My first thoughts tonight are that but for a couple of mistakes the Seawolves would have won the game instead of taking a tough loss. The usual answer to such a statement is that good teams find a way to win. I don't think there's any point in harshly reviewing the two mistakes that cost the Seawolves a W. The Pios made a couple of mistakes of their own. They cashed in on one of our few big mistakes and we gifted them a flukey one.
Part of being such a homer though is that you walk away from a game like this tonight and you can't think anything but it was one that got away. I thought it was a good performance by the Seawolves. I thought they got the better of the play throughout most of the night. There was absolutely none of the bullshit predicted "skating around" the Seawolves instead it was clear that UAA was every bit DU's equal in all three zones. Both goaltenders made big saves to keep their respective teams in the game.
Lots of Seawolf forwards had good clean opportunities. Everybody in the rink thought Nick Haddad had scored on his breakaway after coming out of the box but unfortunately he hit the post. Sean Wiles scored a pretty goal and got stoned on a great second save in the third. Defensive play in the zone was mostly good. The PK did well all night long but was definitely called on too often. By my count there were three absolutely ridiculous calls against UAA. But when doesn't that happen? As someone in my section correctly pointed out the "premier" teams in every sport generally get the breaks when otherwise all things would be equal. But that becomes a tired refrain after a while.
The truth though is that a bounce here or there and the outcome would have been different. It really was a game of inches (or more accurately an inch) tonight. Two posts and one brutal clearing attempt were the difference. Overcoming an own goal in an otherwise evenly played game isn't an easy thing to accomplish. Credit to the guys for never giving up. There was another decent team on the ice tonight. But don't you wish just once that an opposition defender would pass it to us once? Just once.
I want to say that Curtis Leinweber shouldn't feel bad. I can imagine that he regrets the clearing attempt that hit Jonny O in the back. I'm sure he's second guessing himself and thinking ... "If I'd just held that puck ..." but it is what it is. The team had enough opportunities throughout the game to erase that unfortunate error. In the end, they couldn't finish often enough. Not for the lack of trying. I wouldn't give DU's goalie too much credit but he did enough ... just barely.
If the Seawolves can win a couple of more battles for loose pucks in their own zone tomorrow night and everything else is the same tomorrow ... then they'll get a much deserved win. Tonight, they didn't deserve to lose. They didn't "earn" a win but they sure didn't deserve to lose. Resolve and effort should be the words in their minds tomorrow. Be just as gritty, play just as hard with just a smidgen more focus and I think we'll all see the victory come.
For those wondering Jade Portwood had a ding on his knee and could have played but sat out just to be safe. Word is he should be back in the lineup tomorrow night.
Here's the boxscore.
42 comments:
Another game that as DD says could have been.How about get it done. A mistake here and there and if it where different we would have won. Not good enough. The power play goes 0 for 6. Gives up ANOTHER short handed goal. Just embarrasing. Losing the special teams battle continues to haunt this club. Yes they deserved to lose because they did not score enough to win.
DU improved to 11-0-2 in its last 13 games at Sully.
Anon:
Allow me to make a couple of assumptions in preface of my response to you.
#1. You're a Seawolves fan and you want to see them win.
#2. You're a regular (or semi-regular) reader here.
With those two things in mind ... I've got a couple of straightforward questions.
Why not start your own blog? I don't have a full set of tools to determine exactly who all commenters are here but there are small indications that make me believe you are the same person that has made similar comments here in the past. I've got no major issue with your opinions though I can't quite figure out why you'd bring them here knowing my long history of unconditional support and optimism regarding the team and program.
There are a couple of options here. Give us all your full assessment by following my suggestion above and starting a blog. Or at minimum give yourself some moniker that you use regularly so I don't have to guess as to the origin of the comments.
If you are a regular reader then you already know that this blog is open to ANY and ALL submissions that meet some basic standards. None of which exceed that of a basic high school English composition class. I don't require anyone doing so to unveil their anonymity even.
Here's how you do it. Make up some fake name at some webmail service. Compose your thoughts about the team and/or program in a manner that meets those basic comp requirements and email it to me.
I promise I will publish it. Most likely I'd provide some response in a subsequent post. But that would only be fair right?
The drive-by completely anonymous negativity in these comments though serves no purpose other than allowing you to vent whatever pent up frustration you have from the team not winning enough for you.
I find that offensive personally. I've followed this team at least as long as you and I think my track record of passionate support speaks for itself. Which leads me to my last question ... are you just trying to troll me to piss me off?
I hope you take the time to answer and in doing so I hope you make up some moniker you can use in an ongoing conversation. Please don't make me have to play Sherlock Holmes anymore. Give me that one minor measure of respect for the nearly 4 years of effort I've put into this fucking thing. OK?
If you can't do at least that ... then go fuck yourself. There ... is that what you wanted?
DG:
Thanks for providing that enlightening information.
