SOG rulz;-)
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UNH Hockey 2023-2024 Season Thread - End Of The Cellar-Dweller Era??
- Thread starter Scott
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It should be a reward based playing time and his last 2 games have been awful. Give Babs his time or anyone, can’t be worse.
The cast is off I believe maybe not enough time to regain strength in the hand. Maybe at Maine next Friday.
The first 5 minutes of the game will probably set the tone for the night.
As mookie on BU threads says, “Oh, no, we suck again.”
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Well finally got something going...but both starts have been really shaky...Norbert, you got your wish, Fitzgerald not in the lineup..Siedem in.
And a wilder OT?
HockeyRef
Well-known member
OH MY Cyyyyyyy!! And Comny snipe (4 point weekend) with 5.2 to go. Thank you Hockey Gods...finally something good out of the weekend....Hellsten comes up big too.
Let's go Soccer 'Cats!
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And LeClerc’s GWG with 5 seconds remaining in OT also (for his 4-point weekend), and Luke Reid picked up 3 assists on the weekend. UNH now 3.4 GPG and 2.6 GAG, which projects to 119 goals scored and 91 goals against on the season.
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
Before I go on further, let me just say this ... like Charlie Brown, taunted by Lucy while holding the football, all the while expecting in the back of my mind that the football will get yanked on me at the crucial moment ... I am in. Not without reservations, mind you, but I am IN. No, make that, I AM IN. And you can quote me on this, going forwards.
What a fun and exciting weekend of college hockey out in Rochester, and boy, do I wish things had worked out differently, as I would have loved to be there. The RIT program seems to have a lot going for it, and this year's team looks like a fun watch, and were certainly a fantastic match for UNH on their home ice. While watching the first game last night, any of us old-timers could have been seen referring to the "UNH way-back machine" on the last time the two teams had met, and how a lethargic UNH effort in the middle frame had cost the 'Cats a fortuitous trip to the Frozen Four at the hands of these same Tigers. That UNH didn't just give in, and actually pressed hard for a late equalizer, didn't seem to matter much, and one could be forgiven for overlooking that slight inconsistency with the old script ...
NCAA Tournament: UNH blows it; RIT, Wisconsin Detroit-bound (yahoo.com)
... and then tonight, we saw a somewhat similar script play out, with UNH dropping behind by two, then equalizing fairly quickly ... but then the script went down a different rabbit hole. RIT and JoJo (sorry - still working off the likeable local telecast duo's impact!) took the lead, and this time it was held down by Tommy in goal for a LONG stretch of defensive ride time, as UNH pressed and pressed and pressed without luck for an elusive equalizer. But just when it seemed Tommy had been able to hold down the fort for a notable RIT sweep, a desperate hold-in at the blue line with about 10 ticks left set about a course of events that ended with HEA ROY Conmy bombing home the equalizer in space at the doorstep. Definitely NOT Tommy's fault. And once that happened, you just knew (even) UNH was gonna win in OT, which LeClerc did, again in the final seconds. Effing bravo, boys!!!
And suddenly, that six-plus hour trek back home on the endless Thruway was not such a bad ride. Heck, they're probably pulled over as we speak, urinating on the lawns at Union College in Schenectadots. Talk about burying ghosts.
A quick moment here to comment on the TV broadcasts. Despite my poking fun at the RIT broadcast team, and the over-familiarity with some of the players' nicknames ... those two guys do a wonderful job of playing off each other, leaning homer-ish, but knowing a decent amount on the opposition, and adding a good-sized dollop of objectivity to the commentary. They were easily better informed AND more entertaining as broadcasters than any team I've seen broadcast for NESN over the last generation. And the woman who did the sideline reporter gig actually asked good questions, seemed to have a good read and sense of the games, and gave added value to the broadcast. Which leads me to the following question: why can't UNH go back to doing their own broadcasts?? It almost makes me want to add RIT as the elusive 12th team in Hockey East. HEA doesn't need another Boston team. HEA isn't going to get Quinnipiac. If the choice were ever to come down to Holy Cross, Bentley or RIT ... put me down for RIT.
