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UNH @ Lowell 11/8

P

Patronick

Also known as the Southern Dandaaay
Both teams come off of ties on Friday night. Does UML bounce back from giving up a 3-1 lead? Does Umile continue to stick with 3.95/.877 Brian Foster? Will the Patriots have opened up a sufficient enough lead so people will leave their couches? Can I think of any more questions to ask in the first post?

Comments.
 
Re: UNH @ Lowell 11/8

UMLGoon said:
boy i sure hope so.
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Really? I figured you'd rather see .889/3.67 DiGirolamo rather than Foster.

And yes, Umile sticks with Foster. Digirolamo is not going to see time unless Foster is hurt or playing ridiculously awful. Foster's numbers are bad this year, but if he starts playing more regularly like he did in the third period last night, they will improve.

In any case, the only way I see UNH winning this game is if the first line has another great night. I think Lowell will do a better job shutting them down than BC did, though.
 
Re: UNH @ Lowell 11/8

I'd imagine one team comes in on a bit of a high, coming back to tie their game. The other comes in the opposite, blowing yet another lead.
UMLGoon said:
okay, they both suck so i don't care which one starts. better?
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Goon, in regards to your signature, I'll be supporting the Revolution tonight. :)
 
Re: UNH @ Lowell 11/8

UMLGoon said:
okay, they both suck so i don't care which one starts. better?
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Foster actually played well last night, BC didnt score 5 on 5 mostly as a result of Foster standing very tall in the net. BC scored 4 PPGs, atleast 2 deflected in off his own players on shots from the point.

Overall, UNH's team defense is very suspect and their offense does not attempt to possess the puck. They are very geared toward transition hockey; I get the feeling they will be outshot heavily on most nights.

They do have talent up front that can make up for it, you really only need a few good rushes each game to score 2 or 3 goals when you have talented forwards, but the question will be how they continually keep other teams from scoring if they are constantly chasing the puck around.
 
Re: UNH @ Lowell 11/8

SteveF said:
Foster actually played well last night, BC didnt score 5 on 5 mostly as a result of Foster standing very tall in the net. BC scored 4 PPGs, atleast 2 deflected in off his own players on shots from the point.

Overall, UNH's team defense is very suspect and their offense does not attempt to possess the puck. They are very geared toward transition hockey; I get the feeling they will be outshot heavily on most nights.

They do have talent up front that can make up for it, you really only need a few good rushes each game to score 2 or 3 goals when you have talented forwards, but the question will be how they continually keep other teams from scoring if they are constantly chasing the puck around.
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Based on your synopsis will the smaller ice surface at Tsongas help or hurt UNH? From what I read in the BC/UNH thread there wasn't a lot of checking last night.
 
Re: UNH @ Lowell 11/8

SteveF said:
Overall, UNH's team defense is very suspect and their offense does not attempt to possess the puck. They are very geared toward transition hockey; I get the feeling they will be outshot heavily on most nights.

They do have talent up front that can make up for it, you really only need a few good rushes each game to score 2 or 3 goals when you have talented forwards, but the question will be how they continually keep other teams from scoring if they are constantly chasing the puck around.
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This pretty much sums up the prototypical UNH team in the Umile era. Find a top goalie and speedy forwards and let 'er rip.

Speaking of an offense which attempts to possess the puck - I thought BC was exceptional last night at moving the puck around in their offensive zone during the first period. A typical sequence involved multiple passes around the zone with one or more quality shots. As the game wore on, particularly in the 3rd period, BC seemed to be much less successful at controlling the puck in their zone. Did BC change on purpose or did UNH overcome BC's style?
 
Re: UNH @ Lowell 11/8

In the too little, too late department my 2 tickets in Section A are still available for tomorrows game.

If anyone is in the Stoneham/Reading/Woburn area tonight let me know and I'll give you the tix.
 
Re: UNH @ Lowell 11/8

Gainzo said:
Based on your synopsis will the smaller ice surface at Tsongas help or hurt UNH? From what I read in the BC/UNH thread there wasn't a lot of checking last night.
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hard to say, traditionally the small ice would slow down the quick UNH teams of the past. This years team didnt strike me as fast as those teams, especially through all 4 lines, so they might be just fine on smaller surfaces anyway.

But yah, it was alarming the lack of hitting on both sides. Atkinson, who filled in for an injured Kreider, for BC got levelled - but that was about it. If the defenses get in the faces of these forwards and make life uncomfortable for them, both teams (bc and unh) will struggle to score goals 5 on 5.


