two frosh D men and Sato had already been chasing down guys to cover up mistakes by Gildon and Wyse several times in the third. Should have stuck with this approach for another three minutes plus OT for a tie, IMHO. Maybe Gildon's late penalty could have been avoided. I thought that the two frosh and Sato played great on the blue line the entire game, and Gildon and Wyse, too, of course.
The front lines are what they are for this season, but I have been impressed more than I thought I would be by Naz and Vela, pleased by CK stepping up, and surprised by Pearson's excellent start. Would still like to see Blackburn, Grasso, BvR line from their freshman year.
Goalies: outstanding.
Not much to add to what you, DB, and HR have said. This was a really tough loss. Spent the better part of two periods living on borrowed time, with our D and Robinson doing everything to give us a chance. The confidence and intensity absolutely picked up after the Nazarian goal, and after killing off that 5-3, there seemed to be real hope that we could make the one goal lead stand up.
But, the game is 60 minutes, and not 51. And Snively65, as I believe you’ve said before, you are your record. That stated, there is a lot of good to take from this game - you just hope the team doesn’t lose confidence.
I was disappointed not to be there in person last night (3-month-old at home makes getting up for weekends just a wee bit harder these days, so my season tickets get divvied up amongst our Hooksett office this year.). From what it looked/sounded like on the feed, it seemed there was a renewed intensity the building, even with a less-than-full house. Maybe those who were there can confirm? Seemed especially hopping in the 3rd.
Yup, I do believe that the official 4200 was not badly inflated last night, and the crowd was pretty much into the game, from beginning to end, as should be expected given the scoreboard. The student section was especially loud, and the band excellent, as always. So cool meeting our new UNH Pres James Dean standing in with his clarinet for 15-20 minutes or so before the anthem, which was played by a local kids band (squeaky, but cute). I always stand top row band's left for the first period, and I was wondering who the "old guy" was on clarinet, and when I read WCDC's post here, I thought that I should thank him during a break. I said "you're doing great," and he replied "I'm trying the best that I can." Good sense of humor, and a musician, to boot. But, can he continue the successful fundraising of the last admin? Time will tell.
Back to the game, yes, killing off a minute 22 seconds of the 5 on 3 power play in the third was incredible, especially given our depleted blue line. In this kill, all five D-men were exceptional, as they picked off passes and immediately dumped the puck the length of the ice; I believe that I counted five complete change ups over that full 2 minutes. But, the effort came with great energy expense, I think, which showed, especially to Wyse and Gildon. I sit a few rows above the penalty box adjacent to the UNH bench during the second and third periods, and those two looked gassed every time they came off in the third.
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Darius
Go 'cats!
Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity
Traffic jam, road rage war. The team is lucky to be alive, much less having "won" a tie.Sorry, Darius … a two hour trip to Providence isn't exactly Purple Heart stuff. It's considered pretty routine elsewhere in D-1 beyond the friendly confines of HE. I think we're all pleased about the result, and hope the team can keep things rolling (three unbeaten, right?) tonight in Durham. No need for the extra frosting.
Darius
Go 'cats!
Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity
Y'all have summed last night up well. Big picture, a top 10 routinely in the national mix team wore out an under manned team on the rise from the bottom. The 'cats effort deserved a better result, but the performance, given what they had to work with, did not. At full strength, we lose to Providence 85% of the time. That will change.
Gildon was the best player on the ice. His TOI was immense.
Y'all have summed last night up well. Big picture, a top 10 routinely in the national mix team wore out an under manned team on the rise from the bottom. The 'cats effort deserved a better result, but the performance, given what they had to work with, did not. At full strength, we lose to Providence 85% of the time. That will change.
Gildon was the best player on the ice. His TOI was immense.
