Wyatt Bongiovanni scored the eventual game winning goal for Quinnipiac |
A night after a sloppy effort resulted in a 4-2 loss for Quinnipiac, the effort Saturday, while not perfect was much better in terms of how this team needs to play each game. It was good to get a split of the weekend especially after how the team played on Friday night and being 3-1 is much better than being 2-2 at this point. Next up is a lone game against Vermont next Sunday in Hamden. Here are my thoughts and observations from the win Saturday night.
- Quinnipiac found itself trailing in the first period for the third straight game but they responded with a flurry of goals. Thirty-eight seconds after Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup opened the scoring for Maine, Michael Lombardi scored the first of three goals in a three plus minute time span. A pair of Ethan's scored the next two goals with freshman Ethan Leyh scoring the second goal followed by sophomore Ethan de Jong. It was a much needed response but the Bobcats need to avoid these slow starts.
- It was a good game for the Bobcats top line of Tufto, Bongiovanni and de Jong who combined for five points on the night. Quinnipiac is going to need that line to consistently get production for this team to win games and when they have good nights it usually results in a win for the Bobcats.
- As we touched on yesterday Alex Whelan missed the weekend series but is going to miss more than just this weekend per a source. The senior assistant captain got hurt and is expected to miss a month with the injury. Its a big loss as Whelan does a ton for this team on and off the ice and is a one of the team leaders. His brings a ton of effort each time he's on the ice and that type of play will be missed.
- What was Red Gendron thinking tonight not starting Jeremy Swayman who was spectacular last night and was the best player on the ice? I know that Matthew Thiessen is an NHL draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks but this is a tough spot for him going against an NCAA tournament team on the road for his first start. Why not start him next weekend against a weaker opponent in the University of Vermont. This game more likely than not would have been different had Gendron started Swayman.
- I'm glad that the Bobcats won't have to face Eduards Tralmaks anymore this season. The Rīga, Latvia native torched Quinnipiac all weekend for five points on three goals and two assists and now has nine points in five games for the Black Bears. He was relentless on the ice and consistently made plays whenever he was out there. He could have a huge year for Maine.
- Petruzzelli made some huge saves out of his 22 on the night but was more bigger than the stretch toe save late in the third period to preserve a one goal lead and gave the team a much needed win. He made 13 saves in the final period and also stood tall when Maine had a five minute major penalty when the Black Bears only scored when they had a five on three advantage. While he does have three wins this season, his goals against average is 2.80 and his save percentage is poor at .890%. I wonder if Rand Pecknold may take a look at Evan Fear next week against Vermont.
- While I like Ethan Leyh's scoring ability I hated the dumb interference penalty he took with three seconds left in the period with the Bobcats on the power play. In that situation just avoid any contact away from the play with so little time left. It was an unnecessary penalty and something that can't happen. I will chalk it up to being a freshman but that is something that you need to be aware of in that situation. Glad it did not cost Quinnipiac because it could have.
- I liked that Rand went back to playing seven defensemen tonight even tough he was short a forward with the game misconduct penalty to Desi Burgart for a high cross check. With the youth and inexperience on the blue line I think having that extra defensemen will help more in the long run as they may be able to mix and match players in situations and find the right defensive combinations to use.
- On tap is a single game with Vermont next weekend before the Bobcats travel west for a pair against Arizona State in a rematch of the NCAA first round. After that Quinnipiac will open ECAC play when they travel to Dartmouth and Harvard.
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