The Official Thread of the Mercyhurst Lakers

[camman15]

Also Camman, since you mentioned how quick MSU looked, wouldn't the number of whistles actually have worked to Mercyhursts advantage, slowing MSU down a bit?


Didn't say that,.....go back and read my post,.....didn't say anything about overall MSU team speed,.....the stoppages of play were due to too many "soft" penalties being called, and it hurt not only the aggressive style Mercyhurst plays from their defensive blue line right down to the opponent's goal line, but also their uncanny effectiveness of creating great scoring chances playing 5v5 hockey,.....

[ontherocks]

But you did mention that MSU had some quick players and how impressed you were with the quickness of the game. I was just wondering if the whistles wouldn't have favored Mercyhurst in that scenerio. That's all.

It sounds from the score that the Lakers' "uncanny effectiveness" at creating great scoring chances 5v5 was either not so uncanny or not so effective.

[dave1381]

It sounds from the score that the Lakers' "uncanny effectiveness" at creating great scoring chances 5v5 was either not so uncanny or not so effective.
canman is saying that Mercyhurst is better fit for a game with more time spent at 5-on-5 then one with 11 penalties on each side, so they didn't have enough time to demonstrate their uncanny effectiveness. I tend to agree with that analysis.

On the other hand, no one should be so shocked that this game was a penalty-fest. MSU has led the nation in penalty minutes for two years in a row, and we all know refs will have a tendency to match penalties.

[ARM]

... we all know refs will have a tendency to match penalties.I did see a game yesterday where the ref called 7 penalties on one team and one on the other. Apparently, she was from the "help the underdog" school of thought.

[MICZamboni]

I was at the game today. Sort of ho-hum for me. I dont know if it was the big rink or the play but I hope the excitement picks up the rest of the season. Also, I thought the ice looked like crap at the civic center, especially between the 1st and 2nd period. They had two zamboni's running and it looked like the drivers were learning the pattern that day.
I was hoping to see Drennen in goal today although I can understand Sisti wanting to keep Hosier in there after her first collegiate lose. Kind of like get back on the horse. Congrats to the Lakers and cant wait to see them in action against Minnesota in a couple of weeks.

[LakersFan]

MIC,

When are you changing your handle to ECCZamboni?

I thought the Lakers plated average hockey this weekend. They are skating well, playing decent defense, and passing well. But they (still) can't put the puck in the net and the zip wasn't there. Maybe the pre-season ranking went to their heads. Maybe not having home ice to practice on dragged them down. MSU played OK. They had trouble on their powerplay, as did Mercyhurst, and they let Mercyhurst carry the puck into the offensive zone with way too much ease. But they took advantage of their scoring chances, while Mercyhurst did not, which is why they split. Typical first weekend of the season, IMO.

Mercyhurst has a lot to do before hosting Minnesota and St. Lawrence. They are not going to score a ton of goals, so they can't afford the mistakes that allow good scroing chances. Hopefully the trip to Clarkson will jell this team together.

[camman15]

MIC,

When are you changing your handle to ECCZamboni?

I thought the Lakers plated average hockey this weekend. They are skating well, playing decent defense, and passing well. But they (still) can't put the puck in the net and the zip wasn't there. Maybe the pre-season ranking went to their heads. Maybe not having home ice to practice on dragged them down. MSU played OK. They had trouble on their powerplay, as did Mercyhurst, and they let Mercyhurst carry the puck into the offensive zone with way too much ease. But they took advantage of their scoring chances, while Mercyhurst did not, which is why they split. Typical first weekend of the season, IMO.


The play of Mercyhurst and Minnesota-Mankato was a little bit more than average, IMO,.....The play of the Lakers was much like that of all teams on opening weekend; playing somewhat nervous and not completely solid in all areas of team play,.....the reality is that it'll take time for all teams to get pumping on all cylinders in all aspects of their game, and the teams with talent that "get rollin'" sooner than later, will most likely be NCAA tournament bound,.....two more points; 1) Mike Sisti and staff do not take anything for granted, nor do the players, and nobody involved in Laker hockey thinks rankings will win games,.....and 2) the loss on friday nite had nothing to do with where they played the game, infact, some of the players liked the venue as did many of the fans watching,.....the Lakers will be fine; they will score goals and they will cash on a higher percentage of scoring chances as they become more "gamed" with experience,.....

[MICZamboni]

MIC,

When are you changing your handle to ECCZamboni?



