UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

[chickod]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

...but am starting to feel badly for the BU fans as they think their season is over and their team is trash

Probably this is a little tongue in cheek...perhaps? But we (well, I'll say "I" because I won't speak for others) are not thrilled at their "effort" (or lack thereof). Everyone loses games and nobody is perfect or beyond reproach. But when you don't even TRY, that's just inexplicable (not to mention inexcusable). I only point this out because I have followed many of the threads here and we fans are almost never happy. That's part of being a fan, I guess. But I can accept losing to a better team. I can't accept "mailing it in." I don't think our "season is over," but they have yet to prove they are an elite team. Let's put it this way - if BU plays against you guys like they have played so far this week, they will get smoked. You heard it here first.

 

[deltabravo62]

It's tough to argue that but think Vela had a great night. Back check, taking the body, digging for the puck in the corners.

What I am 100% positive on is after TKs performance I understand why the only letters are on the back of the jersey. Selfish play, whining, and no hustle. Reused to hit open D on the pp multiple times instead to pass 80 feet for a 1 timer that he goalie could read for days.

Umile won't change but after last night I'd sit him a game or send him to the 4th line. Unacceptable performance by what should be a leader.

Agreed on all accounts. My post was not to say no one else was worthy of praise. Tirone, Chanter, Vela all had solid games but I felt BvR was a step ahead of the pack. Blackburn could easily be thrown in there too.

If only the team didn't decide the first period was already over with four seconds left...

Sadly I knew the game was not going to go out way when Nazarians stick snapped with a clear line from the point and Hawkey out of position. It just wasn't our night.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

Interesting "top line" skating third line in the early going...

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

The 7 period scoring drought is OVER !! Yeah TyK!!

 

[Scott]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

The scoring drought may have ended....but it appears that the annual Second Half Season Slide has commenced, albeit a few weeks late.

This was a "must-earn-points" weekend for the 'Cats that turned into failure. Looking ahead, it's not looking pretty at all. IMHO, I really can't see the 'Cats doing any better than 1-5-2 down the home stretch, finish the regular season at 12-17-5 and 18 points in HE. I could care less where they finish in the HE standings at this point; their inability to beat the top teams in the conference will be of little comfort come playoff time. There's always the possibility of an upset win here or there, the guys are working their butts off, but they just do not have the talent at this point in time to be a contender.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

The scoring drought may have ended....but it appears that the annual Second Half Season Slide has commenced, albeit a few weeks late.

This was a "must-earn-points" weekend for the 'Cats that turned into failure. Looking ahead, it's not looking pretty at all. IMHO, I really can't see the 'Cats doing any better than 1-5-2 down the home stretch, finish the regular season at 12-17-5 and 18 points in HE. I could care less where they finish in the HE standings at this point; their inability to beat the top teams in the conference will be of little comfort come playoff time. There's always the possibility of an upset win here or there, the guys are working their butts off, but they just do not have the talent at this point in time to be a contender.

Agreed - good call, across the board. I'm hoping they can find a win here and there before UConn, but these last two weekends were opportunities for just that ... and there's just the one point out of 8 (or 2 out of 10 including NU @ Fenway). You get the feeling Tirone will have to steal a game or two maybe, and he appears capable ... but UNH has to rediscover their scoring touch ASAP or else Tirone is just going to be keeping them close at best. But we knew this stretch was coming, and finally we're seeing what the team is capable of.

I'm still holding out hope, but this is not helping The Quest to say the least. More on that in the next day or two - in the meantime, what happened to get Salvaggio the game misconduct right after the late UNH goal?

 

[HockeyRef]

Agreed - good call, across the board. I'm hoping they can find a win here and there before UConn, but these last two weekends were opportunities for just that ... and there's just the one point out of 8 (or 2 out of 10 including NU @ Fenway). You get the feeling Tirone will have to steal a game or two maybe, and he appears capable ... but UNH has to rediscover their scoring touch ASAP or else Tirone is just going to be keeping them close at best. But we knew this stretch was coming, and finally we're seeing what the team is capable of.

I'm still holding out hope, but this is not helping The Quest to say the least. More on that in the next day or two - in the meantime, what happened to get Salvaggio the game misconduct right after the late UNH goal?

