Spring Break
Huskies try to avoid fifth consecutive weekend sweep
Chris Brodeur
Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: Sports
The men's hockey team has the opportunity to put one of the worst weekends of a mostly disappointing season behind them today, when the Lakers come to the Freitas Ice Forum to start a two-game set.
The weekend series has been particularly unkind to the Huskies (6-22-1, 5-15-1 Atlantic Hockey). They'll try to avoid being swept for the fifth consecutive time in such matchups since 2009 began - a streak that includes a 13-goal battering over two games at the hands of the Lakers (14-13-3, 12-7-3 Atlantic Hockey) on Jan. 23 and 24.
Coach Bruce Marshall has remained positive and upbeat all season, despite the results he and his players have had to endure, something he says comes from their outlook.
"The best thing about this group is that they're staying positive," Marshall said. "They're showing up to work every day, they're working hard. They wanna get better."
UConn surrendered a pair of three-goal periods in their first meeting with Mercyhurst, one of which effectively put them out of a game in which they had been very much alive in.
After the Lakers jumped out to a 3-0 advantage with backup goalie Brad McInnis in net, the Huskies battled back with consecutive goals of their own to cut the lead to one. Mercyhurst scored the final four goals of that game to put the Huskies away.
Saturday's finale was no better for UConn, as they allowed four power-play goals in a 6-0 blowout loss. Junior goalie Beau Erickson, who has since become UConn's all-time saves leader, stopped 37 shots, but received little help from his teammates.
"We were in the games," Marshall said. "There was a spurt where we checked out for a couple utes and they scored two or three quick goals on us and it's tough to climb back, they have an explosive offense. They play pretty loose, where we're more of an in-check team. We have to be mindful that they get creative and wide open. They have a good power play and their 'D' moves up. We have to keep it a closer game and stay out of the penalty box."
The Huskies have fared better on their home ice than away from it, posting a mark of 4-6-1 at Freitas, compared to 2-15 elsewhere. They'll play five of their remaining seven regular season contests in Storrs, which could help them secure some momentum heading into the conference playoffs. Marshall has always held that it only takes a couple of wins to turn things around and anything's possible come playoff time.
"We have a good collaboration of coaching staff and players," said Marshall. "If we can get a couple down the stretch, get ourselves feeling good, it's something to build on. Everybody makes the playoffs. We're staying on course. It hasn't been an easy course."
As the standings are now, UConn would be the second-highest seed in the playoffs ahead of American International. Mercyhurst sits in fourth place with 27 points, just seven behind conference-leader Air Force.
The weekend series has been particularly unkind to the Huskies (6-22-1, 5-15-1 Atlantic Hockey). They'll try to avoid being swept for the fifth consecutive time in such matchups since 2009 began - a streak that includes a 13-goal battering over two games at the hands of the Lakers (14-13-3, 12-7-3 Atlantic Hockey) on Jan. 23 and 24.
Coach Bruce Marshall has remained positive and upbeat all season, despite the results he and his players have had to endure, something he says comes from their outlook.
"The best thing about this group is that they're staying positive," Marshall said. "They're showing up to work every day, they're working hard. They wanna get better."
UConn surrendered a pair of three-goal periods in their first meeting with Mercyhurst, one of which effectively put them out of a game in which they had been very much alive in.
After the Lakers jumped out to a 3-0 advantage with backup goalie Brad McInnis in net, the Huskies battled back with consecutive goals of their own to cut the lead to one. Mercyhurst scored the final four goals of that game to put the Huskies away.
Saturday's finale was no better for UConn, as they allowed four power-play goals in a 6-0 blowout loss. Junior goalie Beau Erickson, who has since become UConn's all-time saves leader, stopped 37 shots, but received little help from his teammates.
"We were in the games," Marshall said. "There was a spurt where we checked out for a couple utes and they scored two or three quick goals on us and it's tough to climb back, they have an explosive offense. They play pretty loose, where we're more of an in-check team. We have to be mindful that they get creative and wide open. They have a good power play and their 'D' moves up. We have to keep it a closer game and stay out of the penalty box."
The Huskies have fared better on their home ice than away from it, posting a mark of 4-6-1 at Freitas, compared to 2-15 elsewhere. They'll play five of their remaining seven regular season contests in Storrs, which could help them secure some momentum heading into the conference playoffs. Marshall has always held that it only takes a couple of wins to turn things around and anything's possible come playoff time.
"We have a good collaboration of coaching staff and players," said Marshall. "If we can get a couple down the stretch, get ourselves feeling good, it's something to build on. Everybody makes the playoffs. We're staying on course. It hasn't been an easy course."
As the standings are now, UConn would be the second-highest seed in the playoffs ahead of American International. Mercyhurst sits in fourth place with 27 points, just seven behind conference-leader Air Force.
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