UNH Men’s Hockey 22-23: the start of something new, or more of the same?

[Darius]

Water seeks its own level

Ugh. ’cats as well apparently. I didn’t watch, but 6-1 with the 1 looking like a PP bank shot off the goalie pretty much says it all. We are now on the road in the play in round. Likely finishing 10th. Need a win vs. UVM and at least a playoff respectable loss to keep feeling sort of kind of not really all that good about the 2023 part of the season.

 

[Snively65]

Ugh. ’cats as well apparently. I didn’t watch, but 6-1 with the 1 looking like a PP bank shot off the goalie pretty much says it all. We are now on the road in the play in round. Likely finishing 10th. Need a win vs. UVM and at least a playoff respectable loss to keep feeling sort of kind of not really all that good about the 2023 part of the season.

I did not watch either, but losing 6-1 to Yukon matches in goal differential our October losses 6-1 to Mac and 5-0 to BC. Agreed on the need to make up for our two losses in Burlington with our last game against UVM on Thursday at the Whitt. Unfortunately, I will miss that one.

 

[HockeyRef]

I did not watch either, but losing 6-1 to Yukon matches in goal differential our October losses 6-1 to Mac and 5-0 to BC. Agreed on the need to make up for our two losses in Burlington with our last game against UVM on Thursday at the Whitt. Unfortunately, I will miss that one.

Speaking of 'revenge' wins we def need to take care of the 'dirty hippies' as you call them on Thursday. Then wait and see where we travel..

Ps did anyone listen to the interview with the AD with UNH radio announcers? I wonder what she thought of the game...

Pss Nikolai Jensen not in lineup last night..hope he's ok

 

[Snively65]

Speaking of 'revenge' wins we def need to take care of the 'dirty hippies' as you call them on Thursday. Then wait and see where we travel..

Ps did anyone listen to the interview with the AD with UNH radio announcers? I wonder what she thought of the game...

Pss Nikolai Jensen not in lineup last night..hope he's ok

Not my pejorative term for UVM; maybe e.cat’s?

In last nine games against UVM at the Whitt, UNH is 4-2-3, with only one game in which either team scored more than 3 goals, the UNH 6-3 win on 2/7/20, not long before SARS-2 arrived in N.H. with the hotspot in the Hanover area. Looking like Cats have a good chance of traveling to Conte for their MBPBEGAM game, which would be better than Orono. Traveling to Schneider also would better than Orono, I think.

 

[HockeyRef]

Not my pejorative term for UVM; maybe e.cat’s?

In last nine games against UVM at the Whitt, UNH is 4-2-3, with only one game in which either team scored more than 3 goals, the UNH 6-3 win on 2/7/20, not long before SARS-2 arrived in N.H. with the hotspot in the Hanover area. Looking like Cats have a good chance of traveling to Conte for their MBPBEGAM game, which would be better than Orono. Traveling to Schneider also would better than Orono, I think.

Oh, sorry; thought I had seen you use that term for UVM...anyway! With the team playing soooo flat yesterday one can expect? Hope? for a much better showing at their last home game of the season, which, boy has been verrryyyyy long but seems like yesterday that we took our trip to the North Country/coming home with so much hope and excitement for the games ahead...and then...oh well. At least the 2nd half was what it was; and am glad they salvaged something out of what could have been (well was in many eyes) the worst season ever. So hope they come out big!

As per traveling to Conte I'd much prefer that; even to Schneider as we can play with these two teams. Neither one wants to lose to the 'Cats I'm sure. I'd be happy to advance past this first game...we'll see. Anywhere but ORONO....ha!

 

[Chuck Murray]

Well, that was a huge dud. Blowout loss, and to those who might say "Gosh, it's hard to beat the same team three times in a row" ... well then, I guess we needn't worry ourselves over next weekend's game with UVM, right??

Reality check ... unless UNH somehow makes it to Boston, then it's another failure of a season. The last guy in charge posted two sub .400 seasons out of three on his way out the door, but at least he had a history of 550 or so wins and a two-plus decade history of winning hockey to get him that far. MS7 is going to be posting two sub .400 seasons out of three regardless of what happens next weekend. So he should be extended for ... exactly what ... ???

 

[Darius]

Well, that was a huge dud. Blowout loss, and to those who might say "Gosh, it's hard to beat the same team three times in a row" ... well then, I guess we needn't worry ourselves over next weekend's game with UVM, right??

Reality check ... unless UNH somehow makes it to Boston, then it's another failure of a season. The last guy in charge posted two sub .400 seasons out of three on his way out the door, but at least he had a history of 550 or so wins and a two-plus decade history of winning hockey to get him that far. MS7 is going to be posting two sub .400 seasons out of three regardless of what happens next weekend. So he should be extended for ... exactly what ... ???

