UNH Hockey: Treading Water or Trending Upward

[Scott]

Re: UNH Hockey: Treading Water or Trending Upward

Not to be negative, but while I agree that there is still a lot of hockey left to be played, UNH pretty much dug themselves into a deep hole this weekend. A #8 spot is going to be a real reach especially if it comes down to a tiebreaker between all three teams. UNH is going to have a steal a lot of games down the stretch and hope the Maine and UCONN falter. I....man.....I just can't see it. Sorry.

This team is a MUCH better team than we've had in previous seasons. Unfortunately, the parity of the league this year and a losing record to the lower echelon of teams I'm afraid has doomed them from going to post-season play. Not quite saying it's over....but the fat lady is standing at stage left IMHO.

 

[deltabravo62]

Re: UNH Hockey: Treading Water or Trending Upward

Exactly, you are waiting on someone to falter ahead of you while keeping your head above water. As a team they need to refocus on their game and their game only. My minimum expectation for what a playoff entry would require is a sweep of VT and a split of all of the other 3 series left. And yes, it is a tall order but this is the position they put themselves into by giving up points to the teams they are going to be fighting with for those last few spots. On the good side, teams in front of them will have to lose by virtue of them having to play each other. It comes down to can they take care of business on their own to overcome the fact that teams in front of them will have to lose. This season has been a toss up of great wins and w/t/f losses, as stated above the parity in the league is amazing this year. It leaves the window wide open to climb out of this mess and it also leaves them open to being left behind after a strong improvement on the season, it will be interesting to see how this chapter ends over the next 5 weeks.

 

[HockeyRef]

Not to be negative, but while I agree that there is still a lot of hockey left to be played, UNH pretty much dug themselves into a deep hole this weekend. A #8 spot is going to be a real reach especially if it comes down to a tiebreaker between all three teams. UNH is going to have a steal a lot of games down the stretch and hope the Maine and UCONN falter. I....man.....I just can't see it. Sorry.

This team is a MUCH better team than we've had in previous seasons. Unfortunately, the parity of the league this year and a losing record to the lower echelon of teams I'm afraid has doomed them from going to post-season play. Not quite saying it's over....but the fat lady is standing at stage left IMHO.

Scott this is what that fan was saying to me last night. Welp...it is what it is I guess.

 

[Snively65]

Not to be negative, but while I agree that there is still a lot of hockey left to be played, UNH pretty much dug themselves into a deep hole this weekend. A #8 spot is going to be a real reach especially if it comes down to a tiebreaker between all three teams. UNH is going to have a steal a lot of games down the stretch and hope the Maine and UCONN falter. I....man.....I just can't see it. Sorry.

This team is a MUCH better team than we've had in previous seasons. Unfortunately, the parity of the league this year and a losing record to the lower echelon of teams I'm afraid has doomed them from going to post-season play. Not quite saying it's over....but the fat lady is standing at stage left IMHO.

Entirely agree. Worst weekend in at least six seasons. Gave up 6 goals in each of two games to NU at the Whitt 22+23 February 2019, 6-3 and 6-0 losses (Robinson 5 GA + ENG in first; Taylor 4 GA and Lazzaro 2 GA in second).

Lost 8-0 @ NU 23 Feb 2018 (Robinson 5 GA, Tirone 3 GA).

Gave up 8 goals three times in 2016-17 season (8-2 loss to UML, 4 Feb 2017, Tirone 6 GA, Clark 2 GA; 8-4 loss to BU at Whitt on 18 Feb 2017, Tirone 8 GA; 8-2 loss at UML on 12 March 2017, Tirone, 8 GA).

Lost 7-4 at Michigan State on 7 Nov 2015 (Tirone 7 GA) and lost 6-2 to NU at Whitt on 16 Jan 2016 (Tirone 6 GA).

Lost 8-2 @ UML 1 Nov 2014 (Clark 6 GA, Regan 2 GA).

 

[Sean Pickett]

Re: UNH Hockey: Treading Water or Trending Upward

As an aside … what are the odds, in this low scoring era, of getting back-to-back 7-4 games???

It is the first time it has happened this season in 785 games, so pretty low.

Sean

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Hockey: Treading Water or Trending Upward

Dear 'Cats...

So you had a bad weekend. It happens. You've come a long way this season! What happens down the stretch is what matters..it will not be easy. Nothing comes easy at this point but you have shown you can play with and win with the best of them! Time to reset and focus. Play your game; the game you were meant to play.

Eyes forward and no looking back...promise your loyal fans you will do whatever it takes to be in every game you have left...

See you at the finish line!!

 

[HockeyRef]

Not to be negative, but while I agree that there is still a lot of hockey left to be played, UNH pretty much dug themselves into a deep hole this weekend. A #8 spot is going to be a real reach especially if it comes down to a tiebreaker between all three teams. UNH is going to have a steal a lot of games down the stretch and hope the Maine and UCONN falter. I....man.....I just can't see it. Sorry.

