Was able to catch only Sunday's game and I have to give UVM and thier entire squad a ton of credit. Got laughed at after nearly 40 solid minutes on Friday night and turned around and blanked UNH for almost 7 straight periods of play. UVM played great. That is why they are proceeding. You can complain all you want and even compare quality recruits, but guess what. UNH still only gave up 2 goals in 7 periods themselves, 8 if you count the 3rd on Friday. UNH played decently as well, Sunday.
For the person who asked about the gwg, it was a nice one. Puck squirted to the slot, kid was there and wasted no time thinking about it. He put it high blocker side.. realy nice goal it was.
UNH had plenty of even man rushes, but were almost always knocked to the corners.. and for the most part UNH did a pretty good job of handling UVM forwards (2 goals in 8 periods). in fact UNH manned up pretty well late, out right stripping UVM on a # of occassions in the offensive zone. I for one though UVM was basically out of gas, having only flares of offense in the second part of the 3rd and OT. But they continued to bunch the middle- put their boddies on the ice in front of Madore and gave it one hell of a battle until there was a winner. UNH did the same. They just didn't get the goal.
FOSTER WAS GREAT!! Absolutely great. I recall, a swift move to the net from Foster's left, along the goal line, kid competely deeked the D-man, got to the net to a crowd and out of NOWHERE, Foster's right pad leg, stonewalls what would have been a gwg. He was great.
My thoughts.. UNH will get in the dance and maybe even end up in Albany, but most likely get shipped out West. I've tinkered with the PWR and can't getthem past 9th..but usually finding the 10th or 11th. While they've had their early game issues at times- there is no quit in these kids, some teams just play better from behind, maybe this is that team. Maybe they should spot their next opponent 1 or 2 goals, to get them movin!
And while the 'talent' might not be up to where it was in the late 90's. it's much more spread out now.. it's not like Michigan, Minny, UND, BC, BU, No.DAK etc,.. are head an shoulders above everyone else. in fact, BU, Minny, Michigan and UND will be LUCKY, not fortunate, to be in the dance this yr. Recruting is getting tougher, talent is being groomed and 'systemitized' quicker.. the Haydar's and Nolan's, and Bogi's wouldn't look the same today.
-Consider this, for all the griping that I've read, as well as the praise, this Sr. Class missed out playing with the following K. Yandle(4yrs?), D Kolomitis(3yrs) yrs, R. Bourque,(1yr) JVR(1yr even if it was expected), T. Smith (2yrs). M. White and C. Reid(1yr).. oh, D.Dries(1yr).. tough cards.. and I didn't hear or read any ******ing from them! They laced'em up and gave it their all.. and if given the opportunity to play 1 -4 more games this yr.. I'm sure they'll do the same. I also recall, a skinny, slow- under impressive coaches kid from Malboro(much like. B. Kessel) getting a lot of flack about his 'talent' level when he first came to town.. kid is a Hobey Baker Finalist, and a good one at that. and w/ LeBlanc lead his team, as a Sr. to a RS Championship... Would anyone have guessed that of him coming in??
