MLax Thread 2024

[Chris Datres 423]

SUCK IT CHICKENS!!

Another heartstopper as Downs makes a huge save with 2:49 left in a 10-10 game on a terrific Delaware set play.  Then as the shot clock was winding down, Villagomez hits Demaio with 1:31 left for the go-ahead goal.  Great defense kept the Chickens from getting any big threat on their next possession (after a horrid Towson turnover following a timeout with 1:15 left) and then one more big steal on a bad pass from their goalie with :25 left so we could run out the clock.  Nice to get the regular season crown but it's next Saturday that we really want.  If we get them again, I hope we'll take better looks at how we shot on Ellington because he made a ton of good saves that he made look routine.  Meanwhile, Downs got beat by at least 4 shots from 20 yards out and it looked like he had a decent view of 2 of them.

 

[mat1992 2,236]

Still no stats available. Thought Downs got better as the game went on. Appears that he struggled to see the ball at times. Their goaltender Ellington was fantastic though we missed about 3 bunnies in the first half. They also did a nice job on Mikey, forcing him to his off hand (right) and he's really struggling to shoot it with velocity. It's easier to say from my couch to pass the ball when you sense the slide and there are 2 or 3 poles in your face, but he's going to see a lot of that until we get another dynamic middie. Also, we need to hold the ball instead of throwing ridiculous passes late in the game up 1. We have the speed in guys like Webber, Mikey, Miedling and Potter to accomplish that, but if you see an empty net, take the layup.

 

[Chris Datres 423]

Yeah, some of the decisions in the last 3 1/2 minutes were a little mystifying -- winning the faceoff after the 10-10 goal and then being in some giant rush and throwing it away, the two times with the empty net where they looked to be bothered by the pressure and threw it away instead of maybe giving it one more beat and making an easier pass.  But the D came up big when they needed to after Delaware took that 10-9 lead.

BTW, how bad were those announcers on that TV feed?  Woof.

[mat1992 2,236]

https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=526074

Finally, face-offs were 12-12. Matt C. was very streaky tonight. But he was big when we needed him to be. Moreno won 1 of 3 and compounded one of the losses with a penalty.

The game-winner was Mauer from Villagomez at 1:31. Both were in front of the net but Mauer knocked it in for his first goal of the night and 22nd of the season. Thought it was one of the better games that Villagomez played this season. Had 3 goals on 10 shots and 2 assists. Nicky D. with 3 goals and 1 assists. Mikey W. with 1 goal on 11 shots and a late turnover. Downs had 14 saves. Both teams with 44 shots so this was a close game of two pretty evenly-matched teams. Delaware had 18 turnovers and and we had 10. That was the difference.

Thought we played well defensively in the second half after giving up 6 goals in the first half, including a last-second goal before the half.

[mat1992 2,236]

1 minute ago, Chris Datres said:

Yeah, some of the decisions in the last 3 1/2 minutes were a little mystifying -- winning the faceoff after the 10-10 goal and then being in some giant rush and throwing it away, the two times with the empty net where they looked to be bothered by the pressure and threw it away instead of maybe giving it one more beat and making an easier pass.  But the D came up big when they needed to after Delaware took that 10-9 lead.

BTW, how bad were those announcers on that TV feed?  Woof.

I think those Lax TV announcers aren't at the game so it shows. The color commentator was bad but it's tough calling games from home so they appeared to be 5 seconds off. The face-off win by Matt C. and the Gaskins throwing it back to him after we took the lead was probably the worst decision of the game. 

[mat1992 2,236]

This is a good team. Don't see a FF squad or even one as good as that blew that game to Maryland in 2019. But they have to complete this to show that that horrible loss is finally behind them. You still see some reminders that we can't hold the ball with a one-goal lead late in games as we tend to panic.

Downs and the defense will need to continue to improve to get that ring. Face-offs have been decent. The 10-man ride has been fantastic and the way they've played in the middle of the field getting key 50-50 ground balls and forcing turnovers is a big reason why they've won 7 straight.