This team is a MUCH better team than we've had in previous seasons. Unfortunately, the parity of the league this year and a losing record to the lower echelon of teams I'm afraid has doomed them from going to post-season play. Not quite saying it's over....but the fat lady is standing at stage left IMHO.

Remember what Darius said about those 2 MC points.....

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Hockey: Treading Water or Trending Upward

Dear 'Cats...

So you had a bad weekend. It happens. You've come a long way this season …

Not as far as we'd hoped, or at least not as far as it may have appeared only a few short days ago.

It's definitely feeling a little more "treading water" than "trending upwards" at this moment TBH.

A sweep next weekend is now an absolute MUST to set the stage for the final 6 games ...

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Hockey: Treading Water or Trending Upward

Kelleher..did he get hurt last night? Left in the first did he come back?

 

[HockeyRef]

Not as far as we'd hoped, or at least not as far as it may have appeared only a few short days ago.

It's definitely feeling a little more "treading water" than "trending upwards" at this moment TBH.

A sweep next weekend is now an absolute MUST to set the stage for the final 6 games ...

Yeah...I get that (the need to sweep). I knew UConn would be tougher than most people thought. Despite the goal thing happening they were far.more motivated and prepared than UNH it seemed. They skate well, have decent goal tending. Oh well onto UVM and hopefully the fact that they have no HE points is not lost on the 'Cats.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Hockey: Treading Water or Trending Upward

Yeah...I get that (the need to sweep). I knew UConn would be tougher than most people thought. Despite the goal thing happening they were far more motivated and prepared than UNH it seemed. They skate well, have decent goal tending. Oh well onto UVM and hopefully the fact that they have no HE points is not lost on the 'Cats.

You definitely nailed that, HR. I was one of those folks getting out over their skis. I don't think I predicted a sweep (although I was definitely rooting for one), but I will say, the sweep by UConn was more unexpected and egregious than the UMaine sweep at Alfond. You never want to be on the wrong side of tiebreakers with your close rivals … but here we are, in that position, with eight games left, and only two of those against clearly weaker opposition. And you know UVM is going to be looking at what happened with UNH this past weekend, and figuring these may be their last best opportunities to get off the HE schneid.

THIS weekend, getting ahead of UVM early will be crucial. The sooner you get out ahead of teams that haven't won, the sooner you put the usual doubts back into their heads, and then you should be able to take it from there. But you give those guys any reason to believe, and as that game plays out, they'll really start to believe, and then you've got the proverbial tiger by the tail.

Fourteen (14) goals - and only one ENG IIRC? - in the space of two (2) games. Wow. Just … wow.

 

[JB]

Re: UNH Hockey: Treading Water or Trending Upward

All is not lost. It isn't great. It still isn't the doom that I see here.

Yes the ideal would have been to sweep UConn and UVM while Maine took care of business against MC and UConn. That would have put UNH 9 points clean of UConn with a game in hand AND all but mathematical locked the bottom 3 out.

Now the worst case for UNH is a Maine-Uconn split. Looking at the schedule hold your nose and cheer for Maine to sweep UConn. IF UNH sweeps UVM all of a sudden you are back 1 pt up on UConn with one game in hand.

At that point the schedules are fairly even with UConn going BU(2), UMass(2), UML(1) and UNH getting UML(2), BU(2) and BC(2). AND you just need to play even, so same number of points and you have that one extra game.

 

[HockeyRef]

All is not lost. It isn't great. It still isn't the doom that I see here.

Yes the ideal would have been to sweep UConn and UVM while Maine took care of business against MC and UConn. That would have put UNH 9 points clean of UConn with a game in hand AND all but mathematical locked the bottom 3 out.

Now the worst case for UNH is a Maine-Uconn split. Looking at the schedule hold your nose and cheer for Maine to sweep UConn. IF UNH sweeps UVM all of a sudden you are back 1 pt up on UConn with one game in hand.

At that point the schedules are fairly even with UConn going BU(2), UMass(2), UML(1) and UNH getting UML(2), BU(2) and BC(2). AND you just need to play even, so same number of points and you have that one extra game.

Thanks for the info that's something I need to hear as I dont do stats like you guys do...so..I feel better about the situation. Sorry for the doom and gloom. Now...hope Charlie K is ok.

 

[GrouchyUNHer]

Re: UNH Hockey: Treading Water or Trending Upward

Hello and Happy Groundhog's Day, my fellow UNH fans!

You will have to forgive my extended absence from this forum. My family, fearing from my apparent deviation from reality and yes, outright "grumpiness" and crass behavior, enrolled me in a four-week intervention and enrollment at an esteemed "charm school" so to speak, to wit I am proud to say that I graduated from said institution summa cum laude. I daresay I rather enjoy this new outlook on life! Be that is it may, I will not bore you with all of the trivialities of my experience, suffice to say it was an enlightening, frightening, yet exhilarating experience.

