UNH 2024/2025 Goldberg Edition

[Aerman]

I’ll be optimistic and back Chuck’s prediction, but it doesn’t feel that close walking in.

 

[HockeyRef]

Yeah Scott FOTG!!! Woo! Geesh you guys don't all post at once....

ok so Ill compliment Maine for obviously being the more skilled team overall esp their backline guys who moved the puck well.

Disappointed we didn't do much with the 5 on 3 but hey we did get 1 PPG. Thought Alex Gagne went full warrior mode and you can't say the overall effort wasn't there most of the night despite our low shot 3rd. 2 low scoring games for us but they looked better than last week at NU FWIW dept.

Both goalies played well and I thought Da Whale kept it close for us. Conmy...elite player out there for sure but Maine managed to completely neutralize us otherwise. Was surprised to see the FO stats thought we got killed there but I guess not.

Hope to see (well I won't as I'm missing both RIT games due to the holiday weekend) the MacP boys get in...they need the experience.

Finally was the officiating that bad? Lots of complaining about it but I thought they let them play (sorry my eye for hockey officiating despite my moniker could be better lol)

Not a total disaster players left it on the ice. Onto RIT.

 

[HockeyRef]

ok so Ill compliment Maine for obviously being the more skilled team overall esp their backline guys who moved the puck well.

Disappointed we didn't do much with the 5 on 3 but hey we did get 1 PPG. Thought Alex Gagne went full warrior mode and you can't say the overall effort wasn't there most of the night despite our low shot 3rd. 2 low scoring games for us but they looked better than last week at NU FWIW dept. Maine took us out in the 3rd but, hey that's why their #5 in the nation. As is often said on this board
'good teams find the way to win' and that's what they did.

Both goalies played well and I thought Da Whale kept it close for us. Conmy...elite player out there for sure but Maine managed to completely neutralize us otherwise. Was surprised to see the FO stats thought we got killed there but I guess not. Personally I thought this was a great game for Liam Devlin tho some felt he should have been tossed on that interference play. I don't agree...

Hope to see (well I won't as I'm missing both RIT games due to the holiday weekend) the MacP boys get in...they need the experience.

Finally was the officiating that bad? Lots of complaining about it but I thought they let them play (sorry my eye for hockey officiating despite my moniker could be better lol)

Not a total disaster players left it on the ice. Onto RIT.

Ps...thought I'd throw in FWIW that the flagship's field hockey team lost to Northwestern in yesterday's NCAA D1 semi finals. First time in awhile since Maine or UConn that
a Northeast team has made it that far I believe. Go St. Joe's, who defeated top ranked NC in a huge upset.

 

[Snively65]

It seemed to me from watching on NESN that UNH was playing too defensively in the third period by holding two to three guys back other than Conmy, as if they were trying to protect a one goal lead. Problem with that approach in my thinking is that we were down by a goal so should have been taking more risks and trying to get more SOG rather than fewer in the third.

NU also lost so we still remain just one point below them in the HEA basement.

 

[bakchk20]

It seemed to me from watching on NESN that UNH was playing too defensively in the third period by holding two to three guys back other than Conmy, as if they were trying to protect a one goal lead. Problem with that approach in my thinking is that we were down by a goal so should have been taking more risks and trying to get more SOG rather than fewer in the third.

NU also lost so we still remain just one point below them in the HEA basement.

Alt view... Maine put on a full 200' press in the third. Heavy forecheck. If it wasn't man-to-man cover, it certainly was man-ON-man. UNH had no time, no room, always contested at the O blue line. They really pressured UNH D. THAT'S how you play with a 1 goal lead. Reminded me of how the Panthers play the Bruins in games that count the most...

 

[HockeyRef]

Alt view... Maine put on a full 200' press in the third. Heavy forecheck. If it wasn't man-to-man cover, it certainly was man-ON-man. UNH had no time, no room, always contested at the O blue line. They really pressured UNH D. THAT'S how you play with a 1 goal lead. Reminded me of how the Panthers play the Bruins in games that count the most...

Great post...that's how you beat UNH...you don't give them an ounce of space etc...kind of lacking in that dept of how to break that etc. Frustrated our passing..only 6 shots in the 3rd.

 

[Aerman]

Alt view... Maine put on a full 200' press in the third. Heavy forecheck. If it wasn't man-to-man cover, it certainly was man-ON-man. UNH had no time, no room, always contested at the O blue line. They really pressured UNH D. THAT'S how you play with a 1 goal lead. Reminded me of how the Panthers play the Bruins in games that count the most...

