defkit's Terrier Takeaway
- I was very impressed with the size of the crowd given that the students are still on break. The alumni band did a fantastic job filling in for the students. Among the notables in attendance: Keith Tkachuk (perhaps scouting Tynan for the Blues?)
- While disappointed with the outcome, I still feel good about the direction that the team is heading in. The Terriers played well in their own end, and with a few exceptions, did a nice job of retrieving pucks and starting the breakout. I did notice that in the third period, UMass turned up the heat on the forecheck and it took a few shifts for BU to adjust to it. Considering that Cole Hutson did not play, I thought McCarthy and Trethewey stepped up their games (Charlie had one gaffe in the third, but Big Mike stopped the resulting breakaway opportunity).
- Offensively, the biggest takeaway on the weekend was the ability of the fourth line (Morello centering Merrill and Roukunakis) to dominate possession. While they were not quite as dominating last night as they were on Friday, they were the line that most consistently kept the puck in the offensive zone.
- I watched Tynan Lawrence closely and I agree with Pandolfo's assessment - he is a very smart player that will adjust quickly. I think even from Friday to Saturday night, there was improvement in his game. He skates well, has a very hard shot, and plays a 200-foot game. While he isn't going to rack up points like Macklin or Eichel, he will certainly be a top scorer on the team and see ice time in all situations (i.e. a coaches dream player).
- The rest of the offense is struggling. The shot totals weren't terrible, but the sustained offensive opportunities were rare. Last night the team must have put 12 shots over the net, including some of their best scoring chances. I do see Boisvert playing more confidently, so I think the points will come for him too. But Ritchie, Murtagh, and Fondrk are not living up to expectations. Murtagh can at least play a physical game, but the other two need to get their game going. I worry more about Ritchie, coming from the more offensive-minded CHL (not to mention playing with McKenna), that he just doesn't have the rest of the game needed in the NCAA and beyond.
- Goalies: give UMass' "Really" Big Mike (Hrabal) credit. Like our own Big Mike, he has had an up and down season, but he was the reason why UMass got the split and why Friday's game was so close. And as for Yegorov, I am sure is kicking himself knowing the only goal he gave up all weekend was with him behind his own net. The loss is not on him at all, since the team should be able to score 2 or 3 goals in front of him. But without that costly giveaway, this game likely would have gone to OT which would have helped in the standings.
- It will be interesting to see who plays on Monday against Harvard. Does JP put in McNelis and sit Fondrk or even Ritchie?
