UNH At The Starting Gate....

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

Entertaining game against St. Lawrence. The Saints played hard and deserved to win. The Cats were pretty rusty - passes bouncing over sticks and/or off the heel. They had several Grade A opportunities in front of the St. L goalie but either couldn't find the handle or the goalie made good saves. DiGirolamo played solid. The overtime goal looked peculiar from the far end of the rink - looked like it floated over DiGi's shoulder but couldn't tell for sure.

Great to see Greg Burke back. Hopefully he'll regain his strength, stay injury free, and peak as March approaches. The first two lines remained in tact. The third line was Sorkin-Silengo-Henrion while the fourth line was Burke-Block-McCarey. In the third period, Block moved up to the third line and assisted on Henrion's pretty goal. As well as Goumas has played, it's tough to see him not dressed for the game. I imagine some teams would like to have a line of Goumas-Manz-Pavelski. So far, the Cats have been very fortunate with few injuries. If one or more forwards go down at some point, the replacements will have a fair amount of playing time under their belt.

After the game, the entire team sat at a long table in the lobby and signed posters and jerseys. The line of fans was long - maybe 75-100. These Sunday afternoon games while the students are away have attracted good crowds.

 

[Carmine Scarpaglia]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

The overtime goal looked peculiar from the far end of the rink - looked like it floated over DiGi's shoulder but couldn't tell for sure.

Highlights are up on youtube and HEonline. It seemed like Digi just got a piece of it but it went up over his head and behind him all while Bogosian was bearing down on the net to track down his own rebound. At that point, someone knocked it in. Can't tell if it was a defenseman, Bogosian, or Digi possibly. No matter what, an ugly goal for Digi, he can't be happy to let that puck bounce behind him.

 

[Catnip]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

I wasn't at the game but watched the video feed. The Cats looked more than rusty and somewhat disinterested. They were not moving the puck quickly like they usually do and the power play was awful. The first line struggled for most of the game and only had a couple of good shifts. Neither power play unit could generate many chances and did not work well as units. Even the announcers commented that some of the "stars, including Kessel" weren't having very good days and were giving the puck away. What's worse is the UNH coaches couldn't see that and kept sending out the same PP units and D pairings and it wasn't working. What's the adage, if it's working, don't fix it, but we seem to be saying "if it's not working don't fix it" This could be a big problem down the road if that approach doesn't change. I realize it is the first game back after a long break, but that isn't a good enough excuse for the way they played today. I am hoping they will turn things around next weekend and get back to the hard work and winning team play we have been watching this year.

 

[TimU]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

I wasn't at the game but watched the video feed. The Cats looked more than rusty and somewhat disinterested. They were not moving the puck quickly like they usually do and the power play was awful. The first line struggled for most of the game and only had a couple of good shifts. Neither power play unit could generate many chances and did not work well as units. Even the announcers commented that some of the "stars, including Kessel" weren't having very good days and were giving the puck away.

I thought it was a good game, and I though SLU played very well. I also thought UNH moved the puck fine on the PP, but were just one pass short or reluctant to pull the trigger. St. Lawrence did a nice job of getting in the passing/shooting lanes and didn't let UNH have the shots they wanted, but I thought UNH passed up a lot of decent shots looking for a better one that never came. Also, let's face it: Weninger was fantastic.

I can totally understand why UNH would be upset that they couldn't capitalize on all those PP chances, regardless of what the PK did or didn't do. They should have scored. And I can understand why they'd be disappointed to lose a game at home to a team with a losing record. On the other hand, no matter what they did or didn't do in the first half of the year, SLU put together 60+ minutes of good hockey yesterday. They were the harder working team, they got great goaltending, they killed penalties, they showed good speed, and they converted a couple of chances. All that on the road against a great skating team on a huge sheet of ice.

UNH should have expected to win this game, and they should expect more from their special teams. But they also got a very good effort from their goaltender (it could have been worse if he hadn't come up with some big saves) and they saw St. Lawrence's best game of the year. SLU has won a couple of sloppy, badly played games this year, but this wasn't one of them.

