Final: Merrimack 4, Huskies 2
The Huskies were defeated for the second night in a row, losing 4-2 to Merrimack at Lawler Arena. The Huskies jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first but weren’t able to do much after that. It was a disappointing weekend for them and one that has erased almost all of the optimism surrounding the team early on. Game story coming later tonight or tomorrow morning.
The Facts
- Vinny Saponari and Mike McMurtry had the goals for the Huskies.
- Colton Saucerman, McMurtry, Robbie Vrolyk and Kevin Roy all had assists.
- Chris Rawlings had 29 saves and allowed 3 goals.
- Shots were 33-26 Merrimack.
- The Huskies were 1-2 on the power play. Merrimack was 0-6.
Lineup
Roy-Vermeersch-Karlsson
Vrolyk-McMurtry-Saponari
Reid-Darcy-Belonger
Ferriero-Pimm-Manno
Manson-Darou
Ellement-Cornell
Saucerman-Lauwers
Rawlings
Quick Notes
- The special teams looked good for once. Northeastern was getting called for everything, but they were able to kill all 6 Merrimack chances. On the other hand, Michael McMurtry gave the Huskies their second Power Play goal in as many nights, despite them only getting 2 power plays.
- The goal was McMutry’s first and it also marked his first career multi-point night.
- Vinny Saponari finally found the back of the net.
- Yet again, the Huskies got a quick start and a quick lead. But their inability to add to that lead ultimately cost them.
- Rawlings looked like his usual self in his return to the lineup. He had some good saves, but the goals could be questioned. On the first one, he dropped into the butterfly making the initial save, but somehow the rebound was slipped under him. Defensive errors did him no favors on the second and third goals.
- Another line shakeup that has yielded no progress. The offense needs to step up or this weekend will become the norm for this team.
- The line of Braden Pimm, Joe Manno, and Cody Ferriero were effectively benched for the first period for the penalties they picked up on Friday.
HHN’s Three Stars
1. Michael McMurtry
2. Drew Ellement
3. Dustin Darou
Up Next: A much needed weekend against non-conference opponent Alabama-Hunstville
It says a lot about a team when it cannot close games. It reflects mostly on the coaching staff for not having instilled a killer instinct on the players. Instead, let’s ground any truculent style of play that can make the difference in games where opposing players might get to comfortable in our rink.
I smell rats! Ratigan and friends behind the bench continue to play musical chairs and continue to send the wrong message to their players. I think it has become mind games with this coaching staff. It’s evident that this team lacks chemistry. There is no reason why Roy and other gifted players cannot light it up each and every night. The only factor is the coaching. It is time to put them under the microscope and examine their every decision. We may realize that unfair and unjust treatment of certain elements might be the root of the problem.
This staff is trying to be something that it is not. Get back to the basics and forget any complicated schemes. Involve every player as integral part of the solution and don’t target the same players for the shortcomings of the team. Let each one of those players play to their strengths. It’s time that coaches look at themselves in the mirror and start acting less hypocritical towards their players. Only then will these players respond and maybe we can salvage another season that seems to be going by the waste side.
“it is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience.”
Julius Caesar
You can’t blame it all on the coaches. I agree with you on the constant line juggling and that is actually going to be the sunject of our piece for the Huntington News this week, but the older guys gotta start socring, no matter who they are paired with.
Its gut check time, for players and coaches. There is a ton of things to work on and both areas need to improve for this team to be successful.
First you must set the right environment to be successful and this is where these coaches are lacking. This situation is worse than it looks. Something needs to be done and fast. Rats I say!
I look forward to your piece. I hope you speak about the disciplinary action that was taken for Saturday’s game. Pimm, the most consistent player all year has a brain lapse and puts his team in trouble gets sat for a period. Ferriero, that plays Brad Marchand type hockey since he is at NE gets sat for a period. Manno, 2 penalties for 4 minutes in 7 games gets sat for a period and then some. So by extension, Manson with 3 penalties in the same game or Saucerman 5 penalties for 10 minutes should sit out the year? Of course not! Something doesn’t add up.
These guys need to play a certain style to be effective. Castrating these styles only hinder the progression. This is where the coaches lack. Players will do their part knowing that a gun is not pointed at their heads every time play starts to become a little physical.
Pull out Madigan’s stats when he played. He would not have been as effective without that edge.
It is a charade, a smoke screen for something that is fundamentally wrong with this staff.
These players are not deadbeats.
Bottom line, this team has no identity – nothing that says “THIS is who we are.”
At home or on the road – it’s the same tired formula – the one that DOES NOT WORK.
Playing Hockey East vs the big teams (BC BU etc) – hoping that the team takes NO PENALTIES
and that the PP is successful (by the same tired system) when called upon is not the way this game is played
at the highest levels. Intensity is the key to hockey – one that is grossly lacking on this team because of
fear of coaching retribution. You cannot always try trading goals with the big boys – sometimes you
must impose your own style – a game plan – that is not written in the ABCs of minor hockey coaching.
The message sent to a group of players on Saturday nite, smacks of a charade and the players will see through this.
Manno, who can play a physical game (if allowed to) takes a 2 minute for boarding – trying to lift a team that until then was
sputtering – is something that par for the course in this physical game at most top-level leagues. The fact that your best player
all year in all zones (Pimm) loses his mind momentarily and get a 5 for cross checking – is an unfortunate isolated
incident for him. As far as Ferreiro, this Marchand-esque style he has appropriated for himself (a smallish drafted player) is
nothing new – you take the good with the bad.
Benching them together as a sign of coaching control is ridiculous and now may have set in motion what may be an
very disconcerting trend : regardless of who and where we play – we will attempt to play every team the same way.
Build a team game based on the strengths of the players at your disposal. Square pegs in round holes does not work even in
Kindergarten. FORGE AN IDENTITY ! ….. Madigan.
P.S. Why do some players (ie Manson) get away with taking 3 penalties and somehow continues to play his shifts. This is why we can call it …. A coaching charade.