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University of Maine 2024–2025: Freel-ing good

Maine gets the sweep and head into a three week break on a 5 game winning streak.

Berzins played decently in his debut after settling down post first goal against.

Maine guys all giving Androlewicz extra love in the handshake line.

Three stars:
1. Thomas Pichette
2. Thomas Freel
3. Sully Scholle
 
Didn't see the third today as I had other things to do, but honestly I think they played pretty well from what I saw all things considered. Can't comment on the second goal, but the first was just kind of a fluke play that isn't likely to be repeated, and they didn't really give up anything defensively that I remember. Obviously two games you should win, but they did. This is also not the 2023-24 Stonehill of 2-34 or whatever they were, this team is not a laughing stock anymore. Again, not good, but not like last year's outfit.
 
Sparkee said:
Maine guys all giving Androlewicz extra love in the handshake line.
Click to expand...

That was nice to see. He played pretty well all weekend long.

And Berzins..? Not awful, but that 1st one stuck in my craw a bit. He seems athletic enough, just not dialed-in all the time.

I'm happy that he got the minutes, in hindsight. Can't hurt down the road.
 
12-2-2, 3rd in PWR and 1st in HE,, not a bad start :) Obviously games in hand, too early to worry about PWR etc but still better than I thought this season would go so far. Great job out of Barr, the staff and the players.
 
Post game media:

Thomas Pichette https://youtube.com/shorts/JwLcuHwBV...Tbq_ZX9jgImTwP
Patrick Berzins https://youtube.com/shorts/4k7vjiTCj...ttRPxh3_wtV7ly
Thomas Freel https://youtube.com/shorts/dmM9VQlJx...K7qc5u3FlbPHVL
Coach Barr https://youtu.be/HZ1lawOpK_g?si=EHgAiX1o1mOdI7YE

Coach Bedard https://youtube.com/shorts/NHoyzpdL4...U2xIQLMeiqzenq

Coach Barr mentioned he thought the first goal got redirected. I’ll have to study in slow motion. Also, you can tell he wasn’t happy with the way Lesakowski turned the puck over and then Arnott played puck instead of letting goalie face shooter from a tough angle. Described it as a brutal breakdown.

Hard not to be happy with how Maine has played so far. At the same time there is room for some improvement on the defensive breakdowns. Other than those few breakdowns per game, the team is nearly perfect. Let’s hope some time off helps them recover physically and mentally so they come back healthy and laser focused!

I’m happy with how Niemo and Pichette played and would love to see the 4th line be Pichette/Komarov/Niemo for some time to see if it can develop into regular scoring. I don’t have anything against Califiore. But he has one goal for one point in 14 games. Pichette has 1 goal and 1 assist for 2 points in 5 games. Niemo has 1 goal and 1 assist for 2 points in 2 games. I think it is time to bench Califiore in favor of Niemo and Pichette.
 
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Fishman'81 said:
That was nice to see. He played pretty well all weekend long.

And Berzins..? Not awful, but that 1st one stuck in my craw a bit. He seems athletic enough, just not dialed-in all the time.

I'm happy that he got the minutes, in hindsight. Can't hurt down the road.
Click to expand...

On the first goal, I watched the highlights video I posted on 0.25x setting in YouTube settings and since Barr said it got redirected it must have hit Charbrier’s back and then redirected just enough to go through under Berzin’s armpit on the blocker side. If that’s the case then I would conclude Berzin played good. Good meaning he stopped the ones he should have and the others were of the “not his fault” variety. Try watching that on 0.25x speed and see what you think. It’s hard to tell even on that slow speed.
 
Solid weekend, they played down to the competition but took care of business when they needed to. Hard not to be thrilled at the break, 7-0 OOC, currently 1st in hockey east. I think the break comes at a good time for the guys, I’m sure the last week has been a roller coaster of emotions with the injury to Breen.

Echoing what Sparkee said, I like the idea of Niemo/Komarov/Pichette. I thought that 4th line was arguably Maine’s best this weekend and those 3 players would be the best version of it. Nothing Calafiore did or didn’t do, just feel like that is the best version. As always it’ll come down to who earns it in practice would should be really good for those 4 guys.

Defense looked a bit shaky tonight, Holt missing time didn’t help but hopefully he can come back fully healthy and ready to go in the second half.
 
OronoKO said:
Barr didn't sound too happy in that interview.
Click to expand...

I mean he’s no idiot. I think his quote that the record is a lot better than the play is bang on. The second half schedule is much tougher and Maine needs to commit to being a lot better defensively.
 
Sparkee said:
On the first goal, I watched the highlights video I posted on 0.25x setting in YouTube settings and since Barr said it got redirected it must have hit Charbrier’s back and then redirected just enough to go through under Berzin’s armpit on the blocker side. If that’s the case then I would conclude Berzin played good. Good meaning he stopped the ones he should have and the others were of the “not his fault” variety. Try watching that on 0.25x speed and see what you think. It’s hard to tell even on that slow speed.
Click to expand...

Yeah, and I didn't see that.

Berzins just took a couple of seconds off, IMO. Even if it brushed Chabrier, it was still a mile out when it reached the net. A softie all day long, but whatever...

I agree that this first half of the season was pretty great, though.
 
Drew S. said:
I mean he’s no idiot. I think his quote that the record is a lot better than the play is bang on. The second half schedule is much tougher and Maine needs to commit to being a lot better defensively.
Click to expand...

Coach sound bite, he sure isn't going to say how great they have been playing with a 3 week lay off coming up. They lost 2 games to the best team in the east, the Stats show them dominating the teams they have played. HE schedule coming up and its always hard. At providence will be tough for sure. UNH at home, same.
 
blackbears9 said:
Maine's SOS is 7th for the first semester.
Click to expand...

Their first half schedule was brutal and is going to look even tougher if BU ever decides to play hockey. The second half has some doozies (DU, UML, PC) and conference play is always tough, but it hasn't been all cupcakes so far.
 
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