Following along for live coverage from inside Schneider Arena, where Merrimack is opening the 2021-22 season against No. 11 Providence
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Alright, time to head downstairs for postgame. That will do it for the live coverage tonight. Make sure to check back for a game story later on (that will be free). For paid subscribers, I'll have my takeaways and all of our FULL coverage, including keys before the Sacred Heart game on Saturday. Thanks for checking out the live coverage tonight. Talk to you soon.
Borgiel didn't go to the bench until Merrimack had some sustained possession. I wonder if that's what they were waiting for, and maybe would have pulled him earlier but Merrimack couldn't set up in the zone.
Borgiel in the net. I wondered down 2 if you pull him here despite 4:38 left on the clock for the 6v4. Especially where MC has had trouble generating chances and PC stuffed them on the PK last time out earlier in the period.
Another small misfire on a rush. Copponi's pass for Seyfert, who had an open net, just hit a skate as it tried to pass through the slot. Good vision by Copponi. Just those little execution points are off for MC tonight.
Merrimack has gotten pinned a few times in the D-zone. Some bad reads by the wings with the puck coming off the wall. PC winning too many of those 50/50 pucks to keep possession.
The Warriors are once again finding ways to get the puck into the offensive zone. They need to do more to get it off the wall at the moment. PC is keeping them wide and getting sticks in lanes to shut down and chance of getting the puck to the middle of the ice.
Before Carllie got the puck back for that second goal, he actually misfired after Forsmark left him a drop pass in the slot. Again, just shows that there's a little timing that's off. All that stuff will get cleaned up with more game time.
Back to my point - it's not like MC is getting run out of the rink. They're misfiring. The timing isn't there yet, but overall they aren't playing poorly from a systems standpoint.
Just before the rush that resulted in the goal, Uens had Forsmark breaking down the RW by himself but he had trouble collecting the puck on the pass. Walsh had that chance sail over the bar. Merrimack had a few chances like that in the first period as well. They haven't converted on these because their timing is off. Again, that's to be expected from Game 1. I'm not usually the eternal optimist, but this is a 4-1 game that could be 4-3 or even 4-4 right now. Merrimack is generating chances in the offensive zone, which is encouraging.
Alright, time to head downstairs for postgame. That will do it for the live coverage tonight. Make sure to check back for a game story later on (that will be free). For paid subscribers, I'll have my takeaways and all of our FULL coverage, including keys before the Sacred Heart game on Saturday. Thanks for checking out the live coverage tonight. Talk to you soon.
FINAL: Providence 5, Merrimack 2.
Not Monder - Yoder. Sorry. I was close, at least.
It looked like there were some words exchanged.
PROVIDENCE ENG: Friars make it 5-2. Monder with the empty-net goal and he waved at the MC bench on the way by. That seemed to rile some players up.
Borgiel didn't go to the bench until Merrimack had some sustained possession. I wonder if that's what they were waiting for, and maybe would have pulled him earlier but Merrimack couldn't set up in the zone.
Borgiel to the bench for the 6v4 with 2:50 left.
Every time Merrimack tries to work the puck to the middle of the ice, a Friar is there to break it up with a stick.
Borgiel in the net. I wondered down 2 if you pull him here despite 4:38 left on the clock for the 6v4. Especially where MC has had trouble generating chances and PC stuffed them on the PK last time out earlier in the period.
Carlile has not returned. It doesn't appear that Merrimack's trainer returned to the bench either. Not a good sign.
Down two goals, I would expect the Warriors might pull Borgiel now.
Warriors to the PP with 4:38 left. Timeout called by someone ... Merrimack I assume.
Media timeout with 5:38 left.
Providence is killing clock with some sustained pressure down low. 6:03 to play.
D pairings getting shook up with Carlile gone. Merrimack with two freshmen - Brown and Arvedson - on the ice now.
Very good PK there for the Warriors. Providence only generated one shot. 7:30 left.
Providence going on the PP with Max Newton headed to the box with 9:56 left.
It was a lower-body injury on Carlile. Not sure if it was a knee or something else. He wasn't putting pressure on his left leg, I believe it was.
10:12 left in the game.
A trainer came out to meet Carlile and he immediately took him down the tunnel. That did not look promising.
Carlile is down and hurt after colliding with Borgiel coming from behind the net. That doesn't look good.
PC gets the kill. Back to 5v5 with 13:21 left.
Walsh shot from the slot goes wide.
Merrimack going to get a chance on the PP here. Hooking is the call on Monds. Here's their chance to get back into the game.
Murphy again yelling that he's not going to blow the whistle despite the puck being tied up on the wall.
As much as this game feels like a lost opportunity for the Warriors, with the missed chances, if they score the next goal here it becomes interesting.
Game on in the 3rd.
2:00 warning until the third period
End of 2 - Providence leads Merrimack, 4-2.
Some good opportunities for MC on the PP. Only 1 clear for the Friars, but MC can't find the net.
Richard going to the box for PC. He takes out Steven Jandric going to the net. Interference likely the call.
Another one - 3-on-1 after a bad PC turnover, and MC can't get a shot off. Loses the puck.
Another small misfire on a rush. Copponi's pass for Seyfert, who had an open net, just hit a skate as it tried to pass through the slot. Good vision by Copponi. Just those little execution points are off for MC tonight.
Merrimack has gotten pinned a few times in the D-zone. Some bad reads by the wings with the puck coming off the wall. PC winning too many of those 50/50 pucks to keep possession.
The Warriors are once again finding ways to get the puck into the offensive zone. They need to do more to get it off the wall at the moment. PC is keeping them wide and getting sticks in lanes to shut down and chance of getting the puck to the middle of the ice.
Media timeout with 8:39 left in the 2nd
Now Engelbert misfires on a beautiful chance for the Friars.
Merrimack's goal was announced as Carlile from Liam Walsh and Adam Arvedson.
Before Carllie got the puck back for that second goal, he actually misfired after Forsmark left him a drop pass in the slot. Again, just shows that there's a little timing that's off. All that stuff will get cleaned up with more game time.
MERRIMACK GOAL: Declan Carlile's second of the game cuts the Providence lead to 4-2.
That is Merrimack's first PK of the year. PC scored on its first two power plays.
Merrimack gets the kill. Back to 5v5.
PC back to the PP. Copponi off for Merrimack.
Back to my point - it's not like MC is getting run out of the rink. They're misfiring. The timing isn't there yet, but overall they aren't playing poorly from a systems standpoint.
The puck is tied up on the wall for 20-30 seconds. Murphy yelled at the players "no whistle here, move it"
Just before the rush that resulted in the goal, Uens had Forsmark breaking down the RW by himself but he had trouble collecting the puck on the pass. Walsh had that chance sail over the bar. Merrimack had a few chances like that in the first period as well. They haven't converted on these because their timing is off. Again, that's to be expected from Game 1. I'm not usually the eternal optimist, but this is a 4-1 game that could be 4-3 or even 4-4 right now. Merrimack is generating chances in the offensive zone, which is encouraging.
McDonald on the goal. Berard had the initial shot.
A shot gets blocked and the puck banged around. A few sticks missed it, but PC's Berard (I believe) finds it and lifts it over Borgiel.
PROVIDENCE GOAL: Friars make it 4-1 with 18:09 left in the 2nd
Walsh has a chance sail just over the bar.