 

[ClOuD 9]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

The overtime goal looked peculiar from the far end of the rink - looked like it floated over DiGi's shoulder but couldn't tell for sure.

Hit Digi's shoulder and while coming down behind him hit the leg/foot (where the skate meets the sock) of the SLU forward and in - SLU forward moved his leg in to it, but I'm not familiar enough with what constitutes "kicking motion" to say whether it meets the rulebook definition.

Saints also got away with one on the PK in the third when an SLU defender covered the puck with his glove in the crease - penalty shot.

These Sunday afternoon games while the students are away have attracted good crowds.

5,474 is much higher than I had anticipated pre-game.

 

[TimU]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

Saints also got away with one on the PK in the third when an SLU defender covered the puck with his glove in the crease - penalty shot.

UNH doesn't have much to complain about with the officiating in this game - in the third period they called every penalty SLU committed and one or two they didn't, and from where I sat directly behind the UNH net I can tell you SLU got screwed with the quick whistle on the non-goal. But I saw this, too, and I was holding my breath waiting for the call. I was all the way at the other end of the rink, so I couldn't see if he ever actually touched the puck. Weninger went for it, too, and he ended up with it. But I did see the defenseman (I believe it was Matt Raley) reach for it in the crease and I thought a PS was coming just like you did.

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

...SLU got screwed with the quick whistle on the non-goal...

After the game it appeared that when Coach Umile greeted Coach Marsh he said "That was a goal".

 

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

After the game it appeared that when Coach Umile greeted Coach Marsh he said "That was a goal".

Final Score: St. Lawrence 3 - UNH 1.

 

[zoofer]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

I have to agree more with TimU then Catnip....keep in mnd that The Saints have taken 3 in a row from us...Joe Marsh, a former UNH Alum, knows how to defense Umile...how did we play last year in our first game back from vacation vs. Cornell? I know it's not popular but UNH enjoyed the Holiday break, especially when you have 6 grandkids! We all know that January isn't March and given our history, we all get nervous but yesterday's game was very predictable....see everyone Friday night.

 

[Got 6 Want More]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

After the game it appeared that when Coach Umile greeted Coach Marsh he said "That was a goal".

My understanding is he said "you deserved the win (especially) after that call".

I think TimU's comments are spot on. UNH was given every chance by the officials. Aside from the lopsided calls, they missed some obvious ones like UNH icing the puck on the PP (and the ref explaining the rule to the linesman after apologizing to Marsh one more time for screwing up), a fairly obvious interference by a UNH player taking out an SLU D-Man behind the goal with the puck a good 30 feet away, an ugly UNH cross check of an SLU defenseman in the 2nd while UNH was on the PP, an obvious holding / interference call by UNH hauling down Kyle Flanagan right before blowing the call on the SLU goal with 15 seconds left. I am also not so sure that SLU didn't score shorthanded in the first, but regardless, they had at least two glorious chances on the PK.

Love watching games at UNH....such a big sheet and Umile teams are always good, classy teams. I understand the disappointment, but I also know SLU is a young team that is just hitting their stride and coming back from some rough injuries and I think is a bit better than their record. Spoke to some that think SLU actually played better against UVM and that game was not as close as the score, but, whatever, this was a bigger win for us and was on the road. Weninger was good. He looked that good in his first game at Mankato where he should have had a shutout. Without him, we lose to UNH. The only comment about UNH is they seemed to whiff on a lot of shots....thank GOD!

Good luck to UNH the rest of the way. I root for UNH when they are not playing the ECAC and think you guys are lucky to have good teams year in and year out. However, wow, the officiating was pretty lousy and that is saying something from a guy used to watching ECAC refs. A lot of blown calls!

 

[JB]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

My understanding is he said "you deserved the win (especially) after that call".

