Danny Hobbs (photo by Karen Winger)

Well, whereas I felt the problem against Quinnipiac was effort, or lack thereof during the beginning of the game, I thought the effort was there last night against Boston College.  Execution was the issue however.  Good idea passes ended up in skates or a foot behind players, shots went just wide, and checks in the corners were missed.  That pretty much summed up the night for the Minutemen.  They certainly had their chances and a strong effort by Paul Dainton helped keep them in the game but in the end they just were not able to capitalize.

I’m worried with how conservative the offense has looked suddenly.  They suddenly look much crisper when they have to abandon the offensive scheme and go all out in order to come from behind.  Why not play that type of hockey from the start?  I thought with BC’s inexperience it would be important to forecheck and do everything possible to test their young defensemen.  Yet at the beginning of the game UMass was trying to generate all their shots from the point instead of cycling it down low and the forecheck was hardly used at all.  UMass simply must use their speed to generate more quality shots.  Of the Minutemen’s 24 shots 13 came from the forwards and 11 from the defense.  This doesn’t even count the many shots taken from the point that never got through.  I like our defensemen’s offensive play but the skilled forwards must be worked into the offense better, otherwise UMass will continue to make inexperienced defenses look spectacular like last night.

Tonight’s game should be interesting as you have two once-hot teams that are now struggling with UMass dropping a couple and Lowell losing their third straight.  Is this a must-win for the teams?  Probably not, it’s only December after all.  But I would hope to see some signs of determination from the team tonight.

Fear The Triangle Player of the Game – Danny Hobbs
Could I have picked James Marcou for his nifty wraparound backhand goal in the first?  Sure.  Could I have picked Paul Dainton for his 29 save effort that kept UMass in the game when they weren’t generating any offense?  Definitely.  But I really liked the game that Hobbs played last night.  He was in the corners digging pucks and played a great two way game in my opinion.  I thought he looked good nearly every shift he was out there.

Δ

Here’s the recap from the official athletics site as well as one from USCHO.

Toot says BC deserved the fate they got in the Republican’s story.

Here’s Matty Vautour’s take in the Gazette.

Δ

As mentioned Lowell lost their third in the row as they were beaten by UNH.  Elsewhere Merrimack continues to play well with their win over Northeastern, Maine beat Providence up north, and UVM and BU tied.

Δ

Coach Cahoon will be speaking at the Garrett Regan Hockey Summit, a combination of high school hockey games, seminars, and an expo featuring local colleges and hockey vendors.  The summit is named in honor of the late Hingham hockey coach.