UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

[WildShawn]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

Just what do you mean by "pulled it off?" Those were two pretty fluky goals, if you ask me. Merrimack clearly had the better of the play for the majority of the game and deserved to win. If UNH scores first it's a totally different game...ND can't play the "line up at the blue line" and just dump the puck out. They almost didn't even TRY to score once they were up 2-0...the game would have been much more wide open if ND was trailing and would have played right into UNH's hands...

While I agree they had a couple of 'fluky goals' and the one in the 2nd period might have propelled this, but Notre Dame simply dominated the game from the 2nd goal through the third period (The last 27 minutes of regulation). The shots on goal were 17-4 in the third period, and it wasn't due to stacking them up at the blue line like they did Sunday night. MC made adjustments during OT intermission and came out flying in OT, but they were exhausted at the end of the 2nd period, and ND took it to them in the 3rd. If it weren't for Cannata, they would have lost by a few in regulation, despite the 2 softies.

 

[chickod]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

place was going absolutely wild...you never see a college crowd like that these days.

Yes, and isn't it sad? Maybe it's because everyone is so "preoccupied" and the attention span is so short. I see more people texting, surfing the web and stuffing their faces than I do even paying attention to the game. I guess we're not going to go back to those "simpler" times (and I didn't say that they were "worse"), so lamenting won't do any good. Still, it's difficult for those of us who remember "those days" (and they weren't that long ago) to deal with the apathy that we experience today. If you're going to go, get INTO it, or frankly, just stay home.

 

[chickod]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

If it weren't for Cannata, they would have lost by a few in regulation, despite the 2 softies.

Well, I guess we just agree to disagree. When Merrimack was dominating, they could have had three more goals. There's two sides to that. Maybe ND "took it to them" in the 3rd, but they COULD have been down by three goals, too. I'm not a Merrimack fan (I mean I would have liked to see them win, but the fact is only one team from the league was going to go to the FF anyway, and I would have preferred UNH), I'm just trying to base my opinion objectively on what I saw.

 

[WildShawn]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

Well, I guess we just agree to disagree. When Merrimack was dominating, they could have had three more goals. There's two sides to that. Maybe ND "took it to them" in the 3rd, but they COULD have been down by three goals, too. I'm not a Merrimack fan (I mean I would have liked to see them win, but the fact is only one team from the league was going to go to the FF anyway, and I would have preferred UNH), I'm just trying to base my opinion objectively on what I saw.

Fair enough. I just remember how much Merrimack was huffing and puffing catching their breath coming off the ice in the 2nd period, and then seeing them get taken behind the woodshed in the third period. They did a good job to regroup, but unfortunately were let down at the end. I was pulling for MC as well, and they did have the better of the play the first 33 minutes or so, and Johnson played great to keep ND in the game despite the 3-1 score. I though MC was going to run away with it and we'd see another 7 goal game for the Warriors.

 

[Jacques "Rabbit" Poriveau]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

I still think that Umile does well with the talent that he has, year in and year out.

Oui, e do well, I tink we alls wood agreeing wit dat.

Mais eez dat de pointe? Do dey all get togeddure in Septembre et say "Hey boys lets put eet all on da line et go out der et DO WELL! Huh, whos wit me? Lets go DO WELL! And ifs we do, we can ang a WE DID WELL banneur!

I tink even UNHs wants to win a champeenship, eh?

So instead of doing da. same. frickin. ting. evury year dat ovure 20 year ave got you to WE DID WELL why dont Dicks try someting differente? Different PP, forecheck, dump et chase, biggeur playeurs, older playeurs, tougher playeur, smalleur playeur, load up one classe, whatevure, eh? Juste stop beating he head against da wall da same way evury year et expecting zee resulte differente. Mon Dieu.

 

[Rhett]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

Apparently what I heard was incorrect, the person who supposedly tosses the fish sent an email to a UNH blog about why a lobster was tossed Sunday instead of the usual fish.

I agree with the responses to the blog. Poor planning and I refuse to believe that was the "next best" they could do in New England.

If you're superstitious, they can NEVER do that again: Never throw a lobster & never leave those guys in charge.

Maybe Ann Weaver Hart was on to something...





