- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 88,239
- Reaction Score
- 330,446
Keep the faith, host and win 1st round HE playoff series, the opponent doesn’t matter.Anyone but Merrimack in the first round. Snake Bitten.
I see, 5th place team gets first round bye.
NU has a nice finish to tune up for HE tourney with 2 vs UNH and 2 vs UVMAs odd as it sounds, if I were in the bottom 6-11, I'd want to finish in the 8/9 slot since the winner of that series very likely will play #1 seed BC who (if they remain there) might be the worst regular season champion in the history of the sport. BC has not won an out of conference game since November 13, 2016! They are very beatable, whereas drawing @ NU or PC in the QFs is almost a definite loss.
And BC has 3 with Maine and one with UMass, so it's possible they make it up. But three points is tough to make up in four games without one team sliding completely into the tank.NU has a nice finish to tune up for HE tourney with 2 vs UNH and 2 vs UVM
I think UMass is going to cause some issues for teams the last few weeks.....there is even a outside chance that they can catch UConnAnd BC has 3 with Maine and one with UMass, so it's possible they make it up. But three points is tough to make up in four games without one team sliding completely into the tank.
Carvel is a good hire and will get UMass out of its doormat status. I don't know if Maine has legitimate staying power where they are, Gendron is unproven and they have recruiting hindrances. Similar argument for UNH, though their facilities are better. Unknown how Souza will do up there, but I don't foresee them returning to regular top-1o team any time soon. Merrimack is Merrimack, they'll never consistently be good, they rack up some extra wins because their home rink is so absurdly dumb and hard to play in due to its size. Dennehy is good enough and recruits well enough that they won't return to their ultra-doormat status of the 2000s. The big differentiator in the league over the last ~5-6 seasons has been PC and UML replacing UNH and Maine as league heavyweights. As long as Norm and Nate are there, both will continue to be strong year in and year out. BU and BC will be fine. UVM, as long as they have Sneddon will make comically bad decisions but, like UMass and MC, win enough games to not be in the bottom 10 of the country. Madigan is starting to find his groove at NU, though it remains to be seen whether they'll have staying power or if he just was able to get in a bunch of exceptional forwards. UConn - unclear. A lot depends on where the facility arrangement goes, as XL undoubtedly is a recruiting obstacle. Cav is good coach, though hasn't proven himself to be able to consistently punch above his weight class just yet.@brasssbonanzaa what are your thoughts going forward about programs and their futures? UMass looks to be finally headed in the right direction and age drown seems to have Maine competitive again while UNH with Souza in place to recruit as HC in waiting looks to be in a free fall and Merrimack can’t seem to get out of their own way.
Carvel is a good hire and will get UMass out of its doormat status. I don't know if Maine has legitimate staying power where they are, Gendron is unproven and they have recruiting hindrances. Similar argument for UNH, though their facilities are better. Unknown how Souza will do up there, but I don't foresee them returning to regular top-1o team any time soon. Merrimack is Merrimack, they'll never consistently be good, they rack up some extra wins because their home rink is so absurdly dumb and hard to play in due to its size. Dennehy is good enough and recruits well enough that they won't return to their ultra-doormat status of the 2000s. The big differentiator in the league over the last ~5-6 seasons has been PC and UML replacing UNH and Maine as league heavyweights. As long as Norm and Nate are there, both will continue to be strong year in and year out. BU and BC will be fine. UVM, as long as they have Sneddon will make comically bad decisions but, like UMass and MC, win enough games to not be in the bottom 10 of the country. Madigan is starting to find his groove at NU, though it remains to be seen whether they'll have staying power or if he just was able to get in a bunch of exceptional forwards. UConn - unclear. A lot depends on where the facility arrangement goes, as XL undoubtedly is a recruiting obstacle. Cav is good coach, though hasn't proven himself to be able to consistently punch above his weight class just yet.
The big change I foresee is the league moving toward an 8-team conference tournament with the bottom 3 eliminated beforehand. That would put much more pressure on the likes of UVM, MC, UMass, UConn, UNH, and Maine to build their programs up to avoid falling into that pit.
Big game tomorrow: 2/14
Maine @ UNH - 7pm
game will be on ESPN3
Maine wins 4-3 in OT..they now have 23 pts and are tied for 4th with B U...Maine has 3 games left vs BC (1 at home, 2 in Boston)After 1. UNH up 2-1
Tied for fourth, but virtually everyone else has a game in hand on them, except UConn and PC.Maine wins 4-3 in OT..they now have 23 pts and are tied for 4th with B U...Maine has 3 games left vs BC (1 at home, 2 in Boston)
Not buying finishing 5th, and road games in the 2nd round, I want another celebration like Friday night for taking a 1st round seriesI get not having home ice would suck, but I’d take 5th place all day. As it is still a bye into a round they’ve never qualified for.