I thought UNH looked gassed in the third. They hit everything in blue throughout the first, skated and cycled in the second. Went back to trying to hit in the 5hird but there was no energy, multiple odd man break ins for Maine, always chasing. On Conmy’s self made chances, alas, no finish. Center of mass on the goalie, and it wasn’t great goalie play, just middle of the net shooting. Not saying their goalie didn’t play well, but Conmy demonstrated why his number isn’t called for the shootouts. Love his effort and puck handling, but this team is taking me back to late-Umile with no real scorers. Meanwhile, the game winner shows why it’s never bad to throw the puck at the net. Puck luck is real. The. Cats made them work for it, but Maine was the better team in the third.

and in the full ignorance department, where are the Nadeaus? I didn’t realize Maine’s continued rise was occurring without them.

 

[HockeyRef]

It seemed to me from watching on NESN that UNH was playing too defensively in the third period by holding two to three guys back other than Conmy, as if they were trying to protect a one goal lead. Problem with that approach in my thinking is that we were down by a goal so should have been taking more risks and trying to get more SOG rather than fewer in the third.

NU also lost so we still remain just one point below them in the HEA basement.

So that's what Mr. HR said...'we are playing not to lose when we should be playing to win'. But, he did say he thought UNH played their best game of the season against a top opponent.

Still....Ugh...what a terrible start to our HE season.

 

[HockeyRef]

I thought UNH looked gassed in the third. They hit everything in blue throughout the first, skated and cycled in the second. Went back to trying to hit in the 5hird but there was no energy, multiple odd man break ins for Maine, always chasing. On Conmy’s self made chances, alas, no finish. Center of mass on the goalie, and it wasn’t great goalie play, just middle of the net shooting. Not saying their goalie didn’t play well, but Conmy demonstrated why his number isn’t called for the shootouts. Love his effort and puck handling, but this team is taking me back to late-Umile with no real scorers. Meanwhile, the game winner shows why it’s never bad to throw the puck at the net. Puck luck is real. The. Cats made them work for it, but Maine was the better team in the third.

and in the full ignorance department, where are the Nadeaus? I didn’t realize Maine’s continued rise was occurring without them.

Bradly Nadeau is playing for I think the Chicago Wolves (AHL according to hockeydb) and Josh was out with a concussion? Agreed on your 'gassed' comment...this isn't the first game
that's happened.

 

[Sparkee]

I thought UNH looked gassed in the third. They hit everything in blue throughout the first, skated and cycled in the second. Went back to trying to hit in the 5hird but there was no energy, multiple odd man break ins for Maine, always chasing. On Conmy’s self made chances, alas, no finish. Center of mass on the goalie, and it wasn’t great goalie play, just middle of the net shooting. Not saying their goalie didn’t play well, but Conmy demonstrated why his number isn’t called for the shootouts. Love his effort and puck handling, but this team is taking me back to late-Umile with no real scorers. Meanwhile, the game winner shows why it’s never bad to throw the puck at the net. Puck luck is real. The. Cats made them work for it, but Maine was the better team in the third.

and in the full ignorance department, where are the Nadeaus? I didn’t realize Maine’s continued rise was occurring without them.

Bradley Nadeau went pro.

Josh Nadeau is out with a head injury… people speculate a concussion. He took a shoulder to the head, kind of pinched against the boards against BU. He was woozy, and bleeding from his mouth and/or chin. He left game and didn’t come back. He hasn’t been scoring as much this season.

 

[Sparkee]

It seemed to me from watching on NESN that UNH was playing too defensively in the third period by holding two to three guys back other than Conmy, as if they were trying to protect a one goal lead. Problem with that approach in my thinking is that we were down by a goal so should have been taking more risks and trying to get more SOG rather than fewer in the third.

NU also lost so we still remain just one point below them in the HEA basement.

Yes, with 10 minutes left in the third UNH dropped back instead of forechecking and tried trap neutral zone 1-2-2. I realize they did it earlier in the game but it is an odd choice when down a goal. Maine kept gaining the red line with relative ease and dumping in, so UNH had to go 200 ft to score. It wasn’t being aggressive and pulling out all stops to try to win. It was hoping for a stretch counter to get a guy in on Boija alone. But it isn’t the way to beat come back on this Maine team. This Maine team likes to grind the boards in your zone and can gobble up minutes doing so and pop in a garbage goal every once in a while(Fowler’s doink goal of UNH net front covering D-man). But as BC demonstrated, if you forecheck with the kitchen sink even then Maine’s mobile defensemen struggle in the own end. With Souza being a heavy playing power forward, it is odd he built and employs a defensive conservative 5-on-5 system.

