Re: Vermont at Boston College Nov. 14th & 15th
I will ask UVM fans a question:
What are the keys for your team this weekend?
Elaborating further.
1. UVM needs to stay out of the penalty box. They have been taking way too many penalties and their PK has been poor all year EXCEPT the one prior game against BC.
2. UVM needs to get their powerplay going. It's been awful all year thus far.
3. Having Milo back is HUGE for the Cats. He scored half their goals last weekend coming off over a month off skates with an injury. Having him back adds significantly to their depth and offensive capability.
4. Forward lines were completely changed last weekend and it created much better depth (see point 3 also) and consistency across the forward lines. We should see the same line combinations again.
5. Leonard, a Junior, played his first two games of his career last weekend. He reminded us fans of Peter Lenes in terms of energy and effort (and size). Nice to see the kid persevere through two years of practice with no game time and then hit the ice and be a difference maker. I suspect he earned another start on Saturday.
6. McCarthy had a great game Sunday centering the 4th line. Showing flashes of being an impact freshman in his fourth game (missed first two games to injury). He should be motivated to make a difference in the house that did not want him this year.
7. Roloff and Vock have been relatively quiet this year although Roloff has been noticeable many games on the ice. Too much PK may be wearing them out. Look for them to get it going soon - hopefully Saturday.
8. Stacey missed a game to illness at Maine and despite scoring a goal last weekend did not seem to have the impact he had in the first three games of the season. Look for him to get it going also.
9. Probably the biggest key is the defense. It's an experienced D with only one freshman and one soph skating regularly (the freshman has played 3 games now I think). They have yet to play a collective decent road game as a unit. They finally got their game together on Sunday and gave up no more than a handful of quality chances. Interestingly, that was with a 5 man rotation after their one senior left the game with an injury about 4 minutes into the game.
10. Cullity is hurt, day to day. The coaching staff considers him a key leader. A few of us fans don't have any clue what goes on interpersonally but think that from an on ice product standpoint that him not playing might be addition by subtractions because he has problems staying out of the box.
11. Our largest player, Dan Lawson, sat both games last weekend. Kind of a shocker to me. I will be very surprised if he's not on the ice this weekend.
Should be a couple of good games. I may shoot down for one.
