Friday, March 06, 2009

Seawolves 5 - Bulldogs 4

I wrote down comments after each period so I'll just go with that ...

After the 1st Period:
I thought UAA was lucky to get out of the 1st period down just one goal. Kevin scored a beauty high on Stalock's glove side (totally invalidating what I said yesterday about a shot high to his glove being a gift save) after a sweet takeaway at the Bulldog blueline. The flow of the game was totally in UMD's favor. Only briefly did UAA look like they weren't chasing the Bulldogs around the ice. My stated hopes that 4-on-4 play might be important for UAA also turned out badly as 4-on-4 UMD tied the game. The Seawolves really need to get their feet under them or they could get run outta the building. There was zero real pressure offensively by the Seawolves other than a lucky break that lead to a couple of shorthanded chances. They could easily be 3-0 behind.

After the 2nd Period:
Wow is my first impression for the 2nd period. Much of it was pretty similar to the 1st and I wouldn't have been surprised if 3-1 had been the score at the end of the 2nd. But omg ... the Seawolves were very very opportunistic on their 2nd goal. They hadn't had many chances and when they finally did August Aiken put his 2nd of the season behind Stalock. They'd killed a couple of penalties and though they weren't really chasing the Bulldogs around I didn't think they were looking particularly sharp. After the 2nd goal there was an incredible change in momentum. Clark, Crowder and Lunden came out and absolutely controlled play in the UMD end. They were getting chances and the shift was so long that everyone's legs were dragging. Kevin Clark had a chance to go off but stayed with the puck, getting it in deep. When Portwood and Haddad joined him they managed to get the puck in front of the net and with Stalock scrambling Clarkie tied the game; good choice by him in not changing out. I'm still "wow". UAA outplayed UMD for a total of 3 minutes so far in this game. 3-3 is a good position to be in. I know the Seawolves know how to play with a tight score going into the 3rd. This should be an interesting 3rd period.

Post Game Thoughts:
Still wow ... no please, allow me to correct that .... "WOW". Unreal. Two sweet power play goals from Josh Lunden in the first part of the period did the trick tonight. The Seawolves were outplayed in all three periods. Coming out with the win is really nice. The Seawolves did a good job in their own zone blocking shots and clogging passing lanes even though UMD had a lot of territorial advantage. I think it seemed to be another overall good team effort. Everyone seemed to contribute something positive at one time or another and the few mistakes made were covered by teammates or squandered by UMD. I thought it was a good game overall by both teams.

Credit on the night to the UAA penalty kill. The team may not have played its best 5-on-5 game of the year but they were sharp on special teams. Clark, Crowder and Lunden made a statement tonight about playing together ... whether they wanted to or not. How can they not keep playing together? Nick Haddad was visible tonight often and it always seemed to be with him charging hard into the UMD zone. He and Jade Portwood contributed nicely on Clark's first goal. Most of the pats on the back though should go to everyone who did their job backchecking. And that was everyone in a green sweater tonight.

My B2 was a bit jumpy at times so it was hard to get a sense of some aspects of the play. I must say that fans standing in front of the camera didn't make me a happy camper the last 2 minutes of the game. The referees stayed mostly out of the game. Their radio guys gave Josh Lunden the first star nod but I'd go with Clark. It was his invitation to Stalock to slash him that put UAA on the Power Play for Josh's go ahead goal. Josh Meyers apparently through some sort of hissy fit at the end. Smart money would bet that Kevin had something to do with that as well.

I watched the Gopher game before the UAA game came on. How sweet was it that 3 minutes into the game after the Gophers scored their 1st goal that Doug and Rug were all but proclaiming the game as over only to see MTU eventually build a 4-1 lead? It was very sweet. MTU winning 6-5 in OT. Bonus.

We now know that UAA will be going to DU for the playoffs since North Dakota beat Wisconsin tonight. Tonight's win is potentially a big one for the Seawolves. If they can feed off the energy of this win (combined with last weekends sweep) and get more points tomorrow night they can go on the road in the playoffs with a better chance for a big upset.

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

GREAT GAME SEAWOLVES! kept me on the edge of my seat! I wish I had flown to Duluth to see this game!

Anonymous said...

off-topic, does anyone know if bales is a senior or junior?

Anonymous said...

Clarkie is having a great second half, just what we needed, a never say die by the seawolves is just what we need going in to the playoffs. Great team effort, crowder and lunden came through tonite when we needed them.
One more game than off to eliminate denver.

Fan

Anonymous said...

the Seawolves are off to Denver.

Anonymous said...

We watched via the B2 as well, and our big screen TV has had lines running through it ever since!!

Congrats UAA. Too bad Clark missed that open net for the hat trick!

Anonymous said...

Bales is a junior.

Anonymous said...

Great effort, we continue playing like this...........I can't even say it. That's what playoff hockey is all about. Pre-Season prediction from me: 12-17-5/7-15-5 right now...2nd year in a row I've predicited our playoff team we've faced (CC last year and now Denver) Loved what I saw

Anonymous said...

It's either:

Seawolves Fan

or

Seawolf Fan

Please you're killing me

Anonymous said...

It was great to see clarkie rattle their goalie for four pts., great effort by the whole team.
Have fun tomorrow.
Pressure on minnestoa-duluth.

FAn

puckdangler said...

I'll be there rooting UAA on sat. Fire the puck, and crash the net.

GO SEAWOLVES GO!!!!!

DC said...

I don't know what was going on with B2. This is the first time I've ever seen people standing in front of the camera like that before, and I watch it a lot.