I probably have to go into hiding for that last comment...

 

[J.D.]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

Just what do you mean by "pulled it off?" Those were two pretty fluky goals, if you ask me. Merrimack clearly had the better of the play for the majority of the game and deserved to win. If UNH scores first it's a totally different game...ND can't play the "line up at the blue line" and just dump the puck out. They almost didn't even TRY to score once they were up 2-0...the game would have been much more wide open if ND was trailing and would have played right into UNH's hands...

Don't read too much into this. By pulled it off, all I meant is they were able to overcome a two goal deficit--no matter how they did it. My overall point was even if UNH was up 1-0 on Notre Dame, I have no reason to believe that that alone simply would have resulted in a UNH win. That's way too simplistic. It's not like UNH is the New Jersey Devils of the '90s or something.

 

[sonar]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

Oui, e do well, I tink we alls wood agreeing wit dat.

Mais eez dat de pointe? Do dey all get togeddure in Septembre et say "Hey boys lets put eet all on da line et go out der et DO WELL! Huh, whos wit me? Lets go DO WELL! And ifs we do, we can ang a WE DID WELL banneur!

I tink even UNHs wants to win a champeenship, eh?

So instead of doing da. same. frickin. ting. evury year dat ovure 20 year ave got you to WE DID WELL why dont Dicks try someting differente? Different PP, forecheck, dump et chase, biggeur playeurs, older playeurs, tougher playeur, smalleur playeur, load up one classe, whatevure, eh? Juste stop beating he head against da wall da same way evury year et expecting zee resulte differente. Mon Dieu.

I think what Jacques is alluding to .... and I agree I might add .... is the following:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-one-trick-pony.htm


The slang term “one trick pony” is used to refer to something which can only be used for one very specific application. The term is also used to describe people; for example, a chef who can only produce one really good dish might be known as a one trick pony. The term is generally used in a disparaging way, since it suggests a lack of flexibility and an inability to work outside very specific parameters. Most people try to avoid creating or becoming a one trick pony for this very reason.
The term probably originates from the “dog and pony shows” of the early American era. A dog and pony show was a small circus with a limited number of animals and performers, and often the performances were simple or lackluster. Trick ponies and horses have a long history of being used in circus performance, but a horse that only does one trick wouldn't be very interesting or impressive to watch.

 

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

I think what Jacques is alluding to .... and I agree I might add .... is the following:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-one-trick-pony.htm


The slang term “one trick pony” is used to refer to something which can only be used for one very specific application. The term is also used to describe people; for example, a chef who can only produce one really good dish might be known as a one trick pony. The term is generally used in a disparaging way, since it suggests a lack of flexibility and an inability to work outside very specific parameters. Most people try to avoid creating or becoming a one trick pony for this very reason.
The term probably originates from the “dog and pony shows” of the early American era. A dog and pony show was a small circus with a limited number of animals and performers, and often the performances were simple or lackluster. Trick ponies and horses have a long history of being used in circus performance, but a horse that only does one trick wouldn't be very interesting or impressive to watch.

But, one trick is better than no tricks at all, right? Like some other Div 1 teams?

 

[sonar]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

But, one trick is better than no tricks at all, right? Like some other Div 1 teams?

This is what I said on the off season thread .... I do respect the players .... and enormously so .......
*************************************************************

Re: UNH .... off season thread 2011

Kind of interesting. I'm watching Chicago and the Bruins and the announcer says, "..... you just don't go deep into the playoffs without good centers."

Who knows why .... but that comment got this 43 year UNH season ticket holder thinking about Wildcat hockey. I will not bore you with "memories of days gone by" .... and the highs and lows of UNH in the post season. I was in attendance when UNH moved into Division I .... so I doubt if anyone can provide me with memories that I have not "lived" .... and gradually shed as I walked away from ice arenas. Having said that .... I would like to be permitted a few observations:

1) Look back through the history of UNH in Division I ice hockey and I suspect you will find a statistically significant relationship between the quality of the center icemen and the degree of competitive success. Not surprising, it is probably the same for most hockey teams at any level. Is there any evidence that the UNH recruiting efforts emphasize the acquisition of centermen .... regardless of how hard they are to find .... and how "old" they usually are. An emphasis on recruiting centermen might mitigate the observations found bellow.

