NorthMike
Well-known member
Didnt see it either nor noticed if he wasnt back in, was wondering same based on Larrys question to Barr.
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University of Maine 2024–2025: Freel-ing good
- Thread starter UMO Better Blues
- Start date
Didnt see it either nor noticed if he wasnt back in, was wondering same based on Larrys question to Barr.
I agree. I watched it and I didn't think Maine got out worked. Uconn has speed and they attack just like Maine. I believe I heard that the Huskies have 7 short handed goals, the most in college hockey. They also shut down Maine's PP. I do think that the Huskies have a bit more talent in Shandoar and Muldowney. Muldowney with the hat trick was impressive. Tonight's outcome could just as easily go the other way.
Sparkee
Blackbear
Well that is what the coach and captain said. I think it was lack of effort on the defensive side to be honest. For example, that power play goal, Nadeau could see the guy establishing position and can see the entire play unfold in front of him. Needs one stride to cover the guy in the slot. Instead just watches while the other three penalty killers has a guy they need to cover. If they are in a tight box for a penalty kill the philosophy is control the middle of the box and make them take shots from outside the box. How is it that Nadeau can’t push off one stride and cover that guy directly in the middle of the box? You can call that mental miscue, or sloppy, or lazy. But that can’t happen if your penalty kill is a tight box. It is the entire premise of that type of penalty kill. Unreal. It was lack of effort if you ask me. The penalty at the end where he hits the guy from behind wasn’t smart and mentally in it. So when they are talking about getting outwork, mental miscues, certain guys not showing up to me Nadeau is one of them. He seems to not be into it as much lately. He’s our top skilled forward and if he’s not into it the team is let down. Nadeau needs to adjust his effort level and be an example. He’s capable of a lot more effort and smarter hockey. I really like him as a player, but when Coach and Captain says they need certain guys to step up they likely have at least Nadeau in mind. He’s definitely capable of a lot more. I hope to see him give 100 percent tonight, the team could use it. Leaders lead by example.
grooverider
Your Team Sucks
I'm not saying Uconn isn't a good team but they are.not on the same level as Denver. With that said Maines effort against Denver on both nights was on another level watching the game last night. They need to crash the net more. Even the Alfond arena seemed off all night. One of those games over the course of the season. From my seats I thought they got outplayed and lost all of the small battles and didn't have any puck luck. I do expect them to come out rocking tonight. Maine wins tonight.
I watched last night's game, in my opinion Maine didn't play "poorly", per se, but they certainly didn't play well either. It had kind of a weird vibe to the game from the start, and like I posted yesterday this was certainly not a weekend where they could just cruise to points, even at home. I think at this point I'm closer to Fishman's opinion; these games happen occasionally, even to a great team and even at home. You can't win them all. I would say though, that it makes tonight a big game; not sure I would call it a "must win" in the traditional sense, but another L tonight would be really disappointing and I'd be a bit more concerned.
umhockey91
Well-known member
J. Nadeau without B. Nadeau is a bust. I don't think he will be back next season. The team is really missing Breen...especially from a leadership and hardworking perspective.
tylerzx2002
Well-known member
From a chemistry standpoint it certainly looks like he's missing his brother. Still a super talented player but hard to match that on-ice magic without a player you've been with your entire life. It's a good learning experience for him if he's up for the challenge.
We'll know pretty quick tonight if they have it or not but they really need to buck this alarming trend of playing from behind (5 of their last 6 games). Empty the tank with a bye week next week and get the split.
Maine has 11 goals in 6 games coming out of the break (plus 1 empty netter). I think a similar trend is repeating itself from last year that when the schedule tightens up and teams get better, they are shutting Maine down and clogging the neutral zone and net front.
I thought overcoming this was Maine’s biggest weakness last year and why they struggled down the stretch. It appeared that had resolved itself in the first half but it’s rearing its ugly head here. Granted, Maine has played 3 excellent teams the last 3 weeks.
I could tell from puck drop Maine was not sharp and it didn’t change much through the night. UConn is good and came ready to play and smothered Maine the entire 200 feet. That game and the Bentley game were the only 2 games this year where I thought Maine wasn’t sharp. The second BC game wasn’t great but not as bad as the other two.
I do think Maine is deeper this year but they have a couple of guys they have to get going if they want to compete legitimately for championships. Nadeau and Mitton have the most offensive talent on the team outside of Scott but they have only 8 goals between them. Mitton has a great release like Brad so I would put him with Josh on his off wing which *should* get him more open looks. I would go..
Freel, Scott, Russell,
Makar, Renwick, Niemo
Mitton, Fowler, Nadeau
Scholle, Komorav, Califiore/Pichette
I would not touch the d pairs save injury. If Russel is out hurt I would slide Scholle up with 26 and 22. Maine is in great shape. The program is in great shape and hands. We have our program back and Ben has done a hell of a job. There is a ton of character in that room and I have a ton of faith in them down the stretch. Hockey East is top to bottom as strong as ever and every game is a dog fight.
