Spring Break
Meaningful games ahead in Maine
Russell Blair
Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: Sports
With just four games left in the regular season, the women's hockey team desperately needs to make up ground after falling from second to fifth in the Hockey East standings.
Despite losing three of their last four, the No. 9 Huskies (18-9-3, 10-6-1) remain just six points out of first place in the conference. This weekend UConn will travel to Orono, Maine to take on the struggling University of Maine Black Bears (5-21-3, 3-13-1) in back-to-back games Thursday and Friday.
Though Maine has just three wins in-conference, they defeated Boston College 5-3 on Nov. 16, proving they can handle tough competition. Since the win over the Eagles, however, the Black Bears have won just three while tallying up 13 losses, including a streak of six straight.
The series will give the Huskies a good chance to pick up four points before they take on No. 7 UNH next weekend.
One thorn in the side of Maine this season has been penalties. The Black Bears are tied for first in the Hockey East in penalty minutes, averaging just under 14 a game. UConn hopes to take advantage of this with the league's leading power play unit, scoring 35 times and converting 21.2 percent of their chances.
In addition to committing a league-leading amount of penalties, the Maine penalty kill unit is far from solid, only keeping the puck out of the net 76 percent of the time, compared to an 86 percent penalty kill for the Huskies. Both on the offensive and defensive side of the puck, special teams have been keeping UConn in games all season long.
In an aggregate rating compiled by the Hockey East, UConn leads the conference with a +18 mark in special teams.
Leading the way for the Huskies all season has been Dominique Thibault. The talented junior has netted 24 goals through 28 games, the second most in the conference. In addition to having a knack for finding the back of the net, Thibault has been whistled for just seven penalties all season long. By comparison, Maine's top two forwards, Jennie Gallo and Jenna Ouellette, have combined for only 21 scores and 53 minutes in the penalty box.
Regardless of the disparity of talent on paper, the contest is still one which the Huskies must take seriously if they hope to be in good standing heading into their matchup with New Hampshire.
Coming into Friday's contest, the Huskies have outshot their opponents in 15 consecutive games and, even in many of their losses, played aggressively until the final horn.
While the Huskies are still in position to make the Hockey East tournament, a sweep this weekend would land them in the top three of the league with a chance to take over first place, if UConn can produce two wins over New Hampshire. The top two teams in the league receive a first-round bye, which would give the Huskies ample time to prepare for a likely rematch with either Boston University or UNH.
Still in contention for a spot in the eight-team NCAA Tournament, UConn needs a solid performance down the stretch, starting with a pair of wins this weekend.
Despite losing three of their last four, the No. 9 Huskies (18-9-3, 10-6-1) remain just six points out of first place in the conference. This weekend UConn will travel to Orono, Maine to take on the struggling University of Maine Black Bears (5-21-3, 3-13-1) in back-to-back games Thursday and Friday.
Though Maine has just three wins in-conference, they defeated Boston College 5-3 on Nov. 16, proving they can handle tough competition. Since the win over the Eagles, however, the Black Bears have won just three while tallying up 13 losses, including a streak of six straight.
The series will give the Huskies a good chance to pick up four points before they take on No. 7 UNH next weekend.
One thorn in the side of Maine this season has been penalties. The Black Bears are tied for first in the Hockey East in penalty minutes, averaging just under 14 a game. UConn hopes to take advantage of this with the league's leading power play unit, scoring 35 times and converting 21.2 percent of their chances.
In addition to committing a league-leading amount of penalties, the Maine penalty kill unit is far from solid, only keeping the puck out of the net 76 percent of the time, compared to an 86 percent penalty kill for the Huskies. Both on the offensive and defensive side of the puck, special teams have been keeping UConn in games all season long.
In an aggregate rating compiled by the Hockey East, UConn leads the conference with a +18 mark in special teams.
Leading the way for the Huskies all season has been Dominique Thibault. The talented junior has netted 24 goals through 28 games, the second most in the conference. In addition to having a knack for finding the back of the net, Thibault has been whistled for just seven penalties all season long. By comparison, Maine's top two forwards, Jennie Gallo and Jenna Ouellette, have combined for only 21 scores and 53 minutes in the penalty box.
Regardless of the disparity of talent on paper, the contest is still one which the Huskies must take seriously if they hope to be in good standing heading into their matchup with New Hampshire.
Coming into Friday's contest, the Huskies have outshot their opponents in 15 consecutive games and, even in many of their losses, played aggressively until the final horn.
While the Huskies are still in position to make the Hockey East tournament, a sweep this weekend would land them in the top three of the league with a chance to take over first place, if UConn can produce two wins over New Hampshire. The top two teams in the league receive a first-round bye, which would give the Huskies ample time to prepare for a likely rematch with either Boston University or UNH.
Still in contention for a spot in the eight-team NCAA Tournament, UConn needs a solid performance down the stretch, starting with a pair of wins this weekend.
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