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Love the truthful optimism here! You are right; PC beats UNH most of the time...for now (tho I’ve always savored the wins we do get) Max cannot win hockey games all by himself. Add 4 to 5 players of his caliber and we are cooking with gas. It’s hardly his fault the D couldn’t sustain the PC offense for ever...but the cool part? We gave them a tough weekend and at least we were not shut out. Even with the skeleton crew we had for D we were respectable (and Robinson’s work in the crease no doubt led to coming out with something!!). Kudos to the boys for giving their all.
Anyhoo...if you read Coach Souza’s comments he’s not satisfied with the result and made no excuses. Who has any idea about Dartmouth?
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity
4 wins, 22 losses, 10 ties
That, ladies and gentlemen, is what our UNH Wildcats have posted as a record since after its last quality win, which (as touched upon by others earlier this weekend) was on this same weekend last year, a 1-0 home win vs. Providence. And that includes a win in their very next game, a rare midweek road win at RPI. So before you jump to any conclusions that I'm not being charitable with the start/end date for this comparison … I could have said the last 35 games were 3-22-10. So to paraphrase the immortal words of the Bill Murray character in Caddyshack … well, at least we've got that going for us.
For fans of UNH Hockey history, I call your attention to the "Dark Ages" of the mid-80's, which is the time period some of us have been cautioning the program has been sliding (and more recently collapsing) towards. Coinciding with the first few years of Hockey East, and the dreaded Interlocking schedule of those early HE days with the WCHA (I think; right Greg?), I'll post the three worst years of that stretch, which played out as follows:
1985-1986: 5 wins, 29 losses, 3 ties
1986-1987: 8 wins, 27 losses, 3 ties
1987-1988: 7 wins, 20 losses, 3 ties (seems off?)
http://www.hockeydb.com/stte/u.-of-new-hampshire-8644.html
We can discuss the relative merits of the current program with the state of the UNH program 30 years back, and I guess my sense is, this team (and last year's) is a better team than those back in the mid-'80's. I'm not sure I put too much stock in the volume of ties over the last 12 months, as opposed to the "old days", as it's a more defensive-oriented game these days, so ties are likely much more prevalent.
But the current sad state of affairs - admittedly from cobbling just over half of last season together with just under half of this season, and with largely similar rosters - is that despite us wanting to believe otherwise, UNH Hockey has never won less games than they have during this most recent stretch.
Never.
This feels like the bottom, and sure, maybe there's only been this one loss in the last four games. Baby steps (we hope). Then again, the program is so shallow in depth that injuries have reduced the D-corps to five healthy skaters - one a frosh playing games he likely never expected to see this season - plus a converted forward, who no doubt will go back to being a (5th line) forward once the rash of injuries on the backline abates. The situation has not been aided by the decommits of a few promising D-men (I think Dan mentioned Miller as the current leading defector in absentia). These are not signs of a program getting healthier, either.
I remember cautioning folks back in the good ol' days, just over a decade ago, that those were indeed the "good ol' days" when times like these might follow.
And so here we are. Welcome to the "Dark Ages Chapter 2" or the "Bad Ol' Days (Redux)" verified.
The only way to go from here is up. OR (sans Gildon) we stagnate at this level for a couple more years. Ugh.
Sorry to be the harbinger of doom. It's looking pretty gray out there, and the symbolism is sadly fitting.
4 wins, 22 losses, 10 ties
That, ladies and gentlemen, is what our UNH Wildcats have posted as a record since after its last quality win, which (as touched upon by others earlier this weekend) was on this same weekend last year, a 1-0 home win vs. Providence. And that includes a win in their very next game, a rare midweek road win at RPI. So before you jump to any conclusions that I'm not being charitable with the start/end date for this comparison … I could have said the last 35 games were 3-22-10. So to paraphrase the immortal words of the Bill Murray character in Caddyshack … well, at least we've got that going for us.