Now, back to the main course. This was a UNH team that probably fell into the easy trap of "well, it's an OOC against an Atlantic Hockey foe", and that cost them on Friday. And while it nearly cost them on Saturday, it didn't. It didn't because this UNH team did something very unlike many of its predecessors had done in the past, which is to look down the barrel of a potentially disastrous weekend sweep that could have brought up all of the bad omens of the past, and just willed themselves to a victory. OK, an OT win, or whatever. They did not lose, and in fact, they succeeded twice - in the same game, mind you - in the closing seconds to first avoid a weekend sweep, and then to do that one bit better at the end of overtime. This was an exciting series between two fun teams that matched up well against each other, played games like it meant something, and both got their just desserts.
Was this still a November game that doesn't move the needle on HEA standings, and probably doesn't do much with PWR? Yup and yup. Is it time to start booking travel plans to the Frozen Four? Not unless you're well-heeled and can absorb the financial loss and/or will just enjoy the late winter travel to watch some really good D-1 hockey. But this is entertaining hockey, and it is looking like winning hockey, too. It's been a month-and-a-half now, and trust me, I'm watching for all of the usual red flags. I'm risking looking foolish in getting behind a coach for whom I've had little in the way of positive things to say in recent seasons. But screw all of that, I've been made to look foolish before, so what's one more fruitless run-up to the elusive football, right Lucy?? And this time, I just know you ain't gonna yank it away on me ... right?!?!?!?
------------------------
On the NHL front, I would be amiss as well if I didn't briefly mention that I'm also now bought in on my beloved DRW, and the current state of the YzerPlan. A second straight regulation win over the B's after an equally dominant win over the Devils, and this team feels a lot different to the recent baby step improvements we've seen, as they dig out from under the monumental hole former GM Kenny Holland dug for them prior to his departure for EDM (where they are now imploding, while Holland - a former career back-up goalie as a player - stumbles to find a goalie to keep that team afloat, with the latest "solution" being a former DRW AHL lifer Cal Pickard). At some point, Yzerman himself will have to deal for his own franchise goalie if they're going to get past playoff qualification, and move on to Cup contention. There is a pile of draft capital he's sitting on, and a tempting potential opportunity to sign Patrick Kane as a UFA in the coming weeks (DRW are supposedly in the final 3 for him) that will test his reliance on his long-term draft strategy. So it's fun to be a DRW and UNH fan again.
Otherwise, I promised not to comment on James van Healthyscratch's absence from the lineup Friday afternoon ... ;-)
... and looking forward to the UNH v. Clemson showdown tomorrow afternoon to see if UNH makes it to the Elite Eight! A win, and either UNH advances to face #1 overall Marshall in WV OR will host #16 Stanford. There is an article on seacoastonline.com a couple of days ago on the fact that Clemson's former head coach was once UNH's head coach about 20 years ago. I'd share it, but it's blocked by a paywall. GO CATS!!
What a fun and exciting weekend of college hockey out in Rochester, and boy, do I wish things had worked out differently, as I would have loved to be there. The RIT program seems to have a lot going for it, and this year's team looks like a fun watch, and were certainly a fantastic match for UNH on their home ice. While watching the first game last night, any of us old-timers could have been seen referring to the "UNH way-back machine" on the last time the two teams had met, and how a lethargic UNH effort in the middle frame had cost the 'Cats a fortuitous trip to the Frozen Four at the hands of these same Tigers. That UNH didn't just give in, and actually pressed hard for a late equalizer, didn't seem to matter much, and one could be forgiven for overlooking that slight inconsistency with the old script ...
NCAA Tournament: UNH blows it; RIT, Wisconsin Detroit-bound (yahoo.com)
... and then tonight, we saw a somewhat similar script play out, with UNH dropping behind by two, then equalizing fairly quickly ... but then the script went down a different rabbit hole. RIT and JoJo (sorry - still working off the likeable local telecast duo's impact!) took the lead, and this time it was held down by Tommy in goal for a LONG stretch of defensive ride time, as UNH pressed and pressed and pressed without luck for an elusive equalizer. But just when it seemed Tommy had been able to hold down the fort for a notable RIT sweep, a desperate hold-in at the blue line with about 10 ticks left set about a course of events that ended with HEA ROY Conmy bombing home the equalizer in space at the doorstep. Definitely NOT Tommy's fault. And once that happened, you just knew (even) UNH was gonna win in OT, which LeClerc did, again in the final seconds. Effing bravo, boys!!!
And suddenly, that six-plus hour trek back home on the endless Thruway was not such a bad ride. Heck, they're probably pulled over as we speak, urinating on the lawns at Union College in Schenectadots. Talk about burying ghosts.
