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UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues

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Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues

Dan said:
I touched on this earlier - but, first of all, if you're counting on your true freshmen, eighteen year old defensemen to carry your offense you're asking for trouble. The issue is the lack of production from the upper class forwards - whose job it is to score...

The biggest issue is the PP. Like most defensemen both Gildon and Maass will get most of their points on the PP. The PP has all but disappeared over the last 12 games. The reason being because the upperclass forwards have not been good enough. When Gildon/Maass had such early success getting shots to the net opposing coaches adjusted. Look at opposing PK boxes - they've expanded and Fs are now on top of them to force him to move the puck rather than shoot. There's not much they can do but get the puck to the forwards in the wing having created space. The Fs are not taking advantage of the space...

UNH went 3-for-3 on the PP against RPI. I'm the six previous games they were 1-for-24 (4%). In the five games since they're 2-for-17 (12%). Over the last 12 games, excluding the one outlier the PP is 3-for-41 (7%). If the PP can't adjust - if the PP forwards can't help the cause - the offense is going to struggle the rest of the way.

McNicholas, Salvaggio, Grasso and Blackburn combined for 23 PP goals last year (TK had 13). This year they have six combined. All told UNH forwards have nine PP goals and the D have seven. Now that D shots or tip ins have been taken away the PP is impotent. It's not the two young defense men's fault they're not getting points...

I've given Souza a lot of credit for the PP and creative adjustments - its long over due he makes an adjustment. Or maybe I was off base.

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The two D are playing the same game. Maass is playing a simple N-S game and getting pucks quickly to forwards. But they're not finishing at a high rate any longer. Gildon is still commanding the break out, often eschewing the simple play to make the stretch pass, breaking out threw the middle or skating out of the zone on his own. But when he gets the puck to the forwards they're not finishing at a high rate any longer...

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And I watch them game in and game out on video - every home game plus at UVM, UM, BU, RPI and Dartmouth...

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C - Vela
A - Eiserman
A - Wyse
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Whoa Dan did not realize (the numbers at least) where we have been with the forwards and their lack of production. I mean, I knew the PP had not been great. Between this and Ray's post below I think it gives us a good idea about what's going on there. As per your captains, Eiserman? Agree with your Capt. choice (and Wyse would be a good Asst.)
 
HockeyRef said:
Whoa Dan did not realize (the numbers at least) where we have been with the forwards and their lack of production. I mean, I knew the PP had not been great. Between this and Ray's post below I think it gives us a good idea about what's going on there. As per your captains, Eiserman? Agree with your Capt. choice (and Wyse would be a good Asst.)
Click to expand...

I like Eiserman's game a lot - he would set a physical, hard-skating example. He has been passionate about UNH hockey since childhood. I don't know what he's like in the locker room - but from the outside I think he fits the role. I knew it may not be the most expected choice. We'll see...

I'd much rather Wyse get a letter than simply rewarding another SR who I don't think fits. I wouldn't mind, at all, if Wyse was the C...
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues

Dan said:
I like Eiserman's game a lot - he would set a physical, hard-skating example. He has been passionate about UNH hockey since childhood. I don't know what he's like in the locker room - but from the outside I think he fits the role. I knew it may not be the most expected choice. We'll see...

I'd much rather Wyse get a letter than simply rewarding another SR who I don't think fits. I wouldn't mind, at all, if Wyse was the C...
Click to expand...

Agree totally but isn't Eiserman a Senior? I thought he would be selected this year...
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues

I like both players but...

McNicholas and Salvaggio have combined for just ten goals this season. They had 36 last year. Salvaggio has only scored in three out of 20 games. They're a combined -10. They're seniors. This is where the O struggles really manifest...

Grasso scored 20 last year and is now out for the season. TK's 24 goals graduated. I mean...
 
HockeyRef said:
Agree totally but isn't Eiserman a Senior? I thought he would be selected this year...
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You are right my mistake. He should have been selected...!

Miller or Boyd likely get a letter then. But I'd edit my answer to a pair of C's for Wyse and Vela...
 
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Dan said:
I like both players but...

McNicholas and Salvaggio have combined for just ten goals this season. They had 36 last year. Salvaggio has only scored in three out of 20 games. They're a combined -10. They're seniors. This is where the O struggles really manifest...