Yes we did not win, but you must learn to lose and make mistakes in the process.
Most teams in the wcha only score 3 or 4 goals a game.
For uaa to succeed we need a mininium of 3 goals.
Our goalie played well last nite.
We are giving denver to much credit. One or two errors in our defence zone, and they took adavantage of the opportuinity.
I am not as worried as everyone else, we have played und and denver now. Let's take it to them tonite.
A split agaist denver would be nice for our program.
Michigan tech and minnesota are still loosing, we are probably a 6 or 7th place team now.
We will improve, I like what I saw from the freshman and sophomores last nite.
Let clark, lunden and grant tie up there first line like they did in the first period.
Go seawolves.
Fan
Doyle taking shot at clark, lunden and grant scoring woos.
For the first 4 or 5 games of season lunden played between the two europeon players.
The last four games the unit has played together.
They still put clark on a different power play unit on the power play, during the game he plays with grant and lunden.
Denver throughs out there top line on every power play, also after the first period last nite, denver managed somehow to get there top line away from ours. I thought we had last change. Denvers top two players scored on only 2 shots each.
We out shot denver last nite, but we did not drive the net, or pick up rebounds.
Clark is on pace for 16 or 17 goals this season, lunden and grand maybe 10 each.
yes we need production from our seniors, but play them together.
Clark and lunden will be gone after this year, let's double shift them and make them work.
There was some good signs from the rest of the team last nite, 2 goals scored. That additonal one or two must come from this line.
Fan
For a bunch of lumbering Canucks, I thought the the Seawolves played well. Even the Pioneer's lumbering Canuck, a Bruin's first round pick from the AJHL, played all right. Hard to be a Seawolves fan? Nobody said it was going to be easy. This Seawolves team will be fine. They will get a taste for winning this season, and won't that be sweet? -30-
Was in minnesota went to seawolves practise, watched lunden, grant and clark practise together. Went to game see them play hardly play together. Watched minnesota than denver double shift there top lines and score. Why practise together than in the game split them up, am I the only one who notices this, clark on point again, top point player on power play last year.
Same old, same old.
Clark has played in front of the net when he played junior and scored 30 to 40 goals a season.
MOst of his goals are scored close in, clark has on 3 to 4 penalties this year, since the coach benched him he draws penalites for power play opportuinties, but does not mess it up like he used to.
What is bette a quiet, non scoring forward, or someone who gets in your opponents face.
Play aggressive and make things happen.
Fan
Out of state and missed last nights game. Sounds like it was a great game. Seawolves will play a strong game tonight and a "W" will be recorded in the books. They're going to show DU and the rest of the Seawolf haters just what they are capable of. Go Seawolves!
Tonite is a win for uaa, same story after we beat them, denver tired, rookie goalie. Anchorage news willl print knocked off second best team in country, only 2800 fans last nite. Early in the season, win tonite and the fans will be back 2 weekends from now.
First off, it occurred to me that if we could play the entire game 6 on 5, this group would have a real shot.
The lumbering canucks post is pretty funny. They did skate well, they can't pass or shoot, but they did skate will. Their backcheck was strong... which it had to be since most of their passes were intercepted.
"I wouldn't give DU's goalie too much credit but he did enough ... just barely." That is a pretty incredible, and ridiculous, line DD. He made 22 saves, and more than a few were nice saves.
Making fun of kids hair? Pretty sad. Especially since their is nothing strange about their hair. If you actually went to college you would know that is a pretty standard cut these days. I guess you're disgruntled because they went to DU instead of staying home. But, unfortunately, that's the current state of my beloved Wolves.
Hopefully they prove me wrong tonight...
Donald you make it easy for people to come on here and want to do a little bashing. Your anger management problem, coupled with your narcissism and vulgar rants keeps your blog on the periphery of the college hockey scene as much as you would like to believe otherwise.
Your importance exists only between your own ears, although you do have a loyal following of UAA fans who hang here mostly from the lack of other relevant forums available to cheer on the Seawolves.
You could really have something if you toned down your style, used a more constructive style, and showed respect to visiting fans from other teams. I know you're not wired that way though.
You have a double standard imposed for posters, they follow one set of rules while you follow one that is completely different.
Now for the game: Sounds like UAA put on a pretty good showing, but it is true that the good teams usually find a way to win those one point games. Special teams were all the difference last night. Regroup Saturday and try again.
I don't expect this post to see the light of day but if it does, I expect a barrage of insults to be hurled my way.
Good luck in game 2.
DU and UAA seem to always play close games.And I was holding my breath last night when the Seawolves were plauing with the extra man at the end of the game.
Murray is not Chevy, but he got the win.
Hometown kid makes good!
The game will be a interesting one tonite, we have a chance to knock off the top team in the wcha.
All the pressure is on denver.
Rookie goalie lots of shots.
