Friday, February 10, 1995 at Volpe Center, North Andover, MA
HOCKEY EAST GAME
Mass Amherst Minutemen (5-21-2, 3-15-0 [0] HE 9th) 1 0 1 - 2
Merrimack Warriors (12-13-5, 5-8-5 [3] HE t6th) 3 1 2 - 6
FIRST PERIOD MC-MA
1. MC1, Matt Adams 18 (Casey Kesselring, Daryl Krauss), 1:00. 1-0
2. MA1, Rob Bonneau 12 (Dale Hooper, Warren Norris), 3:19. PPG 1-1
3. MC2, Krauss 7 (Kesselring), 8:22. 2-1
4. MC3, Martin Laroche 8 (John Jakopin), 8:43. GWG 3-1
SECOND PERIOD
5. MC4, Mark Goble 6 (unassisted), 7:00. PPG 4-1
THIRD PERIOD
6. MA2, Gerry Cahill 2 (Keith O'Connell), 4:18. 4-2
7. MC5, Laroche 9 (Tom Johnson, Jakopin), 4:34. 5-2
8. MC6, Adams 19 (Dan Hodge, Steve McKenna), 8:39. PPG 6-2
SHOTS ON GOAL: Mass Amherst 11-10-14 = 35
Merrimack 14-10-11 = 35
SAVES: MA, Brian Regan (L, 2-10-2, 60:00, 35 sh-29 sv).
MC, Martin Legault (W, 7-11-4, 57:06, 34 sh-32 sv),
Eric Thibeault (2:54, 1 sh-1 sv).
POWER PLAYS: MA 1 for 7. MC 2 for 7.
PENALTIES: MA 11/22. MC 12/24.
REFEREES: Drew Taylor, John Gravallese. LINESMAN: Chuck Wynters.
ATTENDANCE: 842 (capacity 3,617).
THREE STARS: 1. C Martin Laroche, Merrimack (2-0--2, GWG).
2. G Martin Legault, Merrimack (W, 34 sh-32 sv).
3. RW Matt Adams, Merrimack (2-0--2).
Matt Adams and Martin Laroche each scored twice and Martin Legault
stopped 32 of 34 shots to lead Merrimack to a 6-2 win over Mass Amherst.
The Warriors outscored the Minutemen in each period, taking a 3-1 lead
after one. Casey Kesselring (13-18--31) and John Jakopin contributed a
pair of assists each, while Daryl Krauss chipped in with a goal and an
assist.
The win enabled the Warriors to sweep the season series from UMA, and
dating back to last season, Merrimack is a perfect 5-0-0 against the
newest Hockey East member. However, minus the UMA sweep, Merrimack
is still only 2-8-5 against the rest of the Association.
Legault's two goals against marked the fourth straight game in which
he has not allowed more than two goals. The sophomore was sixth in
GAA and second in save percentage in HE play entering tonight.
With the losses suffered tonight by BC and Mass Lowell, Merrimack moved
into a tie for 6th with UML, just two points behind 5th place BC.
The Warriors are now 9-1-2 in games in which they have allowed two
goals or less, 11-2-4 when they allow three or less. Since beginning
the season 1-8-1, Merrimack has rebounded to go 11-5-4 (.650).
Although shots for the game were even at 35-35, Merrimack tended to
have the better chances early on when it counted and was able to
control the puck along the boards in both ends. UMA landed many of its
shots on goal during several power play opportunities, including a
two minute 5x3 late in the second on which they were held scoreless.
FIRST
Adams got his team on the board just one minute in when he redirected
a cross ice pass from Kesselring past UMA goalie Brian Regan.
The Minutemen tied it on the power play just 2:19 later when Rob Bonneau
scored on the rebound of Warren Norris's shot, as Legault made the
initial save but could not handle the rebound.
The turning point in the game came several minutes later when Merrimack
scored twice within 21 seconds to take a 3-1 lead. Both goals were ones
that Regan did not look too good on. First, Krauss's shot from the left
circle on a rush got under the crossbar to make it 2-1 at 8:22. Then,
Laroche scored his first of the night through the pads from down low,
and it was 3-1.
Goaltending was certainly the difference in this period. Legault made
several fine stops as UMA was able to get quality shots but not solve
the dufflebag. Legault stopped Dennis Wright on a shorthanded bid,
and then late in the period, he made successive saves off of Sal
Manganaro and Bonneau. Regan came up with a nice save of his own off
of Adams just moments later, but the damage had been done.
SECOND
Holding a two-goal lead, Merrimack was able to patiently control this
period and outshoot the visitors by a 2-1 margin much of the way. The
only scoring came at 7:00 on the tail end of a power play when UMA
had trouble controlling the puck behind the net, and Mark Goble picked
up the loose puck, wheeled in front, and beat Regan to make it 4-1.
But the Minutemen were still in the game, and separate minors to two
different Warriors at 16:27 gave UMA a golden opportunity: a two minute
5x3 advantage. Legault was equal to the task, however, even though
UMA would pull even on shots for the period on the strength of this
situation - he stopped perhaps 5 or 6 shots during the 5x3 to keep
the score 4-1 heading into the third.