2) As much as I admired Coach Holt and the largest ice surface in the East that was good old Snively .... the decision to put in an Olympic size ice sheet in the Whit was, and continues to be, the worst decision ever made. Someone thought they were in the forefront of the future concerning ice surface size in North America. They were wrong. Yes I know - Minnesota does OK with the large ice surface .... but does anyone really think they can compare the recruiting advantage that the Gophers have with UNH. Yes I know - Colorado College did a number on BC, but have they really done well in the post season since they installed the large ice sheet? St. Cloud .... well enough said.

3) Up and down teams like Miami - UNH can handle upon occasion, actually done well against over the years. However, I did watch Notre Dame (yes, I was in attendance) with that mixture of defensive defensemen, a few fast forwards, a good goaltender, and the ability to clog up the middle, do what run and gun Miami could not do .... beat UNH. By the way it looks like Miami is utilizing the UNH template with equal negative results in the post season.

4) One suspects that UNH does not attract defensive defensemen .... would you want to play on a Lake if you were such a player? Look at the defensive recruits coming in this year .... do you see any stay at home defensemen among them? Look at the offensive recruits coming in this year .... see any power forwards?

5) Has anyone compared the effectiveness of the UNH powerplay at home versus the efficiency on the road?

6) UNH men's hockey teams are what they are .... regular season champions - which one can suspect is a function of a home ice advantage with the large ice. Very few (two in over 20 years) post season championships that may partially be a function of getting "exposed" by teams constructed for defensive post season play and NHL ice surfaces. We all know defense wins championships .... unless you have the luxury of having both outstanding O and D.

These are probably simplistic observations that have been presented on this site in the past. Nothing in life, or in any process that differentiates winning efforts from less than winning efforts, can ever be fully explained by rational analysis. Try it some time and have the humble pie handy.

Oh by the way, I respect, indeed honor, every young man who has played hockey for UNH. You helped make the winters a little shorter, the summers a little longer, and as for your efforts over the years .... well they are not subject to question .... thank you.

 

[ClOuD 9]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

I would guess because Worcester would be more UMass Amherst's neck of the woods as opposed to BU's. If Dartmouth has more of a connection to Manchester than the state university up in NH and that explains UNH's latest flameout, I'll take your word for it.

That would be a great argument if it weren't 100% wrong.

Walter Brown Arena to DCU Center: 39.1 miles
Mullins Center to DCU Center: 48.7 miles

In addition, the suggestion that BU's footprint is less than 39.1 miles but UNH's (with half of the enrollment, a significantly lower profile athletic department, and not in the heart of the 5th largest media market in the United States) should be 37.1 miles or greater is absurd.

To top all of this off, BU-UNH in Worcester drew nearly double UNH-ND in Manchester.

 

[ClOuD 9]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

As far as I could tell, UNH posters did not snipe at BC players or coaches on the BC thread following the loss to Colorado College. It's only fair to expect the same courtesy from BC posters.

Touchdown Musey!

Apparently what I heard was incorrect, the person who supposedly tosses the fish sent an email to a UNH blog about why a lobster was tossed Sunday instead of the usual fish.

That was the second time this season that they have thrown a lobster - either throw a fish or throw nothing.

Yes, and isn't it sad? Maybe it's because everyone is so "preoccupied" and the attention span is so short. I see more people texting, surfing the web and stuffing their faces than I do even paying attention to the game. I guess we're not going to go back to those "simpler" times (and I didn't say that they were "worse"), so lamenting won't do any good. Still, it's difficult for those of us who remember "those days" (and they weren't that long ago) to deal with the apathy that we experience today. If you're going to go, get INTO it, or frankly, just stay home.

It seems like this is an annual offseason topic - Freak usually comments that there is no real energy in the building, just chants, and unh_hockey will add that there are no good hecklers left, the kind that can make a goalie's night (and visit to Durham) miserable, both are right imho.

 

[Jacques "Rabbit" Poriveau]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

I dont agrree dat da Whitt est da probleme.Aven't dey losed 2 out of laste 3 QF rounds at home?