Salvaggio had words with the officials we learned st the FOH meeting as the Jr class was up. Sigh...well a golden opportunity came and went and we got as close as we could tonight. Could care les about the Quest...sorry Chuck! Just annoyed and disappointed. Whether DU gets to the next round number matters squat but I guess it makes for interesting speculation. Scott nailed it pretty much...all uphill from here on in. Losing Eiserman is tough I believe he could've made the/a diff. It is what it is I guess. This season is about getting the future players primed with playing experience as far as I'm concerned, even if it is in the MBPBEGAM HE tourney!

Ps was there a second misconduct penalty given at the end of the game?

 

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

Salvaggio had words with the officials we learned st the FOH meeting as the Jr class was up. Sigh...well a golden opportunity came and went and we got as close as we could tonight.

Thanks for clarifying. I don't see any indication of a second misconduct in the box score BTW.

Could care les about the Quest...sorry Chuck! Just annoyed and disappointed. Whether DU gets to the next round number matters squat but I guess it makes for interesting speculation.

No reason to apologize HR - no one will be happier than I (OK maybe not quite - I figure 'watcher will be even more psyched) when the next year plus has come and gone, and things return to whatever constitutes "normal" around here. But let's make no mistake - last year, this season and next is all about Coach and him getting to the next round number. It's not about national championships, Hockey East tourney wins, or even the "mythical" HE regular season title that Coach used to have a strangle hold on. Unless of course you think the soft as a sneakerful of dog crap schedule was/is a coincidence of course. Just my way of calling a spade a spade, I'm afraid.

 

[boblav1]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

Ps was there a second misconduct penalty given at the end of the game?

http://hockeyeastonline.com/men/boxes17.php?mprvunh1.j28

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

The weekend's officiating was not the best. Typically quiet Whitt-fans were yelling at the refs, especially last night. Salvaggio said something to the officials because nothing physical happened on ice for either of his misconducts. Coach could be clearly heard berating the officials with foul language from the bench. He walked toward, yelling at them, in a corner of the rink before the post game handshake. For a minute I thought he might actually accost them. I've never seen him more upset for a sustained period. Post handshake, Cleland skated to and then off the ice with the referees speaking with them calmly the entire time. Hill was in his typical last man off the ice position. If one didn't know better, it looked like he was making a "I've got your back Matias" statement.

As much as the "Why was TK not given a letter?" question may have been answered, it is clear why Cleland wears the "C".

 

[Felger]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

UNH has to rediscover their scoring touch ASAP

With all due respect Chuck -

Has this team ever really demonstrated a scoring touch to this point in the season?

Its leading scorer has scored 50% of his points on the power play....the second leading scorer has tallied 60% of his on the power play...those two are a combined +2 for the season. (To give you some perspective Vecchione and Foo are something like +50 between them) Sorry, but scoring four pp goals against the 11th place team in the ECAC doesn't put a tent in my trousers.

The ONLY time last night's game was competitive was when UNH had an extra player on the ice. Live by the power play, die by the power play...

Will somebody double check my math? (I don't blame anybody if you don't want to: ) But I have the current streak at 234 minutes, 27 seconds without scoring a goal at even strength...

 

[Felger]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

As much as the "Why was TK not given a letter?" question may have been answered, it is clear why Cleland wears the "C".

I don't disagree with your broader point Darius and they certainly got the "C" on the right player this season.

But to follow up on Norbert's earlier post I also think this weekend demonstrated why Kelleher should NOT wear a letter on the front of his uniform.

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

I don't disagree with your broader point Darius and they certainly got the "C" on the right player this season.

But to follow up on Norbert's earlier post I also think this weekend demonstrated why Kelleher should NOT wear a letter on the front of his uniform.

Sadly, I agree. It is difficult for me to admit a UNH player has an attitude problem. In his defense, this is not what TK signed up for when he committed to UNH. Then again, I suppose that is what character is all about.