Now, back to the matter at hand involving our dear Wildcat skaters. Between electro-shock therapies, I was able to attend several games and get a first-hand look at our lads. Rest assured, that Mr. Souza (sp.?) more than likely vented MUCH more anger and frustration on his direct reports after yesterday's debacle, and we as dedicated fans should expect large-scale improvements before next weekend's series with the much-maligned Catamounts. There is much more hockey to be played, dear fans, and we must band together and have faith this team's ability to deliver the best season outcome that we seen in many a year! Even the best teams, if you excuse the colorful metaphor, "lay an egg" every now and then. To wit, simply look at yesterday's scoreboard and see what happened to those poor lads at Cornell.

To the esteemed Mr. Charles Murray: We owe you a debt of gratitude with your objectivity and relatively civil, factual, and yes I dare say entertaining posts on this subject matter. Keep up the good work old chap! I would like ask one small favor, however. If you could please refrain from, ahem, excuse the colloquialism, "mooning" my residence when you pass by, my family and I would very much appreciate it. Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter.

Hark! The whistle on the kettle beckons me, and it is time for afternoon tea. If you could please indulge me with one more request to fans and students alike, please refrain from traipsing across my award-winning and manicured turf, I would very much appreciate it!

CHEERS!!

GUNH'r

 

[e.cat]

I'm all in with PWR

With 10 games left, 2 with UCONN, UVM, BU, UML and BC, what's the over under on a 20 win regular season? I'm thinking we go 6-2-2 for 19 wins!

RECALCULATING!

We are currently 7-8-1 in Hockey East and 13-11-2 overall.

With 8 games left, 2 with UVM, BU, UML and BC, 20 wins in the RS is possible but highly improbable! I'm thinking we sweep UVM, split with UML and BU and lose and tie BC to go 17-14-3 overall 11-11-2 in Hockey East.

 

[e.cat]

Hello and Happy Groundhog's Day, my fellow UNH fans!

You will have to forgive my extended absence from this forum. My family, fearing from my apparent deviation from reality and yes, outright "grumpiness" and crass behavior, enrolled me in a four-week intervention and enrollment at an esteemed "charm school" so to speak, to wit I am proud to say that I graduated from said institution summa cum laude. I daresay I rather enjoy this new outlook on life! Be that is it may, I will not bore you with all of the trivialities of my experience, suffice to say it was an enlightening, frightening, yet exhilarating experience.

Now, back to the matter at hand involving our dear Wildcat skaters. Between electro-shock therapies, I was able to attend several games and get a first-hand look at our lads. Rest assured, that Mr. Souza (sp.?) more than likely vented MUCH more anger and frustration on his direct reports after yesterday's debacle, and we as dedicated fans should expect large-scale improvements before next weekend's series with the much-maligned Catamounts. There is much more hockey to be played, dear fans, and we must band together and have faith this team's ability to deliver the best season outcome that we seen in many a year! Even the best teams, if you excuse the colorful metaphor, "lay an egg" every now and then. To wit, simply look at yesterday's scoreboard and see what happened to those poor lads at Cornell.

To the esteemed Mr. Charles Murray: We owe you a debt of gratitude with your objectivity and relatively civil, factual, and yes I dare say entertaining posts on this subject matter. Keep up the good work old chap! I would like ask one small favor, however. If you could please refrain from, ahem, excuse the colloquialism, "mooning" my residence when you pass by, my family and I would very much appreciate it. Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter.

Hark! The whistle on the kettle beckons me, and it is time for afternoon tea. If you could please indulge me with one more request to fans and students alike, please refrain from traipsing across my award-winning and manicured turf, I would very much appreciate it!

CHEERS!!

GUNH'r

The visual of Mr. Charles Murray "mooning" you GUNH'r, in a driveby, could only be surpassed by my cat gacking up a hairball on your front lawn! Sorry Chuck

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Hockey: Treading Water or Trending Upward

In other news, UNH alum Brett Pesce takes a puck to his hand blowing out a vein in today's Canes game, gets it fixed, comes back in:

https://theathletic.com/1578897/2020/02/02/warrior-brett-pesce-suffers-gruesome-blown-up-vein-gets-stitched-up-nearly-wins-it-in-ot-20-minutes-later/

 

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Hockey: Treading Water or Trending Upward

Trivia Quiz No. 13 for two points: 1) UVM's last HEA win was when? 2) UVM's last HEA win was against whom?

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Hockey: Treading Water or Trending Upward

Trivia Quiz No. 13 for two points: 1) UVM's last HEA win was when? 2) UVM's last HEA win was against whom?

That's right Johnny! UVM's last HE win was against the University of New Hampshire! Feb 9, 2019 at UVM 4 to 1....cue the music. Do I get a prize? I know, I was there...We did win the night before tho….

 

[Snively65]

That's right Johnny! UVM's last HE win was against the University of New Hampshire! Feb 9, 2019 at UVM 4 to 1....cue the music. Do I get a prize? I know, I was there...We did win the night before tho….

Correct for 2 points. Prizes are always a beer at Libby's. I, too, was there for the UNH loss at the Gut, but not for the win the night before.

Wonder if it will be possible to get a ticket at the door this Saturday night?