BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
STORRS, CT – The UCONN Huskies spent the week preparing to meet the Merrimack College Warriors, their first meeting of the Hockey East season.
The Huskies (5-6-2) sit in fifth place, a point behind Providence College, come off a pair of hard-fought, physical efforts, against the nation’s top-ranked Boston College Eagles.
“When you have a veteran team, it’s a little bit easier to play to that identity, but I don’t think anything was too different this week in practice,” UCONN Head Coach Mike Cavanaugh said.
In an afternoon meeting on Friday, they will meet the tenth place, Merrimack Warriors (1-7-1), followed by a Saturday matinee at the Freitas Ice Forum in Storrs.
NOT TAKING MERRIMACK FOR GRANTED
“They’re certainly better than their record shows. They played well against New Hampshire, played well against BC and Northeastern, and have been played great hockey in their last six games.
“They have always given us a hard time. (Merrimack’s)r defense is excellent with (Zack) Uens and (Declan) Carlisle. Up-front they have four lines and lots of depth. I’m expecting another fast-paced and physical series.
“I respect their game, the way they play. They don’t do anything fancy. They move the puck well, and that has to do with their mobile defenseman who gets the puck up the ice.
“There are not a lot of holes in their game,” Cavanaugh said
UCONN will only be without one player, defenseman Roman Kinal, who is out of the lineup for a month with an MCL injury.
Playing a third straight weekend in the backend of the season is essential.
“You want to develop a rhythm, and you need game reps. And it should be the same in practice as to when you’re playing.”
LINE TINKERING
In their second half of the weekend at home, Cavanaugh tinkered with his lines taking full advantage of the home ice last change.
Cavanaugh is reluctant to move his hockey pieces around.
“I really don’t like changing or tinkering lines all that much. I like to have some stability there. Every now and then, you have one player going and then another, so you put some hot sticks together, but I really like to have some stability when you moving into February and March and looking for familiarity. That’s not something I plan on doing on a weekly basis, tinkering and changing lines all the time.”
While net-front traffic is critical to a team’s success, Cavanaugh strives for his players to have more shot accuracy.
“We have had too many shots high and over the net. It’s hard for them (to score) when their shot’s high or crossbar high. They might go in because the goalie doesn’t see it. There is a better chance of scoring if (the shots) are 12 inches off the ice. They have a better chance of being tipped in,” remarked Cavanaugh.
CAPONE IMPROVES
Nick Capone’s game has improved. The reward for improvement has been more ice time, and the coaching staff is hoping he continues to the next step up.
“His patience with the puck has grown. At first, he was throwing pucks away. I’m a big kid, and I don’t have to throw the puck away. That’s one area he is really improving on.
“I’d like to see him shoot more. He has a pro-shot. I like to see him put more shots on net during games.”