 

[The Zlax45]

The weekend's officiating was not the best. Typically quiet Whitt-fans were yelling at the refs, especially last night. Salvaggio said something to the officials because nothing physical happened on ice for either of his misconducts. Coach could be clearly heard berating the officials with foul language from the bench. He walked toward, yelling at them, in a corner of the rink before the post game handshake. For a minute I thought he might actually accost them. I've never seen him more upset for a sustained period. Post handshake, Cleland skated to and then off the ice with the referees speaking with them calmly the entire time. Hill was in his typical last man off the ice position. If one didn't know better, it looked like he was making a "I've got your back Matias" statement.

As much as the "Why was TK not given a letter?" question may have been answered, it is clear why Cleland wears the "C".

Just saw the replays of the PC goals/reviews, I think Umile needs to settle down some.

I am shocked the Hockey East refs didn't bang him for throwing the water bottle on the disallowed goal.

 

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

The weekend's officiating was not the best. Typically quiet Whitt-fans were yelling at the refs, especially last night. Salvaggio said something to the officials because nothing physical happened on ice for either of his misconducts. Coach could be clearly heard berating the officials with foul language from the bench. He walked toward, yelling at them, in a corner of the rink before the post game handshake. For a minute I thought he might actually accost them. I've never seen him more upset for a sustained period. Post handshake, Cleland skated to and then off the ice with the referees speaking with them calmly the entire time. Hill was in his typical last man off the ice position. If one didn't know better, it looked like he was making a "I've got your back Matias" statement.

As much as the "Why was TK not given a letter?" question may have been answered, it is clear why Cleland wears the "C".

Now, I know PC beat us fair and square, there is absolutely NO doubt about that. I don't have a problem recognizing that most obvious fact. The 'Cats have offensive probs (that Felger pointed out which I had not really been paying that much attention to) and we know our defensive stuff from oh I don't know when. That being said...it was a weak weekend for both (PC included) teams officiating wise. Very touchy umpires when it came to faceoffs, play would get out of control t hen wham....am not proud of my personal behavior to say the least when the Dawson, game tying goal was nullified but as an umpire and upon seeing the replay about 10 times I guess some things are absolute and you have to make those calls.

Ugh..I'm the last one to blame officiating but when a PC player leaves their feet to make a check on the boards (literally jumping into the player at that) with an official standing right there well even I know that's not right. And before a PC fan jumps my stuff here, I'm sure it went both ways. Sigh...in the big pic we all know that's not the reason we got swept. "What lies beneath" (and fill in your own blank) is the answer here. To echo Scott....they are great guys who do work their butts off. I wish they had more to show for it.

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

My thing on replays, in all sports, is that if the replay is not obvious enough to change the call in a short period of time, like a minute, then the play should stand and the game moves on. The Dawson replay took forever.

 

[NCAA watcher]

The 'Cats have offensive probs (that Felger pointed out which I had not really been paying that much attention to) and we know our defensive stuff from oh I don't know when.

Remind me how this gets better next year, or the date when help arrives.

In his defense, this is not what TK signed up for when he committed to UNH.

Usually a new coach brings in a raft of players who are his guys and do sign up for this. Given the little help that has been brought in for depth, I suppose only Joe Sacco counts in that camp.

 

[HockeyRef]

My thing on replays, in all sports, is that if the replay is not obvious enough to change the call in a short period of time, like a minute, then the play should stand and the game moves on. The Dawson replay took forever.

Guess that's what we thought too...what's taking so long did Hill have contact or not. I mean the puck was clearly in the back of the net before Hawkey could react...but I digress. And don't forget UNH asked for the same thing in the PC first goal and didn't get the call which probably led to the frustration...good point Darius. Noticed today that there no game comments or the Umile live that is normally on Facebook....

 

[HockeyRef]

Remind me how this gets better next year, or the date when help arrives.

Am hopeful the arrival Benton Maase can help the cause...but I have no answers...but I don't know what you expect me to say here? I want things to get better yesterday.

 

[Darius]

Re: UNH Wildcats 2016-17 Vol II -- We Do Have a Hockey Season Here!?!

...am not proud of my personal behavior to say the least when the Dawson, game tying goal was nullified...

Don't worry about it. I don't yell much other than "Go 'cats", "Go blue", "C'mon boys" out of respect for the people around me. Twice this weekend I let loose with a full sentence clearly directed at the officials. Immediately after I felt shame, but then I got free by looking around to see no one was offended and most seemed to approve.