Grasso scored 20 last year and is now out for the season. TK's 24 goals graduated. I mean...
Click to expand...

Absolutely see your point. Goals have had to come from elsewhere buthout their contribution point wise it's tough to win games. Let me ask you who would you replace them with on the PP?
 
HockeyRef said:
Absolutely see your point. Goals have had to come from elsewhere buthout their contribution point wise it's tough to win games. Let me ask you who would you replace them with on the PP?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure there are great options to replace them - they're both still good offensive players. McNicholas as a passer and Salvaggio as a shooter. They just need to produce...

I think what needs to happen is the PP strategy needs to change. Something needs to happen to get more movement and different movement. I'd like to see McNicholas move around the PP more (scrap the MM one-timer, it's not paying dirt) and look to make plays. Maybe this gets Gildon on a wing at times where he is unexpected and can shoot. Can all this movement creat passes to Salvaggio in good shooting position? Something needs to change...

If that doesn't work - then by all means they should mix and match between the two PP units. But in terms of players not playing PP who could step in? Not many options.

Maass did take Grasso's spot as a second D on the first unit (instead of another F). So we'll see if two shooting D can pay dividends instead of one.

Not sure if the Brown PP goal was a play or good fortune - but going low and then across the slot to a pinching D (rather than to the F in front or back up high) is the type of creativity they need to mix in. Just shooting from up high has been answered by opponents...

One alternative might be adding Eiserman to the PP down low and making that odd from 11 to 12 - then asking Eiserman to drive the net from the side. To either stuff one in, make a move or find the F on the other side for a tap in. Bottom line, move and add wrinkles. Doing so might, at the very least, start to open up what was working earlier in the year...

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PP options have to come from some combination of 11, 10, 22, 23, 7, 26, 17, 12 up front and 18, 28, 21, 6 in the back. So it's really finding adjustments that work for the guys your already using...
 
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Dan said:
I'm not sure there are great options to replace them - they're both still good offensive players. McNicholas as a passer and Salvaggio as a shooter. They just need to produce...

I think what needs to happen is the PP strategy needs to change. Something needs to happen to get more movement and different movement. I'd like to see McNicholas move around the PP more (scrap the MM one-timer, it's not paying dirt) and look to make plays. Maybe this gets Gildon on a wing at times where he is unexpected and can shoot. Can all this movement creat passes to Salvaggio in good shooting position? Something needs to change...

If that doesn't work - then by all means they should mix and match between the two PP units. But in terms of players not playing PP who could step in? Not many options.

Maass did take Grasso's spot as a second D on the first unit (instead of another F). So we'll see if two shooting D can pay dividends instead of one.

Not sure if the Brown PP goal was a play or good fortune - but going low and then across the slot to a pinching D is the type of creativity they need to mix in. Just shooting from up high has been answered by opponents...
Click to expand...

No question they are both excellent players with the strengths you've mentioned. TyK created a lot of that movement you speak of (play making) which has been the issue. Surely the coaches see this...
 
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HockeyRef said:
No question they are both excellent players with the strengths you've mentioned. TyK created a lot of that movement you speak of (play making) which has been the issue. Surely the coachs see this?
Click to expand...

I'm sure they do - but creating that movement is where they need outside the box thinking. MM has always been a stationary playmaker on the PP or looking for his one-time shot. He's probably the guy who could freelance and move - but they haven't asked him too. Maybe Nazarian skates well enough?

But the TK PP may not be the answer either - maybe just moving the puck faster and switching more? Stationary passing and trying to force things through shooting D isn't working though...

It's not an easy fix - but the fix has to happen or the D/G need to be perfect. And that's too much to ask...
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues

Ray Dorn said:
Greg,

These are my thoughts on why they have not been playing as well. Through the first seven games (5 wins, 1 OT loss and 1 OT Tie) of the season the defensemen were big contributors to the offense. It was mainly Maass (9 assists) and Gildon (6 goals and 2 assists). This does not include the exhibition game against St. Francis Xavier where Gildon had a goal and an assist. Now, let’s look at the last five games (0 wins, 4 losses and 1 OT tie). Maass only one goal and Gildon with only one assist in these five games.