Having said all that, UNH played well and could have won that game if not for Boija and a couple of unlucky bounces for UNH(two consecutive pipe shots on that power play earlier in the game). It was a great hockey game.

 

[Chuck Murray]

So anyway ... in summary, 'Ref hit the nail on the head, this is the kind of game winning teams find a way to win, and struggling teams find a way to lose. Before I forget, HR ... what is an FOTG, and who is/was Scott?!? Was this some kind of obscure "fan of the game" thingie???

Let me do something I rarely get a chance to do on here, and do a little post-game video run-through of what I felt was the decisive goal last night, the UMaine equalizer not too long after UNH had broken the scoreless deadlock. From early in the attached video link, UNH has a faceoff in the UMaine end, and there is a clean win on the faceoff back to Brendan Fitzgerald (19), who has his one-timer/slapper blocked by UMaine's Owen Fowler (12). Fitzy then tries to pinch in to collect his own rebound, but is angled off the puck - still in the UMaine zone - by UMaine's Charlie Russell (11). Seeing this develop, Russell's linemates jump ahead in the play at center ice, and Russell feeds the puck across to Lynden Breen (27) at center ice in the neutral zone, and with Fowler alertly joining him, UMaine is suddenly showing a 2-on-1 just outside the UNH blue line, as Fitzgerald races back and manages to close out most (not all) of the space Fowler initially has ahead of him.

UNH's Luke Reid (16), a 5th-year defenseman/neglected low round NHL draft pick, is initially put in a tricky situation, being the lone defender as Fitzy motors to try to close down Fowler off the puck. Looking further up ice, UNH's Jason Siedem (23) is the first (only) forward back in the play to cover for any UMaine attackers trailing the play, and he is in the middle of the ice. UMaine's only trailing attacker by this point is Russell, and he is back on the right wing well behind Fowler, angling towards the middle to become that trailer, but Siedem is in decent position to pick him up if Breen were to try to go with a drop pass to a trailing attacker (only a 3rd option behind shooting or pass to Fowler).

Look at the video at approx. the 0:11 mark, and you will see:

(1) Fitzy has now caught Fowler, and is providing enough back pressure to put any pass to Fowler in jeopardy
(2) Siedem seems pretty well positioned to pick up the lone UMaine trailer Russell, but not to challenge Breen
(3) Breen has yet to reach the top of the circle, but by now, it's clear his best option will be to shoot it himself
(4) Reid is still trying to sit in the middle, more to defend the passing lane, as opposed to impeding the shooter

The shot at 0:12, Breen down by the dot now, Reid is still uncommitted, as Fitzy improves inside leverage on Fowler.
Puck in net at 0:13, Reid still hasn't made a move towards Breen, when Reid can see Breen is primary (only?) threat

To me ... we can discuss whether Fitzy overcommitted after his shot was blocked, which was the initial cause of the breakout, but to me, I think he clearly busted his butt to become a factor in the play by the end, and had at least put doubt into Breen going with the passing option. Which to my thinking, your 5th year senior defender should have sufficient experience to read the play, and commit to challenge another 5th year guy (Breen) who is an established D-1 goalscorer. Reid probably has a second, maybe a second-and-a-half, to try to close space on Breen, or maybe even just shift his stick into his right hand (I know he's a right hand shot) to give himself a better chance to obstruct/deflect or block the shot? He didn't do any of that, and UMaine had a timely equalizer before UNH could even really get any sense of control over the game management.

On the UMaine side ... Fowler earns himself an assist by blocking Fitzy's shot, but what he and Breen do immediately after that is what makes all the difference. Both immediately surge ahead into the developing play, recognizing that linemate Russell is likely gonna win a puck battle and trap Fitzy momentarily, creating the 2-on-1. Russell makes the key pass, really without looking, knowing his linemates will be breaking with him, and then Fowler (after blocking Fitzy's shot) beats everyone else in a UNH sweater up the ice to create the space that led to Breen's goal. That is all about situational awareness with the players (or lack thereof late by Reid), and coaching that kind of awareness (or lack thereof?) into the players, on both sides. It changed the momentum in the game immediately, and UNH's chance to continue home "dominance" (if I can even say that with a straight face) over UMaine with it.