If you asked me last week the ONE thing that I would find discouraging in the final two RS or one and done playoff games…

 

[Snively65]

Well, that was a huge dud. Blowout loss, and to those who might say "Gosh, it's hard to beat the same team three times in a row" ... well then, I guess we needn't worry ourselves over next weekend's game with UVM, right??

Reality check ... unless UNH somehow makes it to Boston, then it's another failure of a season. The last guy in charge posted two sub .400 seasons out of three on his way out the door, but at least he had a history of 550 or so wins and a two-plus decade history of winning hockey to get him that far. MS7 is going to be posting two sub .400 seasons out of three regardless of what happens next weekend. So he should be extended for ... exactly what ... ???

If Cats beat UVM and win MBPBEGAM game, then win only one of three games in next round, they will be 0.400 without making it to the Garden. So, just the 1920/21 Covid-truncated season would be below a 0.400 season, which likely would get a pass. So, need to go 3-2 in next five games.

 

[Sean Pickett]

If Cats beat UVM and win MBPBEGAM game, then win only one of three games in next round, they will be 0.400 without making it to the Garden.

Hockey East Quarterfinals are one and done.

Sean

 

[Snively65]

Hockey East Quarterfinals are one and done.

Sean

Oops, thanks. Ok, Chuck is correct then, need to get to Garden to reach a 0.400 win percentage. Unlikely. But, also unlikely that there will be a coaching change before March 2024, if then.

 

[HockeyRef]

Well, that was a huge dud. Blowout loss, and to those who might say "Gosh, it's hard to beat the same team three times in a row" ... well then, I guess we needn't worry ourselves over next weekend's game with UVM, right??

Reality check ... unless UNH somehow makes it to Boston, then it's another failure of a season. The last guy in charge posted two sub .400 seasons out of three on his way out the door, but at least he had a history of 550 or so wins and a two-plus decade history of winning hockey to get him that far. MS7 is going to be posting two sub .400 seasons out of three regardless of what happens next weekend. So he should be extended for ... exactly what ... ???

Oh, I see you've read MS7's comments on the game in the UL (and I alluded to this as well)

“We knew coming down here that it was going to be a tough game for us,” UNH coach Mike Souza said. “It’s hard to beat a team three times, especially a quality team like Connecticut. They capitalized on their chances tonight. We didn’t.”

I've always thought this was an interesting take on things; and sometimes, it does ring true. Look, something told me that this game was going to be a revenge situation; they came out strong and we played flat. Even when we finally scored we did nothing with that; never was there a time in that game where we looked to change the direction of the play. Regardless, I would have at least liked to see more of a try at it.

And as to your extension talk, and doing my own research tonight, let's say we beat UVM and lose in the play in round..that would mean in the 5 years MS7 has been coaching he's won about 42% of his games, if I have that right. (59-64-17) He's going to get another shot at it next year...

Anyway, let's beat UVM (as we should have earlier in the season) and see where the chips fall. If they beat us, gosh, I guess my theory of beating a team 3 times will be blown to bits now won't it....

 

[Chuck Murray]

Speaking of 'revenge' wins we def need to take care of the 'dirty hippies' as you call them on Thursday. Then wait and see where we travel..

Ps did anyone listen to the interview with the AD with UNH radio announcers? I wonder what she thought of the game...

Pss Nikolai Jensen not in lineup last night..hope he's ok

I'd like to know if there is any feedback to either of 'Ref's "PS" inquiries. The latter could be a huge factor in what's left of the season, and the former could provide snippets of insight into the future ... although I'm not gonna bet the farm on the new AD's comments being anything truly revelatory (beyond compliance nuts & bolts, of course).

FWIW isn't it interesting that it took GUNHer's arrival to bring MS7's team to life, and now that he's apparently gone, they are returning to their previous form?? Maybe Ramona can get the old goat back for 3 more wins, and somehow get this now-listing Good Ship Lollipop safely into port in Boston in time for St. Patrick's Day???

 

[Felger]

I'd like to know if there is any feedback to either of 'Ref's "PS" inquiries. The latter could be a huge factor in what's left of the season, and the former could provide snippets of insight into the future ... although I'm not gonna bet the farm on the new AD's comments being anything truly revelatory (beyond compliance nuts & bolts, of course).

FWIW isn't it interesting that it took GUNHer's arrival to bring MS7's team to life, and now that he's apparently gone, they are returning to their previous form?? Maybe Ramona can get the old goat back for 3 more wins, and somehow get this now-listing Good Ship Lollipop safely into port in Boston in time for St. Patrick's Day???

IIRC the "interview" (if you want to call it that) with the AD dealt with the renovations to the Whitt. And that makes sense at least from a timing perspective. But it was a bit cringeworthy listening to Pete Webster, who had never met Dr.Rich before and was trying really hard to ingratiate himself to her.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Anyway, let's beat UVM (as we should have earlier in the season) and see where the chips fall. If they beat us, gosh, I guess my theory of beating a team 3 times will be blown to bits now won't it....