For fans of UNH Hockey history, I call your attention to the "Dark Ages" of the mid-80's, which is the time period some of us have been cautioning the program has been sliding (and more recently collapsing) towards. Coinciding with the first few years of Hockey East, and the dreaded Interlocking schedule of those early HE days with the WCHA (I think; right Greg?), I'll post the three worst years of that stretch, which played out as follows:
1985-1986: 5 wins, 29 losses, 3 ties
1986-1987: 8 wins, 27 losses, 3 ties
1987-1988: 7 wins, 20 losses, 3 ties (seems off?)
http://www.hockeydb.com/stte/u.-of-new-hampshire-8644.html
We can discuss the relative merits of the current program with the state of the UNH program 30 years back, and I guess my sense is, this team (and last year's) is a better team than those back in the mid-'80's. I'm not sure I put too much stock in the volume of ties over the last 12 months, as opposed to the "old days", as it's a more defensive-oriented game these days, so ties are likely much more prevalent.
But the current sad state of affairs - admittedly from cobbling just over half of last season together with just under half of this season, and with largely similar rosters - is that despite us wanting to believe otherwise, UNH Hockey has never won less games than they have during this most recent stretch.
Never.
This feels like the bottom, and sure, maybe there's only been this one loss in the last four games. Baby steps (we hope). Then again, the program is so shallow in depth that injuries have reduced the D-corps to five healthy skaters - one a frosh playing games he likely never expected to see this season - plus a converted forward, who no doubt will go back to being a (5th line) forward once the rash of injuries on the backline abates. The situation has not been aided by the decommits of a few promising D-men (I think Dan mentioned Miller as the current leading defector in absentia). These are not signs of a program getting healthier, either.
I remember cautioning folks back in the good ol' days, just over a decade ago, that those were indeed the "good ol' days" when times like these might follow.
And so here we are. Welcome to the "Dark Ages Chapter 2" or the "Bad Ol' Days (Redux)" verified.
The only way to go from here is up. OR (sans Gildon) we stagnate at this level for a couple more years. Ugh.
Sorry to be the harbinger of doom. It's looking pretty gray out there, and the symbolism is sadly fitting.
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity
Well Chuck you do paint a sad picture and many of us here have been to most of those games you mentioned of the past year. And I know this weighs heavily on the minds of the coaching staff. No one likes to lose a ton of games and be seen as “one of the worst teams in the nation” as we were called the other day in another board. Of course this coming from a fan who’s team who has hung a recent banner but I’ll digress (I had to get that off my chest it’s been bugging me).
Things aren’t going to shift dramatically this season in terms of any grandiose plans but I’m holding fast to the idea we have a shot at making the HE tournament. That’s a reasonable goal to shoot for. They have to be able to play for a full 60 mins etc. etc etc But, they know all that and they are working towards that. (Yes I've edited some of this felt I was sounding too neg) Anyway, am in it for the duration as they say!
It’s not ok for this team to languish at the bottom for long. Can’t sustain itself that way....and I am doing my very best Polar Express thinking that there’s life in that bell yet this season!!
Well Chuck you do paint a sad picture and many of us here have been to most of those games you mentioned of the past year. And I know this weighs heavily on the minds of the coaching staff. No one likes to lose a ton of games and be seen as “one of the worst teams in the nation” as we were called the other day in another board. Of course this coming from a fan who’s team who has hung a recent banner but I’ll digress (I had to get that off my chest it’s been bugging me).
Things aren’t going to shift dramatically this season in terms of any grandiose plans but I’m holding fast to the idea we have a shot at making the HE tournament. That’s a reasonable goal to shoot for. They have to be able to play for a full 60 mins etc. etc etc But, they know all that and they are working towards that. (Yes I've edited some of this felt I was sounding too neg) Anyway, am in it for the duration as they say!
It’s not ok for this team to languish at the bottom for long. Can’t sustain itself that way....and I am doing my very best Polar Express thinking that there’s life in that bell yet this season!!
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I would agree with those who think this UNH team has been enjoyable to watch - much more so than last seasons - due to how they're playing the game and a few exciting individuals/storylines (Robinson, Gildon and Pierson). Unfortunately, I came to make a similar point Chuck to the one just made and I'm not sure I see any corner being turned (at least not yet)...