I think TimU's comments are spot on. UNH was given every chance by the officials. Aside from the lopsided calls, they missed some obvious ones like UNH icing the puck on the PP (and the ref explaining the rule to the linesman after apologizing to Marsh one more time for screwing up), a fairly obvious interference by a UNH player taking out an SLU D-Man behind the goal with the puck a good 30 feet away, an ugly UNH cross check of an SLU defenseman in the 2nd while UNH was on the PP, an obvious holding / interference call by UNH hauling down Kyle Flanagan right before blowing the call on the SLU goal with 15 seconds left. I am also not so sure that SLU didn't score shorthanded in the first, but regardless, they had at least two glorious chances on the PK.

Love watching games at UNH....such a big sheet and Umile teams are always good, classy teams. I understand the disappointment, but I also know SLU is a young team that is just hitting their stride and coming back from some rough injuries and I think is a bit better than their record. Spoke to some that think SLU actually played better against UVM and that game was not as close as the score, but, whatever, this was a bigger win for us and was on the road. Weninger was good. He looked that good in his first game at Mankato where he should have had a shutout. Without him, we lose to UNH. The only comment about UNH is they seemed to whiff on a lot of shots....thank GOD!

Good luck to UNH the rest of the way. I root for UNH when they are not playing the ECAC and think you guys are lucky to have good teams year in and year out. However, wow, the officiating was pretty lousy and that is saying something from a guy used to watching ECAC refs. A lot of blown calls!

SLU earned the win. No UNH fan should complain about the Refs in that game - eck! - Umile was right SLU should have won it late in the third on the quick whistle.

I think UNH over played the 1st line and that was the issue at the end of the game. The speed line (2nd) had no real effect on SLU. IMO the best 2 UNH lines were 3rd (Henrion and crew) and 4th (Burke and crew). Both won the battles on the boards with 3rd scoring UNH's lone goal. The 1st line was just off all night; they whiffed on a pile of shots and were sloppy with the puck on the PP. SLU was good on the PK but UNH had a pile of unforced turnovers on the PP. Give SLU credit they were in the right position to take advantage clearing pucks and gets so interesting chances on the PK.

SLU goalie played a good game and was key for the SLU win. He stole at least 2 goals from UNH, won with a quick glove the other by getting his knee down sliding across the crease (amazing - not as flashy as the glove but a better save).

 

[ClOuD 9]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

and from where I sat directly behind the UNH net I can tell you SLU got screwed with the quick whistle on the non-goal.

I was at the opposite end so I can't say, after the game I received a text message from someone who sits on the goal line in that end of the ice saying Digi had taken a stick to the mask and that was the reason for the whistle.

But I saw this, too, and I was holding my breath waiting for the call. I was all the way at the other end of the rink, so I couldn't see if he ever actually touched the puck. Weninger went for it, too, and he ended up with it. But I did see the defenseman (I believe it was Matt Raley) reach for it in the crease and I thought a PS was coming just like you did.

I was behind the net second row, the defenseman (didn't catch whom) put his glove down directly on top of it. With how well Weninger was playing I'm not sure a penalty shot would have made much difference on the final scoreline.

 

[JB]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

I was behind the net second row, the defenseman (didn't catch whom) put his glove down directly on top of it. With how well Weninger was playing I'm not sure a penalty shot would have made much difference on the final scoreline.

I too sit at that end of the ice. It was clear the D-man covered the puck. The official was on the other side of the net, but even when he got around the puck was still under the d-mans glove. I don't know how he didn't see it and call the PS but he didn't. Maybe he just didn't know the rule... in general the entire crew seemed that incompetent, generally screwing SLU.

End of the day the right team won the game.

 

[Got 6 Want More]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

I was at the opposite end so I can't say, after the game I received a text message from someone who sits on the goal line in that end of the ice saying Digi had taken a stick to the mask and that was the reason for the whistle.