This lack of offensive contribution from both Gildon and Maass is the big difference in the team’s performance of late in my opinion. Are these two players not playing as well as they were at the beginning of the season? Were they just lucky and now they are playing at their true skill level? Is the team (coaches and/or players) not using them as they did earlier in the season? I believe it is the later, but before I go into detail I would like to hear what others are thinking.
Click to expand...

Ray, I'll respond to your observations. I completely agree that something has changed. Gildon does not seem to have the same confidence or has been given a new directive. Yes other teams are on to both of these freshmen and the lanes have been closed or certainly narrowed but something else has changed. Gildon does not look as comfortable and is not taking the shoots that he could. As Dan has noted, he is a very hot and cold player still and you have to wonder how he has lost his edge. Our use of the points, which is what we did early in the season has been diminished and we keep hoping that we can get that weak side slot shot off, because it worked so well last year.

Miller is a big loss in my book. He would have been a solid contributor by his junior year.
As too who wears the C next year. It will be richie, Cuse that is the way it happens. all great kids but often surprising choices. Third pairing Captain. sound familiar?
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues

After the Whistle said:
Miller is a big loss in my book. He would have been a solid contributor by his junior year.
As too who wears the C next year. It will be richie, Cuse that is the way it happens. all great kids but often surprising choices. Third pairing Captain. sound familiar?
Click to expand...

From what I'd seen of Miller this year, he was better than at least two of the regulars, one of whom couldn't be deprived of his 3rd pairing time due to his "C" (and the other who ironically is frequently being mentioned as next year's "C"). It may not be a big loss in terms of a D-1 stud top pairing kid, but it's still a loss from the standpoint of a program that needs to get the best out of all of its recruits, and simply does not have the luxury of losing its promising youngsters just to artificially boost some depth player into a leadership role.

How many more times will it take for the UNH coaching staff to stop making the same dumb-arse mistake ...
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues

Maybe the awesome Brown Bears are NOT who we thought they where?
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues

Snively65 said:
Maybe the awesome Brown Bears are NOT who we thought they where?
Click to expand...

yeah that game last night was fast and furious; lots of goals by both teams (no 4-0 lead squandered). Brown brings it! Maine didn't start Swayman and a few others didn't play from what I gathered, but I wouldn't look past Brown...and to your parity point? Wouldn't look past anyone.
 
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Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues

HockeyRef said:
yeah that game last night was fast and furious; lots of goals by both teams (no 4-0 lead squandered). Brown brings it! Maine didn't start Swayman and a few others didn't play from what I gathered, but I wouldn't look past Brown...and to your parity point? Wouldn't look past anyone.
Click to expand...

We can only hope this purported "parity" thing works for UNH this coming weekend, that's all I'll say ...
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues

Chuck Murray said:
We can only hope this purported "parity" thing works for UNH this coming weekend, that's all I'll say ...
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That's what I'm hoping for...truth be told! You don't buy the "on any given night" thing? Guess it depends on who we are talking about. Could UNH win a game this weekend? Sure! Could they win both? hmmm...You can bet they guys who do the HE picks aren't going to select UNH to win either, I'll bet....
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues

HockeyRef said:
That's what I'm hoping for...truth be told! You don't buy the "on any given night" thing? Guess it depends on who we are talking about. Could UNH win a game this weekend? Sure! Could they win both? hmmm...You can bet they guys who do the HE picks aren't going to select UNH to win either, I'll bet....
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And why should they? UNH has done nothing to warrant a "pick to win" over the last four weeks or so, I'm sure that our esteemed Hockey East writers are tired of bad bets on UNH games. :p :rolleyes: ;)

The Non-Quest predicted record for the remaining 16 games (NQPRFTRSG) will be 0-3-1 on the morning of Jan. 16. :eek: :D ;)
 
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Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues

HockeyRef said:
That's what I'm hoping for...truth be told! You don't buy the "on any given night" thing? Guess it depends on who we are talking about. Could UNH win a game this weekend? Sure! Could they win both? hmmm...You can bet they guys who do the HE picks aren't going to select UNH to win either, I'll bet....
Click to expand...

You and me against the world
Sometimes it seems like you and me against the world...
 
Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues

In summary, can we all agree that our senior and junior forwards, and Tirone, should not be looking past cupcakes BU and BC this weekend to the Black Bears the following weekend?
 
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