After watching last year's group start 5-0-0/6-1-1, I can't share the conviction that this team or program has turned the corner based on their recent 1-1-2 stretch against a mediocre Miami team and a good, solid PC group. The close games and ties are nothing new (neither are the few and far between victories). And as Chuck states, with scoring down - close games are much more prevelamt these days, I need to see UNH start winning these games on a regular basis before I'm convinced this year is actually any different than last year...
UNH went 2-11-6 in one-goal (or less) games last year and 5-14-6 in games decided by two or less. This year the Wildcats are 1-4-5 in one-goal or tie games and 1-6-5 in contests with a differential of two-goals or less.
Conventional wisdom would tell you that close game W-L decisions would even out over the long run - and that seems to be the hope here. However, I think the question on the other side of the coin is completely fair - why aren't these games evening out? Why do the close losses just keep piling up, instead?
In 29 0-1 goal games over the past two years (analytical stats would suggest UNH should be around .500 in those games), UNH has won just three! Keeping games close hasn't been UNH's problem the last handful of years. Winning games has been the problem - and unfortunately, not much has changed in that regard. I am happy to hear Souza acknowledge this fact - they need to start winning these close games at least half the time to show progress. They're not right now and there is a clear reason...
They need to start scoring. If you can't score goals you cannot win. They managed two goals total this weekend versus Providence. I do believe the D and goaltending is much improved - but unless they can balance that with some goals it really doesn't matter much. UNH currently ranks 51st in scoring at 2.07 GPG - UNH losing a close game 2- or 3-1 is more a sign of their issues, to me at least, than much progress...
---
If UNH is making progress than they should be expecting to sweep a mid-level Dartmouth squad. I certainly don't expect that to happen. This series has split written all over it - which would send UNH to the break with three wins and a total of four in its previous 365 days...
Dartmouth has been a jekyll and hyde group this season. They've posted big wins over Harvard, Yale, Cornell and Quinnipiac, but also disappointing losses to Brown, UVM (and getting walked by Princeton, 7-1). They've allowed four or more goals in four of their eight games (+6 in an EX loss to the USNTDP) and two or fewer in the other four...
I'd guess UNH will play their two hard-working, competitive and close games - with Dartmouth showing up one-night and less so the next. Split.
Dartmouth is led by their top line and the duo of Grabner and Foreman. The second line features FR O'Connor and rounds out much of their offense. Defensively they're solid, with streaky goaltending. After allowing 13 goals in their first two games of the season (19 in 3 of you count their EX), the Big Green have allowed just 14 in their past six (5 in one of those games). Goals will once again he at a premium if UNH expects to have any success...
---
Props to those who have backed Gildon after his play was mischatactetized earlier in the thread. The reality about the two goals that were discussed is that the first was a behind the play change that led to a cherry-picked breakaway (not Gildon getting beat), while the second was (as DB correctly pointed out) a choice between a game-ending ENG (scored from in front of him) or extending the game (under difficult circumstances) so his team could have a chance...
He's been easily playing 30+ minutes all season - and last night he (and Wyse) probably played 45 or more...
After watching last year's group start 5-0-0/6-1-1, I can't share the conviction that this team or program has turned the corner based on their recent 1-1-2 stretch against a mediocre Miami team and a good, solid PC group. The close games and ties are nothing new (neither are the few and far between victories). And as Chuck states, with scoring down - close games are much more prevelamt these days, I need to see UNH start winning these games on a regular basis before I'm convinced this year is actually any different than last year...
UNH went 2-11-6 in one-goal (or less) games last year and 5-14-6 in games decided by two or less. This year the Wildcats are 1-4-5 in one-goal or tie games and 1-6-5 in contests with a differential of two-goals or less.
Conventional wisdom would tell you that close game W-L decisions would even out over the long run - and that seems to be the hope here. However, I think the question on the other side of the coin is completely fair - why aren't these games evening out? Why do the close losses just keep piling up, instead?