A quick moment here to comment on the TV broadcasts. Despite my poking fun at the RIT broadcast team, and the over-familiarity with some of the players' nicknames ... those two guys do a wonderful job of playing off each other, leaning homer-ish, but knowing a decent amount on the opposition, and adding a good-sized dollop of objectivity to the commentary. They were easily better informed AND more entertaining as broadcasters than any team I've seen broadcast for NESN over the last generation. And the woman who did the sideline reporter gig actually asked good questions, seemed to have a good read and sense of the games, and gave added value to the broadcast. Which leads me to the following question: why can't UNH go back to doing their own broadcasts?? It almost makes me want to add RIT as the elusive 12th team in Hockey East. HEA doesn't need another Boston team. HEA isn't going to get Quinnipiac. If the choice were ever to come down to Holy Cross, Bentley or RIT ... put me down for RIT.
Now, back to the main course. This was a UNH team that probably fell into the easy trap of "well, it's an OOC against an Atlantic Hockey foe", and that cost them on Friday. And while it nearly cost them on Saturday, it didn't. It didn't because this UNH team did something very unlike many of its predecessors had done in the past, which is to look down the barrel of a potentially disastrous weekend sweep that could have brought up all of the bad omens of the past, and just willed themselves to a victory. OK, an OT win, or whatever. They did not lose, and in fact, they succeeded twice - in the same game, mind you - in the closing seconds to first avoid a weekend sweep, and then to do that one bit better at the end of overtime. This was an exciting series between two fun teams that matched up well against each other, played games like it meant something, and both got their just desserts.
Was this still a November game that doesn't move the needle on HEA standings, and probably doesn't do much with PWR? Yup and yup. Is it time to start booking travel plans to the Frozen Four? Not unless you're well-heeled and can absorb the financial loss and/or will just enjoy the late winter travel to watch some really good D-1 hockey. But this is entertaining hockey, and it is looking like winning hockey, too. It's been a month-and-a-half now, and trust me, I'm watching for all of the usual red flags. I'm risking looking foolish in getting behind a coach for whom I've had little in the way of positive things to say in recent seasons. But screw all of that, I've been made to look foolish before, so what's one more fruitless run-up to the elusive football, right Lucy?? And this time, I just know you ain't gonna yank it away on me ... right?!?!?!?
------------------------
On the NHL front, I would be amiss as well if I didn't briefly mention that I'm also now bought in on my beloved DRW, and the current state of the YzerPlan. A second straight regulation win over the B's after an equally dominant win over the Devils, and this team feels a lot different to the recent baby step improvements we've seen, as they dig out from under the monumental hole former GM Kenny Holland dug for them prior to his departure for EDM (where they are now imploding, while Holland - a former career back-up goalie as a player - stumbles to find a goalie to keep that team afloat, with the latest "solution" being a former DRW AHL lifer Cal Pickard). At some point, Yzerman himself will have to deal for his own franchise goalie if they're going to get past playoff qualification, and move on to Cup contention. There is a pile of draft capital he's sitting on, and a tempting potential opportunity to sign Patrick Kane as a UFA in the coming weeks (DRW are supposedly in the final 3 for him) that will test his reliance on his long-term draft strategy. So it's fun to be a DRW and UNH fan again.
Otherwise, I promised not to comment on James van Healthyscratch's absence from the lineup Friday afternoon ... ;-)
... and looking forward to the UNH v. Clemson showdown tomorrow afternoon to see if UNH makes it to the Elite Eight! A win, and either UNH advances to face #1 overall Marshall in WV OR will host #16 Stanford. There is an article on seacoastonline.com a couple of days ago on the fact that Clemson's former head coach was once UNH's head coach about 20 years ago. I'd share it, but it's blocked by a paywall. GO CATS!!
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
FWIW our cross-border rivals UVM lost a 2-1 heartbreaker at West Virginia this evening in the Round of 16. UVM fell behind early, but equalized later in the first half, and while the hosts would go ahead 2-1 at 81 minutes on a header from a corner kick, they also had to make a goal line clearance of a UVM shot with just over a minute left.
But UVM was far from overmatched, and I expect UNH can take a lot of good karma from that into tomorrow's match, which arguably becomes one of the biggest D-1 soccer game in New Hampshire history. Dartmouth made the Round of Eight 3 times in the last century ('64-'90-'92) at a time when soccer's national profile was still pretty low, and I have no idea the details of those losses, or whether they hosted or traveled.