I wouldn't place that lame theory on your doorstep, 'Ref. It's just a stupid coach-speak homage to CYA. It's been around in the NFL for at least a generation now, starting from the baseline that divisional foes would face each other twice a season, and if they found each other again in the playoffs, well, that would be Meeting #3. My first recollection of its use was in 1986 when the Giants and Redskins found themselves facing off in the NFC Finals for a trip to the Super Bowl, and the G-men had beaten the 'Skins twice in the regular season already. Parcells was probably just trying to keep his guys focused when he trotted it out in that scenario. The Giants won that game on their way to their first Super Bowl victory. I'm not sure if that was its first-ever use or just something the Tuna picked up somewhere else, but it never made sense to me, other than as a BS quip to cut against overconfidence.

In the case of last weekend's UNH @ UConn scenario, UNH had (improbably) won the first two meetings against the better team, so it was always going to be tough for them to complete the sweep against a better team playing on its home ice AND fresh off the sting of losing twice in a row to the lesser team (UNH) recently. Hardly shocking, was it?

In the case of this weekend's game ... the losses at UVM are far removed time-wise, but now UNH is in much better form, and will have the home ice to avoid the sweep. If UVM was the better team, though, they should be expected to win. Right now, they're not, but if they do win it's down to one upset out of three when UNH has managed to go "off the boil" with its current form AND possibly some amount of UNH overconfidence.

I'll predict here and now, @ UNH 4 UVM 2
I don't care in the least who UNH plays in the MBPBEGAM round ... "Just win, baby!!"

 

[Chuck Murray]

IIRC the "interview" (if you want to call it that) with the AD dealt with the renovations to the Whitt. And that makes sense at least from a timing perspective. But it was a bit cringeworthy listening to Pete Webster, who had never met Dr. Rich before and was trying really hard to ingratiate himself to her.

Thanks for sharing, Felgie. In the current DEI atmosphere pervading academia, it's not hard to understand why Pete might feel the need to suck up a little to preserve his turf. He's always done a very good job IMO but these days, that's often not enough to justify standing in the way of so-called "progress" on the social justice "frontier".

 

[Felger]

Thanks for sharing, Felgie. In the current DEI atmosphere pervading academia, it's not hard to understand why Pete might feel the need to suck up a little to preserve his turf. He's always done a very good job IMO but these days, that's often not enough to justify standing in the way of so-called "progress" on the social justice "frontier".

I will say this much, even though I think we all overanalyze small things on this forum to death, I took it as a positive that she was at UConn on Saturday. It was a very, very busy UNH sports day, (and not a particularly fruitful one) and truthfully there were other games that were, at least in the short run, "bigger" than the one in Storrs. The fact that she is so engaged with hockey could be seen as a positive in the long run.

 

[HockeyRef]

I will say this much, even though I think we all overanalyze small things on this forum to death, I took it as a positive that she was at UConn on Saturday. It was a very, very busy UNH sports day, (and not a particularly fruitful one) and truthfully there were other games that were, at least in the short run, "bigger" than the one in Storrs. The fact that she is so engaged with hockey could be seen as a positive in the long run.

Good points here; I know that many fans have contacted her to share their disappointment in the program (some are completely fine with it, 'give him another year the covid year doesn't count') so I hope she is taking all of this into account. She's very involved with social media as well and I'm sure she has seen the comments on UNH Hockey esp after they lose. During the wins this year that's been pretty quiet, and I didn't see too much negative after this weekend's loss. I suspect people are getting pretty weary perhaps and just want the season to end (which I think the few of us who post here feel the same).

 

[d.gerry]

Good points here; I know that many fans have contacted her to share their disappointment in the program (some are completely fine with it, 'give him another year the covid year doesn't count') so I hope she is taking all of this into account.

I must say, any fans who "are completely fine" with the current state of the program, are not fans. JMO

 

[HockeyRef]

I must say, any fans who "are completely fine" with the current state of the program, are not fans. JMO

No truer words...well I mean one can be a fan regardless of how a team fares...but I'd think you'd want to see a better showing esp given the past history?

Most likely I will renew my tickets for next season..largely because we enjoy the experience and it's "something to do" in the winter I guess. Plus we feel an affinity to UNH as both of our kids plus Mr HR went there. Plus the friendships created etc have been rewarding. Still, I consider myself a pragmatic fan as I try to call it like I see it (hence, the 'Ref part Plus, where else do I get a chance to travel to hot spots in the Northeast like Schenectady?

Carry on UNHer's...

 

[Chuck Murray]

I suspect people are getting pretty weary perhaps and just want the season to end (which I think the few of us who post here feel the same).

It's sad, that should never be the case. It wasn't all that long ago that March was the time of the season we all looked forward to, most of all. Great games with big crowds against strong opponents. How the times have changed ...

Plus, where else do I get a chance to travel to hot spots in the Northeast like Schenectady?

Quote of the day, right there, that's the money shot, my friends. LOL