On Acid, er, On Wolves. (Just kidding. You sound like of person of import, you really do.) So now they can skate? How gracious. A few posts here, a few posts there, a fluke goal here, a 5 on 3 there, and all we'd hear is how tough it is for ranked teams to get up for the we are not worthy Seawolves. Plus, of course, DU is accustomed to playing at altitude--all this clean Pacific air must take its toll on a sod-buster. Hoping for another good tilt tonight. -30-
Somebody is going to have to steal a game for us to win tonight...unfortunately if we dont get better special team play we will be done no matter what. good luck boys..these guys are very beatable.
anon 8:54, I couldn't have said it any better myself. Donald can make some good points here and there, but is a hypocritcal jerk with a potty mouth. I think being kicked off of uscho screams louder than anything he writes on this blog.
Two weeks ago seawolves beat und, now it is denvers turn.
The great thing about hockey is, every game has a different result.
uaa 4 denver 2
Clark 1 goal 1 assist
lunden 2 assists
Grant 1 goal
The other 2 goals will come from freshman.
All the best in your second whca win, than let the boys go out and celebrate.
Fan
This Denver fan understands Donald in a deeper way. I've been reading this blog for years and his old posts on USCHO and I have grown deeply attached to his blog. Sure, I am willing to overlook the profanity, the provoking and the insults because underneath all of that 'schtick' is a really fine hockey mind, a guy who loves his program, a guy who can write well - informing, entertaining and often seriously incisive on a wide variety of topics. I think he also has a huge heart, and often wears it on his sleeve, which gives his blog a penetrating and refreshing honesty in a world of spin, re-purposed content, and cliches.
UAA has no better fan, and his drive for compelling and original hockey writing here is a something other blogs just don't have- I hope he always does what he does. We're all better for reading it.
Yes ... I'm a flawed imperfect human being sharing my sometimes offensive opinions about college hockey on the internet for other's be(a)musement; all of whom I apparently drag here by the scruff of their necks, while demanding that they adhere to a set of standards that I don't hold myself to. If I only I could be a milk-toast demi-journalist then the world would probably be a better place.
Swams;
Thanks. You were posting that while I was writing my smarmy comment above. I must say that your supportive comments kind of ruined it though. LOL.
-30-
If you don't mind, can you shoot me an email at some point?
Swami;
You too please. There's been times in the past where I would have emailed you but unfortunately I've never had your addy.
Ta both ...
Good luck to the boys tonite. As frustrating as that game ended up last night, it was a good game to watch and there were a lot of good things that went on. Keep it up tonite. Looking forward to the game with a knot in my stomach. I want you guys to win so bad.
GO SEAWOLVES!!!! !
I am amused at people who come here all the time and complain about what DD has to say. It's like inviting yourself to dinner and then complaining about the food. If you don't like what Donald has to say, don't read it. It really is that simple.
Amen Ted! THANK YOU!!!!!
No Chat tonight?
score???
1-1 end of 1
1-1 end of 1st on Sat nite
4 to 2 uaa 6 min to go in 2nd
Most goals in a WCHA game for us tonight since 01-02, against Tech. If I read that right.
clark and the seniors were fired up tonite, congrates to the players, second time this year we have knocked off a top team.
Off ot wisconsin, this team will make uaa and anchorage proud.
1st team to knock off denver, 1st team to knock off und.
this team has great potential.
early in the year.
again cograts to clark, bryce, baldwin and all the guys.
by xmas everyone in the wcha will take notice. Maybe than the fans will come out.
fan
Clipping penalty on Lafranchise. What the hell was that. To see 3 refs flipping through a little book to decide on that. Hilarious. I thought clipping was a call in football. And the clipped player was out on the next power play with no injury. Ridiculous. DQ'd for next game? A call totally made because of the score. I hope Shyiak fights that. Look at the replay. A joke.
I forgot to say, excellent job Seawolves. Could have been and should have been a sweep. Well done.
Good to see hard work by all the boys. Solid play by the forwards, and defensively, awesome play. Good to see Vidmar and Lafranchise back as a pair. Strong duo. Also, Sean Wiles is on fire along with Haddad. Good job boys. Congrats on a great win.
That was the most fun at the Sully in years.
Way to go team.
Lafranchise only got a game Misconduct according to the official stats
Haider said on the radio that Kane would miss the first Wisconsin game.
Way to go Wolves. You gave me the best birthday present EVER!!
The call on LaFranchise was complete bullshit.
Good to see the guys keep fighting and pouring it on!
Great win!
AND the horse they ride out in. Great win wolves. And agree if u don't like DD's writing don't read it and get ur own blog
Dan
The boxscore lists it as a 10 minute misconduct.
I believe Hyder said IF it's indeed a DQ, then he'd be out of the next game. The PA guy announced a DQ...they must have changed the ruling in the official boxscore.
It was announced as a DQ. Changing calls before submitting the scoresheet is not unprecedented in the WCHA so I'd imagine that's exactly what happened.
Post a Comment