I was on the goal line for this play looking down from your goalies left circle. I don't believe this text was correct. The initial shot (which had a good chance of going in by the way without anyone tapping it as it was headed that way) was taken from outside, and the player that tapped it in just arrived on the scene after getting hauled down in the circle. There were no other players (from SLU) near the goalie so that doesn't hold water. Besides, if that was the case, there would / should have been a penalty. The ref just blew a quick whistle (which some people such as TimU sitting right behind the goal judge never heard), and then saw that instant the puck was loose and that he blew the call. As JB said though, it didn't matter and the right team won in the end.

I was behind the net second row, the defenseman (didn't catch whom) put his glove down directly on top of it. With how well Weninger was playing I'm not sure a penalty shot would have made much difference on the final scoreline.

Obviously I was at the other end but I saw the play. From my point of view, he moved the puck with his hand, not smothering it, in which case I am not sure of the call. It would be a PS if he covered it and smothered it for sure as a delay of game. Provided he moved the puck, I am not sure that is even a penalty. I will concede though I was too far away and couldn't see exactly where the puck went directly after that play. My guess is if that was a penalty or PS that Umile or the UNH players would have gone more ape**** than they did. Maybe not, but I would have!

 

[GoUNH]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

Shoulda Coulda Woulda. Time to put together a nice winning streak.

 

[Markt]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

SLU got screwed with the quick whistle on the non-goal.

My son says he read an F-bomb on the ref's lips right after that whistle, so the ref probably agrees with your assessment. It happens. Sometimes, your brain just turns to **** for a second. Good game by SLU, with very solid goaltending.

On to Lowell... 2/$22 tickets again this week. I've had season tickets since '98, and I'm seriously considering dropping them next year and taking the half price deal that everyone else gets. Maybe I can claim a charitable deduction for paying double.

 

[GoUNH]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

The whistle blew before the puck went in the net. The question is why was the whistle blown. More than likely the ref lost sight of the puck, in which case he made the correct call by halting play.

 

[Got 6 Want More]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

The whistle blew before the puck went in the net. The question is why was the whistle blown. More than likely the ref lost sight of the puck, in which case he made the correct call by halting play.

What the play in real time on hockey east online. There is no way the whistle ever should have been blown if it actually was blown (some behind the net didn't hear it), and the ref admitted that to the SLU coach...watch the youtube video of the post game comments. Not to mention in the top of the picture you can see SLU's best offensive player getting mugged 20 feet away from the puck. The call was blown three different ways, but the right team still won and the same two players that would have gotten points on the disallowed goal got the points on the OT winner.

 

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

Congratulations to Matt DiGirolamo, Hockey East Goalie of the Month.

 

[Snively65]

Re: UNH At The Starting Gate....

I think UNH over played the 1st line and that was the issue at the end of the game. The speed line (2nd) had no real effect on SLU. IMO the best 2 UNH lines were 3rd (Henrion and crew) and 4th (Burke and crew). Both won the battles on the boards with 3rd scoring UNH's lone goal. The 1st line was just off all night; they whiffed on a pile of shots and were sloppy with the puck on the PP. SLU was good on the PK but UNH had a pile of unforced turnovers on the PP. Give SLU credit they were in the right position to take advantage clearing pucks and gets so interesting chances on the PK.

Exactly what I was telling my friend the entire third period. The third and fourth lines drew all three penalties in the third, I think, then sat and watched the first and second lines blow all three power plays. Minus 2 for all three on the first line. I was actually surprised to see that the first line recorded 11 of the 30 total shots, as it certainly did not seem that way to me. But, the first two lines did get what seemed like 80% of the ice time, so I suppose the number of shots makes sense. D guys picked up 10 shots, but UNH rarely had anyone near the crease for rebounds, some of which Weninger left right in front.

We bought the $11 tickets so moved twice to sit behind Weninger, who was great, but we did not move for OT, so had a good view of the GWG, which was indeed ugly. Will be back on Friday night, with the hope that the rust has worn off by then.