THIRD
Gerry Cahill's goal from in front gave UMA hope, as it was 4-2 with
still 15:42 to play, but as has been the case so many times this year
for the young Minutemen, they followed a big goal by surrendering an
even bigger one to the opposition. 16 seconds after Cahill's goal,
Laroche regained the three-goal lead with a shot from the slot. That
gave the rookie center 17 points this season on 9 goals and 8 assists.
Adams closed the scoring at 8:39 on the power play with his second
of the night, 19th of the year (19-18--37), as he wheeled into the
circle and scored on a 20-footer to make it 6-2. That came only 12
seconds into a man advantage.
As was the case in the second, Merrimack was holding the advantage
in shots for the period until a pair of penalties (separate this time)
in the latter half allowed UMA to put some shots on Legault and catch
up in that department. But again, Legault stood his ground and turned
everything away, including a shot by Manganaro that he stopped with
his face mask.
Adams had a chance for the hat trick late on a breakaway, but Regan
stoned the senior. It would have been his third trick of the year.
With the game in hand, Merrimack Coach Ron Anderson chose to take
Legault out with 2:54 left and put in Eric Thibeault. Thibeault
only faced one shot the rest of the way and stopped that one.
POSTGAME
Mass Amherst just did not look too good tonight, at least not as good
as several other times this year that I have seen them, including a
pair of losses to Merrimack in Amherst in December. They had even
dominated one of those games and played well in the other, but tonight,
Merrimack was able to take the play to them and force them to turn the
puck over often. The two goals Regan surrendered in 21 seconds in the
first seemed to have an effect, as Merrimack was able to buckle down
and get the job done defensively after that.
Despite going only 1 for 7 on the power play, I thought UMA showed
good puck movement in attempting to find the open man. Their power
play was certainly more creative than Merrimack's has been, and they
have utilized the pointmen well. Rather than just firing shots on goal
in hope of creating rebounds, the UMA Ds, especially Hooper and Rissling,
would try to find the man down low for a higher percentage shot. But
Legault was on his angles tonight and was always able to get over to
stop those shots.
In my mind, the fact that Anderson removed Legault late in the game for
Thibeault is a sign that he intends to come back with Legault in the
next game Sunday night at Maine. The times that Anderson has made a
switch like this, it usually indicates that he wants to get Legault a
bit of a rest for the next time out. Also, Legault played marvelously
in a pair of games vs Maine in December, and he has met the challenge
that Thibeault has provided by playing some of his best hockey of the
year. I believe that while Thibeault can win if his defense plays
well, Legault has the better ability to keep his team in it on his own,
even if they are being outplayed, and give them a chance to win.
As I suspected would happen, Anderson also came back with the same
new line combinations he utilized in the third period last weekend at
Providence. I noticed that Maine had several personnel in the stands
tonight scouting their two upcoming opponents, and the switches Merrimack
made had to have been a little confusing at first. These new combinations
produced good scoring chances in that period at PC (16 shots through
the third period and OT), and it continued tonight with 35 shots on goal.
The most obvious change is that the Beck-Kesselring-Adams line was broken
up, with Daryl Krauss replacing Beck on the left side and Beck joining
Gaetan Poirier and Claudio Peca on what is listed as the first line.
Krauss, who had been quiet this year, responded with his third goal
in three games and also assisted on Adams' first goal. Beck's new
line was somewhat quiet although they did control the puck well,
but the most impressive line of the night may have been the one that
featured the most interesting change. 6-5/225 D John Jakopin, who
has shown a penchant to carry the puck and get involved in the play
deep in the zone, was moved to wing with Tom Johnson and Laroche,
and this resulted in two more goals. Laroche may be the most
talented of the Warrior freshmen but unlike Kesselring, he has not
had the better linemates. This new combination seems to help him,
as twice Jakopin was able to use his size to dig the puck out and
get it to the rookie center for goals.
With Jakopin moving to forward, Eric Weichselbaumer (0-17--17)
returned to his familiar blueline spot and manned the power play
point with Mark Cornforth (8-14--22).
It's too early to predict what will happen the rest of the way, but
it was very encouraging to see how the new combos worked together
and spread the scoring out among several lines. I thought that in
the past, teams may have keyed on the B-K-A line, but now there is
at least one other line that seems to be a threat, and if Beck's new
line gets going, things will be very interesting. I can't wait to
see what these guys can do at Maine, which will be quite a challenge.
NEXT
Mass Amherst bussed to Portland after tonight's game and will complete
their trip to Orono on Saturday, when they play at Maine. UMA remains
the only team to beat Maine in HE play this season, so this should
be an eagerly anticipated rematch. But it's also the first time the
young Minutemen have ever played in Orono, and if the crowd is a
factor as it usually is, they may have problems.
Merrimack is off Saturday but will bus to Orono during the day in
preparation for the game Sunday night. The Warriors seem to be looking
forward to this game, both because of the pair of great games they
played against the Black Bears in December (3-3 SO win; 3-1 loss that
was 1-1 till 5 min left) and the game they nearly won in Orono last
February (4-3 with 5 min left, 6-4 loss). I suspect the first period
will be a key. If they come out of it with the lead or the game still
close, then they have a shot.
The Warriors have a pair of big games with 5th place BC on tap next
weekend, but first...Maine.
--- ---
Mike Machnik [log in to unmask]
Cabletron Systems, Inc. *HMM* 11/13/93
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