Looking ahead ... I'm hoping to make it to at least one of the RIT games next weekend, hopefully with some family in tow. As we get closer to the games, folks may want to chat about setting something up before, during or after one of the games so we can catch up with each other, as it's been awhile, and it's a great time of the year to do so.

 

[Sparkee]

So anyway ... in summary, 'Ref hit the nail on the head, this is the kind of game winning teams find a way to win, and struggling teams find a way to lose. Before I forget, HR ... what is an FOTG, and who is/was Scott?!? Was this some kind of obscure "fan of the game" thingie???

Let me do something I rarely get a chance to do on here, and do a little post-game video run-through of what I felt was the decisive goal last night, the UMaine equalizer not too long after UNH had broken the scoreless deadlock. From early in the attached video link, UNH has a faceoff in the UMaine end, and there is a clean win on the faceoff back to Brendan Fitzgerald (19), who has his one-timer/slapper blocked by UMaine's Owen Fowler (12). Fitzy then tries to pinch in to collect his own rebound, but is angled off the puck - still in the UMaine zone - by UMaine's Charlie Russell (11). Seeing this develop, Russell's linemates jump ahead in the play at center ice, and Russell feeds the puck across to Lynden Breen (27) at center ice in the neutral zone, and with Fowler alertly joining him, UMaine is suddenly showing a 2-on-1 just outside the UNH blue line, as Fitzgerald races back and manages to close out most (not all) of the space Fowler initially has ahead of him.

UNH's Luke Reid (16), a 5th-year defenseman/neglected low round NHL draft pick, is initially put in a tricky situation, being the lone defender as Fitzy motors to try to close down Fowler off the puck. Looking further up ice, UNH's Jason Siedem (23) is the first (only) forward back in the play to cover for any UMaine attackers trailing the play, and he is in the middle of the ice. UMaine's only trailing attacker by this point is Russell, and he is back on the right wing well behind Fowler, angling towards the middle to become that trailer, but Siedem is in decent position to pick him up if Breen were to try to go with a drop pass to a trailing attacker (only a 3rd option behind shooting or pass to Fowler).

Look at the video at approx. the 0:11 mark, and you will see:

(1) Fitzy has now caught Fowler, and is providing enough back pressure to put any pass to Fowler in jeopardy
(2) Siedem seems pretty well positioned to pick up the lone UMaine trailer Russell, but not to challenge Breen
(3) Breen has yet to reach the top of the circle, but by now, it's clear his best option will be to shoot it himself
(4) Reid is still trying to sit in the middle, more to defend the passing lane, as opposed to impeding the shooter

The shot at 0:12, Breen down by the dot now, Reid is still uncommitted, as Fitzy improves inside leverage on Fowler.
Puck in net at 0:13, Reid still hasn't made a move towards Breen, when Reid can see Breen is primary (only?) threat

To me ... we can discuss whether Fitzy overcommitted after his shot was blocked, which was the initial cause of the breakout, but to me, I think he clearly busted his butt to become a factor in the play by the end, and had at least put doubt into Breen going with the passing option. Which to my thinking, your 5th year senior defender should have sufficient experience to read the play, and commit to challenge another 5th year guy (Breen) who is an established D-1 goalscorer. Reid probably has a second, maybe a second-and-a-half, to try to close space on Breen, or maybe even just shift his stick into his right hand (I know he's a right hand shot) to give himself a better chance to obstruct/deflect or block the shot? He didn't do any of that, and UMaine had a timely equalizer before UNH could even really get any sense of control over the game management.

On the UMaine side ... Fowler earns himself an assist by blocking Fitzy's shot, but what he and Breen do immediately after that is what makes all the difference. Both immediately surge ahead into the developing play, recognizing that linemate Russell is likely gonna win a puck battle and trap Fitzy momentarily, creating the 2-on-1. Russell makes the key pass, really without looking, knowing his linemates will be breaking with him, and then Fowler (after blocking Fitzy's shot) beats everyone else in a UNH sweater up the ice to create the space that led to Breen's goal. That is all about situational awareness with the players (or lack thereof late by Reid), and coaching that kind of awareness (or lack thereof?) into the players, on both sides. It changed the momentum in the game immediately, and UNH's chance to continue home "dominance" (if I can even say that with a straight face) over UMaine with it.

Looking ahead ... I'm hoping to make it to at least one of the RIT games next weekend, hopefully with some family in tow. As we get closer to the games, folks may want to chat about setting something up before, during or after one of the games so we can catch up with each other, as it's been awhile, and it's a great time of the year to do so.