I find it interesting that you thought the Seawolves got outplayed for much of the game, as I disagree. But you don't watch enough UMD hockey to know when tDogs are actually doing something and when they merely appear to be doing something. Sigh.

Anonymous said...

Great win for the guys. It would have been nice to see the game on TV, but Kurt as usual did a super job in calling the game. The guys have to be building confidence which will only help for the playoffs. Get another win tomorrow and then Denver next week. Go Wolves..

Anonymous said...

Great Win!!!!!!!! We haven't scored that many goals since we beat Mercyhurst in the Fairbanks tournament last October 6-4.....nice time to start scoring...let's keep it up.

Ninelives

Anonymous said...

Kurt did a good job but stumbled a couple of times in his excitement over how the game went.
It was great watching the Golden Rodents lose in overtime with the sound off while listening to the UAA game on radio. Wish they'd show John Hill more on TV but Lucia must have a hair gel deal with a Rodent sponsor.
As I used to think about Dallas Steward, I wish Kevin Clark was four inches taller and 30 punds heavier. He would be unstoppable instead of just pesky.

Anonymous said...

"As I used to think about Dallas Steward, I wish Kevin Clark was four inches taller and 30 punds heavier. He would be unstoppable instead of just pesky."

Does Clarky remind you of Steve Cygan? or Dustin Pedroia?

I think that if those players weren't as small as there are they wouldn't be the players they've become

Anonymous said...

Perfect timing for a perfect win! Tonight's "W" will keep the momentum going in the right direction. You guys are unstoppable from this point onward. You have overcome adversity in such a huge way. Now show all the Seawolf haters and non-believers just what this team is made of. We believe in you, as you believe in yourselves. Go Seawolves!!

B2 kept freezing and then going in warp speed the last 3 or 4 minutes. Then, as someone mentioned, UMD fans stood in front of the camera. Hopefully UMD will set the camera up differently for tomorrow's game. Quite frustrating.

Anonymous said...

Also on side note someone has to know the song that is usually played at the Sully before the puck is dropped at the beg. of the game. It's driving me crazy, I've heard played at other arena's and I thought the band was Posion....

Anonymous said...

Puckdangler, be sure to cheer extra loud Saturday night for all of us stuck here in Alaska having to watch it on B2 TV.

Good to know there is at least one fan at the games this wknd. GO SEAWOLVES!!!!

Anonymous said...

Anon 7:51 pm

Bales has another year to play. He transferred to UAA and sat out as a redshirt last season because of NCAA transfer regulations. I think he played 2 seasons for Bowling Green before coming to UAA. So it sounds like although this is his 4th year of school, he has another year of eligibility due to redshirting last year.

Anonymous said...

Oops....meant..... Anon 7:19 pm

Six Pack Jack said...

Damn. Does anyone know exactly what day and time the game vs. DU is next weekend? I'm looking on the web and I can find the brackets but no exact times & days yet.

I just happen to be going to Denver next week; I was planning on leaving Sunday or Monday but maybe I can get the wife to agree to split town early and take the little girl to her first Seawolves game, in hostile territory no less.

Six Pack Jack said...

Nevermind, found it on the DU website. Now I just have to find a way to bribe the wife into accompanying me to a hockey game Saturday night...

Anonymous said...

chocolate, diamonds, roses, finishing the honey-do list, dinner at the Double Musky....all depends what it's worth to you. Good Luck. Hope you get to go. She won't be sorry!!

Jeff said...

I'm going to be in Denver a week after the playoff series. :(

Anonymous said...

To all the seawolves players and coaches great game, this team has the talent to beat denver.
Put minnesota behind you tonite.
Clark showed his nhl speed last nite, no wonder washington invited him to there camp.

Washington Fan

Anonymous said...

Clark is only 21, another good year in the wcha with a strong team and clarkie will get some pro looks. All the boys played well last nite, hugh win for their confidence. The coach's three year plan is showing dividends.
Let's be believers in this team, they have the talent, the heart and now the confidence to win their first playoff series.

Canadian Fan Club

Anonymous said...

Donald: Good obervation about Clark not "changing out." (And an interesting Americanism.) I thought UMD was often minor league in its line changes. -30-

Anonymous said...

Seawolvesfan the song is Sirius by the Alan Parsons Project.

Ninelives

DC said...

Dear Washington Fan,

"Minnesota" hopes to put "Alaska" behind them tonight, instead.

-RWD

Donald Dunlop said...

The Seawolves are going to upset DU in two straight games ... then they'll win the play-in game against the Gophers ... then they'll beat Wisconsin and UND for a trip to the NCAA's where they beat Northeastern and then Michigan for a trip to the Frozen Four.

Anonymous said...

Can I jump back on the Bandwagon?

Anonymous said...

Let's just win tonite's game, than we can plan our next win.
All the best to the team.
One game at a time, 1 goal at a time.

Good luck

Seawolve Fan

Anonymous said...

Good luck tonight, Seawolves! Play your game and you will succeed. Wish I could be there to savor the sweep.

Jeff said...

Did anybody else see that softy of a goal Kangas allowed last night? The look on his face was priceless. I hope tech pulls off more magic tonight :)

Anonymous said...

1 game at a time, but maybe going to the ncaa would prove to dipshit cobb we need that rink in the new sports arena.

Anonymous said...

This team was only a couple of games away from a playoff spot. (home ice) With lots of juniors returning next year and strong goaltending the seawolves will be a tough team to play. Let them enjoy this year and build for next year.

Fan
When they are winning, fans will support them and fill the sully, than we can focus on a new college rink.

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