Reax: Northeastern 5, Merrimack 1

Postgame
Mark Dennehy, Merrimack College Head Coach


Greg Cronin, Northeastern Head Coach


Mike Machnik also brings us a podcast with Mark Dennehy and a chat before the game with Northeastern head coach Greg Cronin.You can subscribe to all of Mike Machnik's podcasts (the first podcast linked with a college hockey team) by clicking here.

Highlights

Chris Barton scores the Warriors only goal of the night, his 16th of the year, on the power play.


The Grades
Offense - B+
Despite scoring just one goal - none at even strength - I didn't think the Merrimack offense played that poorly. Heck, they generated 38 shots on net and out-attempted Northeastern 64-37. That's a lot of rubber thrown Chris Rawlings' way. The problem was that - especially in the third period - a lot of those chances were from the outside. NU did a good job tying Warriors up in front of the net, hooking sticks and practically mauling players at times. NU was very aggressive protecting their own net and it limited a lot of MC chances when the Warriors tried to penetrate deep into the zone, especially inside the dots above the crease.

Defense - C+
5-on-5, the defensive game wasn't that bad either. The Warriors allowed just 12 shots at even-strength. MC struggled at times in front of its netminder, Andrew Braithwaite, but did so on the penalty kill. At even strength, on defense, I thought the Warriors played a slightly above-average game. 12 shots at even strength is exceptional though two goals on 12 shots isn't.

Special Teams - D-
Chris Barton's power-play goal saves this from an "F". The Warriors' penalty kill had a lot of problems with NU's power play, which surprised me. Merrimack did a nice job generating pressure and chances on the power play. The Warriors first power play generated four shots, but none hit the back of the net. Their first power play was probably the best of the night - despite the goal coming later. On the flip, the penalty kill just didn't get the job done. Both NU power-play goals in the first period were goals I'm sure the PK unit would want a second chance at. Merrimack was really out-worked in front of their own net on the PK and it was, by far, the low point on the night.

You take away the three PP tallies and it's a 2-1 game.

The Difference Maker
Northeastern's workrate
The first period specifically, the Huskies just outworked the Warriors and won more battles. The start gave NU a comfortable cushion the rest of the way. If NU doesn't get off to the start it did in the first period, it's a different game. But, they came into a rink where the home team was 9-1 and didn't look intimidated of fazed. They dominated in the first period.

Warrior Of The Game
Chris Barton, Junior Forward
Barton's line - with Stephane Da Costa and Jeff Velleca - was excellent. By far Merrimack's best line of the night. But Barton in particular played very well. Obviously, he had MC's lone goal. But he was also getting to the gritty areas, where MC struggled most of the night. He's come a long way from he guy who was the third wheel on a line with Rob Ricci and Matt Jones as a freshman and has solidified himself as one of the best forwards in Hockey East. Let's call a spade a spade - he has 16 goals and every team in the league would take him in their top six - most would put him on their top line. He's not flashy, he just personifies what you have to love in a hockey player. He gets to the greasy areas and scores goals. He has a snipe - see that first PP goal at UNH - but he's also a dirt dog. A team with 20 Chris Bartons win a national championship.

The Leftovers
> I would not be a bit surprised to see some shakeup in the lineup tomorrow night against Lowell. Too many guys had off nights against Northeastern to come back with the same personnel.

> Stephane Da Costa registered seven shots on net in another impressive showing. At this point, he's going to win the Hockey East Rookie Of The Year in a runaway and should be national rookie of the year, too.

> The officiating was OK. All of the calls against Merrimack were warranted, but I'm not sure there was a lot of consistency between the two referees. It's a product of the two-referee system.

> A lot of parents and family were at the Arena tonight for Alumni weekend. Merrimack's alumni game will take place tomorrow afternoon. From what I'm told, it's one of the best turnouts in years for the event, which is always a fun afternoon. I am hoping to make it to the rink a bit early tomorrow for some hellos. I won't be able to be at the game, but I might be arriving around the end of the reception.

> Lawler Arena wasn't all that full to begin with - announced attendance was 1,700 and change - but Northeastern's fourth goal initiated a mass exodus from the building. The building was eerily silent as the time winded down. Only NU fans chanting their fight song. The fans that stayed appeared to be in shock.