Time for Coach Hubbard to shine, and to take his team to new and challenging places for the program. GO CATS!!!
But UVM was far from overmatched, and I expect UNH can take a lot of good karma from that into tomorrow's match, which arguably becomes one of the biggest D-1 soccer game in New Hampshire history. Dartmouth made the Round of Eight 3 times in the last century ('64-'90-'92) at a time when soccer's national profile was still pretty low, and I have no idea the details of those losses, or whether they hosted or traveled.
Time for Coach Hubbard to shine, and to take his team to new and challenging places for the program. GO CATS!!!
If you’re a UNH fan this game was “snatch victory from the jaws of defeat”. If you’re an RIT fan this game was a “snatch defeat from the jaws of victory”.
Their goalie stood on his head both nights and last nights game could have been lopsided for UNH if not for him. Conmy and LeClerc goals both snipes. The local broadcast, who were very good, mentioned UNH would have a long bus ride home if they got swept. Thankfully that didn’t happen.
Go UNH soccer cats! Hoping last nights win gives the soccer team some good karma.
Their goalie stood on his head both nights and last nights game could have been lopsided for UNH if not for him. Conmy and LeClerc goals both snipes. The local broadcast, who were very good, mentioned UNH would have a long bus ride home if they got swept. Thankfully that didn’t happen.
Go UNH soccer cats! Hoping last nights win gives the soccer team some good karma.
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Speaking of the RIT announcers we turned them off (muted) with about a min to go in regulation...not because they weren't good to listen to we were just bummed we were going to lose and couldn't bear to hear anymore about how RIT would sweep the #10 (their words) team in the country!
So what if they got most of the names wrong...had to love the 'oh no it's LeClerc' as he scored the GWG. What a sweet shot that was..coupled with Comny's last second heroics. (Not to mention his pass out to Cy who turned it on and beat Tommy 5 hole...)
You have to give a tip o the cap to RiT particularly to Tommy Scarfone...if there are awards in the Atlantic he certainly deserves all of them. Ill be paying attention to that team.
After being disappointed in so many other games UNH found a way to win and that's what we have always said here about other 'good teams'. And now with Chuck 'all in' heck the sky is the limit! Seriously tho exciting as it was I am sure there was a lot to take from this weekend to learn by...Maine is a big er HUGE test esp up there...
But for this morning I'm enjoying this and hope to see the Soccer Cats take that big step into the Elite 8...
So what if they got most of the names wrong...had to love the 'oh no it's LeClerc' as he scored the GWG. What a sweet shot that was..coupled with Comny's last second heroics. (Not to mention his pass out to Cy who turned it on and beat Tommy 5 hole...)
You have to give a tip o the cap to RiT particularly to Tommy Scarfone...if there are awards in the Atlantic he certainly deserves all of them. Ill be paying attention to that team.
After being disappointed in so many other games UNH found a way to win and that's what we have always said here about other 'good teams'. And now with Chuck 'all in' heck the sky is the limit! Seriously tho exciting as it was I am sure there was a lot to take from this weekend to learn by...Maine is a big er HUGE test esp up there...
But for this morning I'm enjoying this and hope to see the Soccer Cats take that big step into the Elite 8...
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Darius
Go 'cats!
HUGE character win last night. A few weeks ago I typed "The next three games against ranked opponents on the road will tell a lot". So far so good and like Chuck, I AM IN; although the appropriate phrase is I BELIEVE IN UNH! Not to say they will get there, but this team can compete for the Garden and an NCAA appearance.
Of note last night, Gagne made a great play keeping the puck in the zone just before Conmy's game tying goal. No assist, but no goal without that play. Also, the 'cats split a series in which they never led during playing time.
Of note last night, Gagne made a great play keeping the puck in the zone just before Conmy's game tying goal. No assist, but no goal without that play. Also, the 'cats split a series in which they never led during playing time.
Welcome back Chuck. Last night was let’s say stessfull but definitely makes the trip a little easier.
Friday will be another test and much work needed before then. Questions of the week will be is Liam back and who takes net for the solo game of the week. Jakob made huge saves last night but the last 2 for Tyler are not as bad as the box score indicates.
Friday will be another test and much work needed before then. Questions of the week will be is Liam back and who takes net for the solo game of the week. Jakob made huge saves last night but the last 2 for Tyler are not as bad as the box score indicates.
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