On the FOTG it must be the hairy fat boy that tore his shirt off and went shirtless the rest of the game???

Is this a thing that happens every game? Reminded me of BU’s Sasquatch. It was pretty funny.

 

[Darius]

I thought UNH looked gassed in the third. They hit everything in blue throughout the first, skated and cycled in the second. Went back to trying to hit in the 5hird but there was no energy, multiple odd man break ins for Maine, always chasing. On Conmy’s self made chances, alas, no finish. Center of mass on the goalie, and it wasn’t great goalie play, just middle of the net shooting. Not saying their goalie didn’t play well, but Conmy demonstrated why his number isn’t called for the shootouts. Love his effort and puck handling, but this team is taking me back to late-Umile with no real scorers. Meanwhile, the game winner shows why it’s never bad to throw the puck at the net. Puck luck is real. The. Cats made them work for it, but Maine was the better team in the third.

and in the full ignorance department, where are the Nadeaus? I didn’t realize Maine’s continued rise was occurring without them.

Yup.

 

[HockeyRef]

On the FOTG it must be the hairy fat boy that tore his shirt off and went shirtless the rest of the game???

Is this a thing that happens every game? Reminded me of BU’s Sasquatch. It was pretty funny.

No lol wasn't him! And that was the first time they did it like that (bringing the fan onto the ice) How did you like the Black Bears sketch job? I got a kick out of that...

 

[StillKIA2]

No lol wasn't him! And that was the first time they did it like that (bringing the fan onto the ice) How did you like the Black Bears sketch job? I got a kick out of that...

That was hilarious!
i hope they do that every game

 

[Aerman]

That was hilarious!
i hope they do that every game

They did it last week as well.

 

[HockeyRef]

That was hilarious!
i hope they do that every game

I guess they did it for the NU game too...will have to see what they do for the Tigers!

 

[Snively65]

Heinrich.
I guess they did it for the NU game too...will have to see what they do for the Tigers!

After the tough loss to the Maine Black Bears on Friday night, how will our Cats respond against the RIT Tigers when they visit Durham for the first time next weekend?

The Tigers are currently 3-10-1, losing 8 of their last 10, and breaking a three-game losing streak by earning a tie before losing a shoot-out to Sacred Heart on Saturday night. The Tigers are 2-1-0 all-time against the Cats, including handing UNH one of its worst losses in its program history.

The Tigers are mired in second to last place in Atlantic Hockey, the conference constantly mocked across many of these threads, whereas UNH is likely locked into last place in Hockey East until at least mid-January given the upset win over the BC Eagles by the NU Huskies on Saturday evening. Despite the Cats’ last-place standing in the HEA and our first loss to the Black Bears in Durham since 2019, UNH is still ranked 22nd in the PWR. I think that UNH should forget about their next game against the Huskies in two weeks and focus on sweeping the Tigers this coming weekend. Like last season, losing even one game against the Tigers next weekend would be devastating to our PWR and likely end any possibility of a NCAA bid at season’s end.

edit: oops, 24th in PWR based on RPI, but same 41 PWR points as Bentley (22nd) and Augustana (23rd). Now there is some illustrious company!

 

[Chuck Murray]

After the tough loss to the Maine Black Bears on Friday night, how will our Cats respond against the RIT Tigers when they visit Durham for the first time next weekend?

The Tigers are currently 3-10-1, losing 8 of their last 10, and breaking a three-game losing streak by earning a tie before losing a shoot-out to Sacred Heart on Saturday night. The Tigers are 2-1-0 all-time against the Cats, including handing UNH one of its worst losses in its program history.

The Tigers are mired in second to last place in Atlantic Hockey, the conference constantly mocked across many of these threads, whereas UNH is likely locked into last place in Hockey East until at least mid-January given the upset win over the BC Eagles by the NU Huskies on Saturday evening. Despite the Cats’ last-place standing in the HEA and our first loss to the Black Bears in Durham since 2019, UNH is still ranked 22nd in the PWR. I think that UNH should forget about their next game against the Huskies in two weeks and focus on sweeping the Tigers this coming weekend. Like last season, losing even one game against the Tigers next weekend would be devastating to our PWR and likely end any possibility of a NCAA bid at season's end.

edit: oops, 24th in PWR based on RPI, but same 41 PWR points as Bentley (22nd) and Augustana (23rd). Now there is some illustrious company!

So you're saying RIT are the cupcakes, and UNH had better eat both cupcakes next weekend, Snives??