In 29 0-1 goal games over the past two years (analytical stats would suggest UNH should be around .500 in those games), UNH has won just three! Keeping games close hasn't been UNH's problem the last handful of years. Winning games has been the problem - and unfortunately, not much has changed in that regard. I am happy to hear Souza acknowledge this fact - they need to start winning these close games at least half the time to show progress. They're not right now and there is a clear reason...
They need to start scoring. If you can't score goals you cannot win. They managed two goals total this weekend versus Providence. I do believe the D and goaltending is much improved - but unless they can balance that with some goals it really doesn't matter much. UNH currently ranks 51st in scoring at 2.07 GPG - UNH losing a close game 2- or 3-1 is more a sign of their issues, to me at least, than much progress...
---
If UNH is making progress than they should be expecting to sweep a mid-level Dartmouth squad. I certainly don't expect that to happen. This series has split written all over it - which would send UNH to the break with three wins and a total of four in its previous 365 days...
Dartmouth has been a jekyll and hyde group this season. They've posted big wins over Harvard, Yale, Cornell and Quinnipiac, but also disappointing losses to Brown, UVM (and getting walked by Princeton, 7-1). They've allowed four or more goals in four of their eight games (+6 in an EX loss to the USNTDP) and two or fewer in the other four...
I'd guess UNH will play their two hard-working, competitive and close games - with Dartmouth showing up one-night and less so the next. Split.
Dartmouth is led by their top line and the duo of Grabner and Foreman. The second line features FR O'Connor and rounds out much of their offense. Defensively they're solid, with streaky goaltending. After allowing 13 goals in their first two games of the season (19 in 3 of you count their EX), the Big Green have allowed just 14 in their past six (5 in one of those games). Goals will once again he at a premium if UNH expects to have any success...
---
Props to those who have backed Gildon after his play was mischatactetized earlier in the thread. The reality about the two goals that were discussed is that the first was a behind the play change that led to a cherry-picked breakaway (not Gildon getting beat), while the second was (as DB correctly pointed out) a choice between a game-ending ENG (scored from in front of him) or extending the game (under difficult circumstances) so his team could have a chance...
He's been easily playing 30+ minutes all season - and last night he (and Wyse) probably played 45 or more...
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Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity
Food for thought!
https://athleteassessments.com/how-to-break-a-losing-streak/
Key take away; losing streaks will be broken!
Food for thought!
https://athleteassessments.com/how-to-break-a-losing-streak/
Key take away; losing streaks will be broken!
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity
I honestly can't believe I just wasted 5 minutes of my life reading that insta-coach marketing tripe.
e.cat - you do realize UNH is mired in more than just a "losing streak", right??? Technically, there is no "losing streak" - there is one (1) loss in a row as we speak. We are talking about long-term program deterioration. I'm not sure if you've noticed … but as of (very early) last March, there are no longer any (0) players in the UNH program who can say they remember playing for a winning UNH team, or one that played any truly meaningful games. As recently as five years ago, despite the program's obvious slippage over the previous decade, you could still at least point to mostly winning teams, frequently making trips to Boston and/or the D-1 tourney.
No more.
Now, those of us who dare to dream, hope and pray UNH will somehow make the 8 team HE Tourney field. I've predicted they won't, but I really hope I'm proven wrong. But let's say they do finish 8th, or 7th, or even 6th in what appears to be a down year in Hockey East. What happens next? Two and out on the road, or maybe a 3 game series before the season wraps up short of Boston yet again? Would that mark the start of the turnaround? Maybe … depending on how they follow it up next season, likely without Gildon. And who's to say that Wyse decides a free agent/AHL offer isn't better than the current situation in Durham? Good luck with that.
For this program to truly turn around, there will need to be an accumulation of a critical mass of talented players who will lift the UNH program off the bottom of the league. That's the reality of where we are, right now. I don't see that accumulation happening yet, nor has the "coach 'em up" scenario yet shown any true traction. That can all change. I just don't see that it's happened (or changed) yet, and I don't see any big wave of incoming recruiting success taking shape, either. I wish I could say that I did … but I don't.