Clark-Hislop-Cox said:
Speaking of an offense which attempts to possess the puck - I thought BC was exceptional last night at moving the puck around in their offensive zone during the first period. A typical sequence involved multiple passes around the zone with one or more quality shots. As the game wore on, particularly in the 3rd period, BC seemed to be much less successful at controlling the puck in their zone. Did BC change on purpose or did UNH overcome BC's style?
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probably a little bit of both, as in BC changed and UNH adapted. BC did not change on purpose though; it was just a youthful team that took its foot off the pedal and paid dearly. That said, UNH picked up the pace and played very well even in the 2nd period. The play was atleast even, if not tilted toward UNH for the 2nd period and the overwhelming majority of the third. I have no answers for what happened to them in the first other then UNH was simply not ready to play at that pace. They were losing individual battles all over the ice and were just not getting to loose pucks.
 
Re: UNH @ Lowell 11/8

SteveF said:
hard to say, traditionally the small ice would slow down the quick UNH teams of the past. This years team didnt strike me as fast as those teams, especially through all 4 lines, so they might be just fine on smaller surfaces anyway.

But yah, it was alarming the lack of hitting on both sides. Atkinson, who filled in for an injured Kreider, for BC got levelled - but that was about it. If the defenses get in the faces of these forwards and make life uncomfortable for them, both teams (bc and unh) will struggle to score goals 5 on 5.
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I think you know that Lowell is a big, physical, team so that should help in the corners and on every contested possession against the boards.

I would like to see a repeat of the 8-3 shellacking that Lowell handed UNH last November :D
 
Re: UNH @ Lowell 11/8

Gainzo said:
Based on your synopsis will the smaller ice surface at Tsongas help or hurt UNH? From what I read in the BC/UNH thread there wasn't a lot of checking last night.
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Smaller ice has hurt and will hurt UNH until Lake Whitt is drained a bit.
 
Re: UNH @ Lowell 11/8

I just watched the BC/UNH game on NESN's double play and neither team has that good of a defense or to be more specific, the defense we come to know from these two teams over the past ten years. Both teams (BC & UNH) have offensive talent but now the question is can the stop the other team's offense.

Foster and Muse are victims of their defense, as what the case in the first and third periods last night. If Merrimack can put a five-spot on BC, then five days later, BC chokes a three goal third period lead, there has to be some fundamental issues with a young defense.

Lowell needs to win this game more than UNH. This is the only time the Wildcats "should" visit the Tsongas Arena this year and taking these two points are imperative knowing that we would only have to get a point to clinch nothing worse than a tie in the season series. Also, Lowell would have the sole spot atop the HE standings going into a stretch of a schedule with was is on paper, "weaker opponents"

If the River Hawks play like last night, UNH has a great chance to take points. We are a rare favorite against UNH so that River Hawks have to come through with their A game and defend home ice on National TV with hopefully a full arena. The Pats will cut down somewhat on attendance but anything under 5000 for the #8 team will be disappointing.
 
Re: UNH @ Lowell 11/8

John_Fuller said:
The Pats will cut down somewhat on attendance but anything under 5000 for the #8 team will be disappointing.
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I think it will be under 4000. I can't go because I have Pats season tickets and there are some other posters here who have the same problem with the Pats game.

The students should be there so I hope the atmosphere is good. Bob Ellis went on a 2 minute tirade last night on the pregame show talking about how the game is going to be on TV. He is awesome.

When I get back from Foxboro I'll fire up the DVR and watch the game.
 
Re: UNH @ Lowell 11/8

Gainzo said:
I think it will be under 4000. I can't go because I have Pats season tickets and there are some other posters here who have the same problem with the Pats game.

The students should be there so I hope the atmosphere is good. Bob Ellis went on a 2 minute tirade last night on the pregame show talking about how the game is going to be on TV. He is awesome.

When I get back from Foxboro I'll fire up the DVR and watch the game.
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it took him 2 minutes to explain that the game was on TV? I'd say anything over 45 seconds is extraneous ;)
 
Re: UNH @ Lowell 11/8

Gainzo said:
I think it will be under 4000. I can't go because I have Pats season tickets and there are some other posters here who have the same problem with the Pats game.

The students should be there so I hope the atmosphere is good. Bob Ellis went on a 2 minute tirade last night on the pregame show talking about how the game is going to be on TV. He is awesome.

When I get back from Foxboro I'll fire up the DVR and watch the game.
Click to expand...

i wonder if I can dvr in HD and re-watch it friday when I get my TV? :D

edit: actually, i don't if ESPNU is in HD.
 
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