Just for Otter games and any women's games at the Civic Center. Other than that, I am true to Mercyhurst.

Anyway, is it just me or was Samantha Shirley almost non-existant in the Minnesota series. Mercyhurst is going to need her to step up this year to be a national contender starting with this weekend.

Good luck to the Lakers.

[LakersFan]

I think the offense, in terms of generating quality shots once established in the offensive zone, was lacking. Hurst has dangerous players that can cause a turnover and get a breakway or a 1 on 1 and score a goal, but they had little success scoring goals against the Gophers after gaining control of the puck in their end.

I think all the returning players, espically the seniors, need to show some urgency and be prepared to play 120 minutes of hockey this weekend. The rest of their schedule features only one or two teams that will be playing for a NCAA spot. They really need to get wins over teams with over .500 records to make the tourney. Right now they are 1-3. These games against St. Lawrence are huge.

[dave1381]

The rest of their schedule features only one or two teams that will be playing for a NCAA spot.
I think SLU, probably at least three of [UConn, Providence, UNH, BC] and probably two of four of [Clarkson, Colgate, Princeton, Yale] will end up with > .500 RPI. The way I see this shaping up, the typical three from the WCHA, UNH, and SLU will get in fairly comfortably. With the exception of Harvard/Dartmouth/OSU they're playing most of the teams that could be on the bubble with them. Obviously a win over SLU helps a lot, but I don't think it's essential. None of those other bubble teams are going to have a pretty looking record against the > .500 RPI teams either, and Mercyhurst just happens to playing its toughest ones right out of the gate so it'll look particularly bad right now.

[camman15]

I think all the returning players, espically the seniors, need to show some urgency and be prepared to play 120 minutes of hockey this weekend. The rest of their schedule features only one or two teams that will be playing for a NCAA spot. They really need to get wins over teams with over .500 records to make the tourney. Right now they are 1-3. These games against St. Lawrence are huge.


Losing 2 games to SLU will be damaging, IF that happens, but not fatal,.....it's really too early to figure a team in or out of the NCAA picture and when the smoke settles, Mercyhurst will be one of the 8 teams going to the big dance,.....this team will get better as the season progresses and they will win enough key games to find themselves in the top 8,.....

[MICZamboni]

I actually heard this from a source outside the states that Mercyhurst is going international next year with a verbal commitment. Because the signing news hasn't come out of the college I can't confirm it but supposedly this player has/or will have national experience with her country in Europe. I am not writing to tease anyone as I was accused of last year. Just relaying what I have heard and this is all I know. I dont even know the young lady's name. I wish these committments would make our Erie paper but never do until its common knowledge.

[noteethlurch44]

I actually heard this from a source outside the states that Mercyhurst is going international next year with a verbal commitment. Because the signing news hasn't come out of the college I can't confirm it but supposedly this player has/or will have national experience with her country in Europe. I am not writing to tease anyone as I was accused of last year. Just relaying what I have heard and this is all I know. I dont even know the young lady's name. I wish these committments would make our Erie paper but never do until its common knowledge.

Is it a Goalie or skater?

[MICZamboni]

Is it a Goalie or skater?


Forward

[SLUsaints]

Goodluck tonight, I wish this game was at home so I could see it, should be a good one. A split here would not surprise me by any means. If you go to either of the games this weekend and wouldn't mind posting a bit about them I'd love to hear more than I can get in a recap.

[MICZamboni]

After 1 period, no score. SOG 10-10. Both teams spent the whole period either on the power play or killing a penalty.

[MICZamboni]

After 2 periods St. Lawrence leads the Lakers 2-1. Mercyhurst, IMO, outplayed ST. L. after St. Lawerence scores on a power play to go up 1-0. Almost seemed like a wake up call. Pendleton scores on a 5 on 3 power play to cut the lead to 2-1 near the end of the period. Mercyhurst will have a few seconds left on a power play to start the 3rd. Mercyhurst outshoots St. L. 15-9 I think.

[MICZamboni]

At 12:49 Shirley puts away a rebound by Chounard to tie it up. Mercyhurst totally outplaying St. Lawerence in the third.

[MICZamboni]

Going to overtime. The Saints will be on a power play for 1:33 to start OT. The Saints put on some pressure at the end of regulation but couldn't score.

[MICZamboni]

St. Lawerence scores :55 in OT on the PP. Too bad because Mercyhurst was the better team today.