For those who prefer to be optimistic and see things through rose-colored glasses … go for it, you have every right to be a fan however you see fit. Remember, 15-20 years ago, I was on here regularly pooh-poohing the gathering narrative that Coach Umile couldn't win the really big games … until it eventually got to the point where that was virtually undeniable. So I've been (badly) wrong before, and I'll be wrong again. I don't claim to be clairvoyant. These are opinions, based on what I hope is objective analysis and experience.
So if you disagree, e-cat (or anyone else) …. why not try to explain exactly why you disagree? What specifically do you see that tells you the UNH program is turning around now? Blind faith … or something concrete?
As the adage goes … don't pee on my shoes, and then try to tell me it's raining …
I honestly can't believe I just wasted 5 minutes of my life reading that insta-coach marketing tripe.
e.cat - you do realize UNH is mired in more than just a "losing streak", right??? Technically, there is no "losing streak" - there is one (1) loss in a row as we speak. We are talking about long-term program deterioration. I'm not sure if you've noticed … but as of (very early) last March, there are no longer any (0) players in the UNH program who can say they remember playing for a winning UNH team, or one that played any truly meaningful games. As recently as five years ago, despite the program's obvious slippage over the previous decade, you could still at least point to mostly winning teams, frequently making trips to Boston and/or the D-1 tourney.
No more.
Now, those of us who dare to dream, hope and pray UNH will somehow make the 8 team HE Tourney field. I've predicted they won't, but I really hope I'm proven wrong. But let's say they do finish 8th, or 7th, or even 6th in what appears to be a down year in Hockey East. What happens next? Two and out on the road, or maybe a 3 game series before the season wraps up short of Boston yet again? Would that mark the start of the turnaround? Maybe … depending on how they follow it up next season, likely without Gildon. And who's to say that Wyse decides a free agent/AHL offer isn't better than the current situation in Durham? Good luck with that.
For this program to truly turn around, there will need to be an accumulation of a critical mass of talented players who will lift the UNH program off the bottom of the league. That's the reality of where we are, right now. I don't see that accumulation happening yet, nor has the "coach 'em up" scenario yet shown any true traction. That can all change. I just don't see that it's happened (or changed) yet, and I don't see any big wave of incoming recruiting success taking shape, either. I wish I could say that I did … but I don't.
For those who prefer to be optimistic and see things through rose-colored glasses … go for it, you have every right to be a fan however you see fit. Remember, 15-20 years ago, I was on here regularly pooh-poohing the gathering narrative that Coach Umile couldn't win the really big games … until it eventually got to the point where that was virtually undeniable. So I've been (badly) wrong before, and I'll be wrong again. I don't claim to be clairvoyant. These are opinions, based on what I hope is objective analysis and experience.
So if you disagree, e-cat (or anyone else) …. why not try to explain exactly why you disagree? What specifically do you see that tells you the UNH program is turning around now? Blind faith … or something concrete?
As the adage goes … don't pee on my shoes, and then try to tell me it's raining …
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Re: UNH 2018-19: Souza The Opportunity
Surprised no one is talking about the most likely fact that Max Gildon could (will?) be playing for the USA in the upcoming World Jr. Championships....if he is selected he would miss potentially the Bentley/Merrimack/Yale games. It would be a great honor for him but we will of course miss him. Saw this on Twitter tonight talking about the possible lineups:
https://thepuckauthority.com/2019-american-world-junior-roster-preview/
Surprised no one is talking about the most likely fact that Max Gildon could (will?) be playing for the USA in the upcoming World Jr. Championships....if he is selected he would miss potentially the Bentley/Merrimack/Yale games. It would be a great honor for him but we will of course miss him. Saw this on Twitter tonight talking about the possible lineups:
https://thepuckauthority.com/2019-american-world-junior-roster-preview/
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