UConn v. Merrimack Warriors (Friday 11/10/23 @7p @Toscano Family Ice Forum & Saturday 11/11/23 @7p @Lawler Rink. (Both games on ESPN+)

[CTBballfan243]

The penalty killers are certainly playing tough.

 

[mac2351]

Hopefully Cavanaugh can make break out his eyeglasses and read from the stat page about UConn’s shots on goal in his postgame

 

[Scoe]

This is team is just incapable of winning consistently, we just continue to choke games away year after year. Seem to have allergic reactions in close games.

 

[CTBballfan243]

The kids will need to put this game behind them and get ready for the next game. Merrimack is a solid Hockey East team.

 

[mac2351]

Maine beat #1 BC

BTW, Holy Cross has won 1 game in 8 tries since sweeping UConn

 

[The Viking]

Gotta give Merrimac credit. 60 minutes of action and they didn’t get a penalty all night. Incredible discipline. Especially on the road.

 

[The Viking]

To be clear what I meant was the officiating was a god damn joke. Especially in the third.

 

[zls44]

UConn is pretty clearly one of the worst two teams in the league.

 

[Bomber36]

“How to dominate a game and still lose.” A tutorial, brought to you courtesy of the UConn Huskies coaching staff and co-authored by the roster.

 

[mac2351]

If Cavanaugh goes back to splitting goaltenders after this colossal failure of a performance from Sergeev then Cav is just awful at his job and needs to go.

 

[mac2351]

He apologizes to the fans, takes the blame, and says it will not happen again.

Most upset I have ever seen him after a game.

 

[Bomber36]

If Cavanaugh goes back to splitting goaltenders after this colossal failure of a performance from Sergeev then Cav is just awful at his job and needs to go.

Just watch…we all know what will happen. I really hope I’m wrong.

 

[zls44]

I didn’t know Cav had that in him. Appreciate it. Horse has bolted the barn and everything’s on fire, but at least he’s got it in there.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[mac2351]

Cav is talking about Schandor, the captain and who everyone says is the most positive one on the team, and Bradley, one of the better offensive players they have, being selfish and threatening to bench them.

Behind the scenes must be an absolute mess. I cannot believe this what the season has become.

 

[UC15]

Cav is talking about Schandor, the captain and who everyone says is the most positive one on the team, and Bradley, one of the better offensive players they have, being selfish and threatening to bench them.

Behind the scenes must be an absolute mess. I cannot believe this what the season has become.

They should sit tomorrow, if he actually wants to send a real message.

 

[UC15]

Did anybody notice Borek tonight, from the jump the guy was screaming at the officials. Might have swayed some calls his way not sure but you don't ever see Cav doing that. There was a clear trip through the neutral zone on I believe it was Percival Cav just threw his hands up on the bench.. can we show some more frustration and get on the refs.

 

[freescooter]

Awful. Just awful. A goaltender who my grandmother could score on and she has been dead since 1986. No discipline. BTW, the major was really not intentional I thought. The call was because of the injury. Refs overreacted. Only guys who I thought really played hard were Lucas and SalmInen. And Wood, if he was any slower would be playing last Tuesday.

 

[Bomber36]

My comment last night was that you could put a Bud Kinger can in net for our opponents and we’d still only score 3 goals. 35 of 38 shots would hit it.

 

[scotty0330]

It’s not like schedule to date has been that daunting. Top half of conference so far UConn hasn’t played yet. Very discouraging

 

[huskymedic]

 

[The Viking]

Fraser went at him body to body and their knees happened to collide. It wasn’t your typical play where you see a guy streaming past you and you extend your knee - that’s dangerous stuff.
And of course the kid who had to be helped off the ice where you thought season was over went right back on the power play when the game was out of hand.

 

[The Viking]

And if you’re a physical team like UConn usually is, you’re gonna rack up boarding penalties the way the penalty is called now - it is what it is.
A lot of players are getting smart where they will turn their body a certain way last second when they’re along the boards and wait to draw a call.

 

[DblCrossbar]

Gotta give Merrimac credit. 60 minutes of action and they didn’t get a penalty all night. Incredible discipline. Especially on the road.

And even though UConn showed flashes of dominant play and sometimes physical - Bradley in particular was finishing checks, Merrimack is gritty and played within their game to hold on. Jeffries is a UConn killer and had another HT last night - not flashy but always a consistent threat. While Salminen and Richard are dynamic and fun to watch, they are too cute with no look passes and between the legs stuff that doesn’t really pay off other than a brief ooh and aah from the ground.

Haider should be the number one and play the majority of games. Hopefully this night was that turning point. Sergeev gave out rebound after rebound and looked like silly putty in the crease.

I do miss some of the wacky in between period fan challenges. It does appear that won’t be a thing this season. Instead we hear and see interviews with players on the Jumbotron , which is fine, but the irony is that after discussion with Schandor about his honor of being selected captain, he goes out and earns an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the third period in the midst of Fraser’s 5 min major kneeing penalty to give Merrimack a 5 on 3 for a minute. It was almost a 5-2 after Bradley ripped down a Merrimack player and was called for cross checking, but looked more like roughing to me.

Self destruction indeed. The team does get frustrated when playing well and then still finding themselves struggling or behind. The eye test says they are the better and more talented team than Merrimack, but that’s not really what wins games, especially in HE.

 

[DblCrossbar]

It’s not like schedule to date has been that daunting. Top half of conference so far UConn hasn’t played yet. Very discouraging

Oddly that underdog status may actually benefit UConn. Over a number of years, they tend to play to the level of their competition.