Et pour evury stay home D dey mite loose shouldn't de be getting a puck moving D who loving ze idea of da Whitt? Mais de dont - juste ask Laleggia who decided to go to DUs 85ft wide rink.

Talente - quality et type, like get some centres, systems - like aving more dan one, et game managemente - like try showing ups wit a plan et sonme efforte more dan evury now and den, eh

 

[JB]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

It seems like this is an annual offseason topic - Freak usually comments that there is no real energy in the building, just chants, and unh_hockey will add that there are no good hecklers left, the kind that can make a goalie's night (and visit to Durham) miserable, both are right imho.

There was a night of such good heckling in the first couple years of the Whitt the goalie actually started to chuckle at it.

 

[Rover]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

That would be a great argument if it weren't 100% wrong.

Walter Brown Arena to DCU Center: 39.1 miles
Mullins Center to DCU Center: 48.7 miles

In addition, the suggestion that BU's footprint is less than 39.1 miles but UNH's (with half of the enrollment, a significantly lower profile athletic department, and not in the heart of the 5th largest media market in the United States) should be 37.1 miles or greater is absurd.

To top all of this off, BU-UNH in Worcester drew nearly double UNH-ND in Manchester.

Cloud, buddy, I think you need a hobby or something if you're still caught up on this, but let me play along for a minute. You DO realize that there's another D-1 school even closer to the DCU center than BU, right? Its about a mile west of BU, on the way to the DCU (I'll let run the #'s to the first or second decimal). That school is Boston College, ergo by your criteria you couldn't expect BU to match that, given the extra distance...

Now, what D-1 schools are between UNH and the Verizon Center that would compete with the school for fans' affections and support?

 

[JB]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

Cloud, buddy, I think you need a hobby or something if you're still caught up on this, but let me play along for a minute. You DO realize that there's another D-1 school even closer to the DCU center than BU, right? Its about a mile west of BU, on the way to the DCU (I'll let run the #'s to the first or second decimal). That school is Boston College, ergo by your criteria you couldn't expect BU to match that, given the extra distance...

Now, what D-1 schools are between UNH and the Verizon Center that would compete with the school for fans' affections and support?

MC is actually a little closer and an easier drive IMO (I work ~ a mile from MC, go to UNH home games and live near Manchester). I don't really want to be involved in this but I am tossing my two cents in because I was really surprised at what seemed like a light MC turn out in Manchester. There were seast available and in light of the numbers in Boston for HE I was surprised there weren't many more fans.

 

[Rover]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

MC is actually a little closer and an easier drive IMO (I work ~ a mile from MC, go to UNH home games and live near Manchester). I don't really want to be involved in this but I am tossing my two cents in because I was really surprised at what seemed like a light MC turn out in Manchester. There were seast available and in light of the numbers in Boston for HE I was surprised there weren't many more fans.

I have to say I think its economy related more than anything else. People are having trouble justifying buying tickets to two games when your team might only be playing in one. Double or triple that if you're bringing kids/spouse/etc - it all comes out of the household budget. You have an alternative, which is watching it on TV and I'm thinking a lot of people are taking that option instead.

 

[JB]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

I have to say I think its economy related more than anything else. People are having trouble justifying buying tickets to two games when your team might only be playing in one. Double or triple that if you're bringing kids/spouse/etc - it all comes out of the household budget. You have an alternative, which is watching it on TV and I'm thinking a lot of people are taking that option instead.

Hadn't thought of that, when I do hockey I split the cost with my Dad and we would go UNH in or not. It is something he and I have done together since I was little. The wife stopped being interested in hockey when the ring went on the finger... we have an agreement, she doesn't have to go to hockey, but I am not going to stop or listen to complaining about the hockey schedule.

 

[UNHFan1]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

I agree Rover. The two day package was $80+ with fees. They finally decided to sell in one day packages through ticketma$ter, which were over $50 with fees. Pretty crazy.

 

[MagnessMan]

Re: UNH Wildcats - 2011 Playoff Quest

So the prices for the FF on stub hub are up to $500 a ticket. It's insane. If anyone has a pair at cost please PM me. I'm trying to take my daughter to her first one and it isn't looking good.