As a baseline here norbie, we are in agreement with the most important bit, which is that MS7 is coaching to preserve his job and his future D-1 head coaching career. As things now stand, if this all does not work out to net him an extension here at his alma mater, there will not be a long line for his services elsewhere in the D-1 world. His recent "charm offensive" and reliance on his network of media pals speaks to this. More on that later. Now to the questions ...
1. Is 20 wins so important you play the #1 goalie in HE tonight?
Yes, for several reasons. If he's gonna get this team to Boston and/or put them in position to sneak into the NCAA's as the #15 or #16 seed, there are no more wins that can possibly be squandered. This is exactly why some of us were so agitated by losses to West Point, Merrimack, UConn and UVM. That was your cushion. Now, not only is there no cushion, but your opponents for those last few slots have those cushions. Everything is on the line, every time you play, from here on out. Momentum is enormous. There is zero margin for error (see cushion above).
So, let's take your suggestion, and MS7 plays Mucinex last night in goal. He is not Hellsten. UNH players know this, better than anyone else. Every way they may consciously OR subconsciously alter their games to adjust to him as opposed to Hellsten ... that changes the game. Let's say Mucinex allows a soft early goal to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Whole different game, mon ami. Butterfly effect, on steroids. Maybe you still win the game ... but maybe you don't? is it worth taking that chance, screwing up good positive momentum, just to give minutes to what has been a disappointing back-up goalie who has a foot-and-a-half in the transfer portal already?!? Pass.
I'll also address the whole "rest and injuries" issue here. On "rest" ... rest from what? Playing 3 games in 6 days?? They just had 5 days off in between BC Game #2 and UML Game #1. I think these young guys can handle it, and "managing workload" seems a silly complication that comes from overthinking the situation. As far as "injuries" go ... those go with the territory, I'm afraid. Why go halfway, then - send out the entire UNH Club Hockey team instead ... talk about making dreams come true for kids out of the spotlight AND avoiding injuries, right???
2. Can you set expectations low for Wednesday after the back to back shutouts?
If MS7 is properly messaging his team - and from what I've seen, he has them absolutely on point right now - then they know there is no room for error, and the last two wins mean nothing if there is not another win on Wednesday. His team has physically dominated UML (can't believe I'm writing that), and given them no reason to hold out any hope for Wednesday night's game either. The MBPBEGAM game could (should?) be over the minute UNH's first goal hits the twine in the first period midweek. Lowell's kids are just waiting for their season to end, and can't be looking forward to getting trucked physically AND on the scoreboard yet again. Your kids have given UML no reason for hope Wednesday, they ran the first string goalie out on Friday night, and they hit his back-up for four more on Saturday night. If UNH loses this one, MS7 should be fired at center ice 30 seconds after he shakes Bazin's hand at the end of the handshake line (and begs him for an assistant's position).
3. When the MBPBEGAM game is done, can you maintain composure and not get bounced Saturday?
So this is the beautiful thing ... I will bet my bottom dollar, and my entire 401K that MS7 has held up the likelihood of a UMaine rematch for his team as soon as the BC series was over, and a MBPBEGAM bye and QF home ice were realistically out of reach. He told his guys to imagine the UML kids were UMaine this weekend (and midweek), and practice the same physical play and intensity they brought to "White Out" weekend. They did exactly that, and they are now starting to believe they have the formula to go up into a place like Alfond and lay the lumber to the #3 seed. MS7 has a settled line-up, has been rolling four lines, and his defense has stifled UML after doing a decent job against BC. They can be the first UNH team in my 40+ year memory properly equipped to go up to Orono, and physically dominate UMaine in a winner-take-all contest. So my theory is, UNH has been prepping for UMaine in Orono for a while now, and while they may not win ... I'll admit I like their chances.
That game would accomplish the following: (1) 21 wins for a team picked to finish 10th in HEA this season; (2) punch UNH's ticket for a trip to Boston and the HEA semis for the first time in almost a decade, (3) keep UNH's chances for an NCAA invite very much alive and well, possibly even needing "only" a win in the HEA Semis to get there ... and (4) a road QF playoff win in Orono virtually cements MS7's job for the rest of the current roster's time in Durham together. The group motivation factor could not be better, nor the focus any simpler. Just win (at least) the next two games.
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Now let me round back to Souza's recent "charm offensive" and reliance on his network of media pals to publicly campaign for his job ... if this has been available to MS7 for the last several years (basically, the length of his HC tenure at UNH), and he has only chosen to use these things when his own skin was on the line ... shame on him for not realizing these are things that could have helped him gain positive exposure for his team and for his recruiting WAY earlier in his tenure. I'm sure lots of D-1 prospects growing up all across New England regularly watch the B's, and it's now only within the last week or so that they've been introduced to this pal of Jack & Brick's from up in UNH, who seems charming, but has somehow escaped their Boston-centric radar up until now?!? What a great way of introducing yourself to these until-now inaccessible kids, shielded by their advisors, and giving them a reason to add UNH to their list of potential options, no?!?!? And all it took was to call in a favor or two from some of your fellow alums, and show up for a game to pitch the program between periods in the middle of the winter?????
Obviously, stuff like that was something Coach Umile couldn't have been bothered with when he was riding high, but there's no reason MS7 can't do this regularly going forward. It's something Walshy would have had at the top of his list, I'm sure. Luce himself is probably ****ed he hasn't done it yet (unless of course he has?). But ... if this has been out there, available all this time ... why has he waited until now to do it?
So Mike ... if you're reading (and I hope you are) ... the only way you prove to us that all this extra chasing around hasn't been just to save your skin, but is a sign that you will be doing a LOT more of this low-hanging fruit (and free) PR work for the program that extended you in the future, you will need to continue to do this stuff. If that means delaying your family vacation so you can become a semi-regular guest analyst on NESN's Stanley Cup playoffs coverage (for example), you just do it, and build your profile AND UNH's profile. Because if it turns out this "charm offensive" was all a one-shot, just-for-me proposition, there are some of us who will call you on it in the future. Repeatedly.
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Predictions:
* UNH wins comfortably on Wednesday, scoring early, and shutting out Lowell 4-0 for a 3rd straight time;
* UNH shocks the HEA world (and long time "Mildcat" fans), and beats the bag outta UMaine at Alfond next weekend;
* UNH loses to BU or BC in the HEA Semis, misses the NCAA's, but finishes with 21 wins and the trip to Boston;
* MS7 gets an extension, learns from his close call with professional mortality, and becomes BFF's with Charlie Moore