I thought overcoming this was Maine’s biggest weakness last year and why they struggled down the stretch. It appeared that had resolved itself in the first half but it’s rearing its ugly head here. Granted, Maine has played 3 excellent teams the last 3 weeks.
I could tell from puck drop Maine was not sharp and it didn’t change much through the night. UConn is good and came ready to play and smothered Maine the entire 200 feet. That game and the Bentley game were the only 2 games this year where I thought Maine wasn’t sharp. The second BC game wasn’t great but not as bad as the other two.
I do think Maine is deeper this year but they have a couple of guys they have to get going if they want to compete legitimately for championships. Nadeau and Mitton have the most offensive talent on the team outside of Scott but they have only 8 goals between them. Mitton has a great release like Brad so I would put him with Josh on his off wing which *should* get him more open looks. I would go..
Freel, Scott, Russell,
Makar, Renwick, Niemo
Mitton, Fowler, Nadeau
Scholle, Komorav, Califiore/Pichette
I would not touch the d pairs save injury. If Russel is out hurt I would slide Scholle up with 26 and 22. Maine is in great shape. The program is in great shape and hands. We have our program back and Ben has done a hell of a job. There is a ton of character in that room and I have a ton of faith in them down the stretch. Hockey East is top to bottom as strong as ever and every game is a dog fight.
I think also the way Maine is constructed they are a grind it out team on offense. Get the puck in and go to work. The Nadeaus scored so many goals last year in transition and open ice. Josh and Brad just did that so freaking well and no one else plays that way. It’s not a bad thing. Just reality. But have to get him going and that’s on the coaching staff to figure out.
I agree with the entire post, but this part in particular is spot on, I thought the same last night.
NorthMike
Well-known member
Im at about the same place. To me the thing is with Josh it seems like he hasnt had interest in plating for most of the season, like he cant wait for it to be over so he can move on to whatever plan he has. Too bad because he is a good player but mentally checked out.
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grooverider
Your Team Sucks
If you guys want to call a spade a spade about players last night- Holt was absolutely awful last night. Him and Durasevic were the worst two pairs on the ice. Every player has its ups and downs. Nadeau is trying. He makes the little plays I've noticed so calling him a bust without his brother is a little unfair. Look at the helmet. He has one of the most Maine logos on his for the little plays that don't always get recognized.
tylerzx2002
Well-known member
Would love to see Pichette get a longer look in the lineup.
The sample isn't large but his under-the-hood numbers look really good, especially compared against Calafiore and Niemo who have been below replacement level players.
Sparkee
Blackbear
Yes he has, which is why play like last night is frustrating. If you have espn+ go to about 18:40 of the second period where the puck goes up out of our zone on an indirect pass, which leads to Muldowny’s second goal. Josh basically is not trying to get ahead of the puck he just lazily coasts despite watching Djuresevic get turned and now has to chase down Muldowny from behind. Josh never breaks a sweat on that play and even tries to hook on to Djuresevic with his stick to get a tow down the ice. So if he was successful he would have slowed down the only guy that could have gotten back to cover the other forward in on the rush. That’s 3 boneheaded plays leading to two goals and a power play. I don’t get on guys when it isn’t warranted, I believe. That effort from Nadeau last night was not good at all.
grooverider
Your Team Sucks
Has anyone found Makar too? Dude has been on a milk crate for a few weeks
He's had some bone headed plays recently too, like canceling out a Maine PP last night at a key moment by chopping a guy's stick in the air, almost getting the gate for boarding at Lowell, and taking the penalty that set up the 5on3 for DU that led to them scoring.
Sparkee
Blackbear
They released some tickets in the balcony for tonight’s game if anyone or anyone you know wants to go: https://um-tickets.evenue.net/cgi-b...taAccId=979&locale=en_US&siteId=ev_maine-arts
Are the kids back from break? They usually don’t sell those if the students are back. I wouldn’t sit up there full time, but once in a while it is fun because of the lively crowd up there.
Are the kids back from break? They usually don’t sell those if the students are back. I wouldn’t sit up there full time, but once in a while it is fun because of the lively crowd up there.
NorthMike
Well-known member
Your right about josh he does alot of little things well, not saying he is a bust, he is a good hockey player, but he is missing something big with his game, I feel like he will be gone after this year and is just biding his time. Just does not seem mentally there and fully committed.
Yeah others need to step it up too, its just josh showed so much last yeat just expect alot of him, maybe too much.
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blackbears9
New member
I completely disagree with this. Josh could've gone pro over the summer, most people here thought he was gone for sure and all he's done this year is hurt his stock as a pro. He hasn't been scoring at his normal pace and something is clearly off, but his effort is there almost every game. Barr specifically mentioned this during a recent interview that while he's not showing up in the box score he's among the team leaders in the effort stats that they track as a team. Saying he's checked out or a bust is a lazy take IMO.
Classes resume on Monday.