Where: Kenyon Arena Middlebury, VT
When: 4 PM Saturday 3/1/13
Video / Audio: Video Audio
Offense: 3.83 G/GM (2nd) Offense: 3.44 G/GM (2nd)
Defense: 2.83 G/GM (5th) Defense: 3.17 G/GM (6th)
Power Play: 21/100 - 21% (3rd) Power Play: 13/76 -17.1% (5th)
Penalty Kill: 82/97 - 84.5% (4th) Penalty Kill: 66/79 - 83.5% (5th)
Offense: 3.04 G/GM (4th) Offense: 3.22 G/GM (3rd)
Defense: 2.58 G/GM (4th) Defense: 2.56 G/GM (4th)
Power Play: 28/125 -22.4% (2nd) Power Play: 22/96 -22.9% (3rd)
Penalty Kill: 87/99 - 87.9% (1st) Penalty Kill: 64/74 - 86.5% (3rd)
The Lowdown
At the beginning of the season many observers might have predicted this playoff matchup....only in the NESCAC finals, not quarterfinals. Bowdoin came into the season as the unanimous favorite to repeat as conference champs while Middlebury's blend of returning talent and program pedigree made them poised to be a contender. In coach Bill Beaney's estimation they were the third or fourth best team in the 'Cac on paper.
The Panthers enter the game the hotter of the two teams, having gone 3-0-1 down the stretch which included two games against third-seed Williams and a win over second seed Amherst. Bowdoin had a chance to take this #4/#5 match-up to Brunswick, but lost to last place Tufts in the regular season finale to don the Black instead of white jerseys.
The teams last met in the playoffs last March in the NESCAC semifinals at Bowdoin. The Polar Bears won that game, 4-2, for their first win against Middlebury in six playoff attempts. The teams last met at Kenyon Arena in the the season opener with the teams skating to a 2-2 tie. Later in the season, the Polar Bears won in OT,5-4, to take the regular season series.
Key(s) to the game
Goaltending is a key to any game, especially in the playoffs. But the Polar Bears and Panthers have a unique situation compared to the other top teams in the conference. The top three seeds (Trinity, Amherst, Williams) all have starting goaltenders that play the bulk of the time in net. Bowdoin and Middlebury have goalie by committee, though in very different ways.
Bowdoin has a strict rotation between senior Steve Messina (G, '14) and Max Fenkell (G, '15), where one plays one game of the weekend and the other plays the second game. As we learned last year, that strategy goes out the window in the playoffs and it is a game-by-game decision that includes input from a player leadership counsel. The rotation broke a little earlier this year, as Messina played both games of the regular season finale weekend. It will be interesting to see who is in net today.
For the Panthers, Beaney didn't have a rotation this year so much as a mad chemist's strategy of trying every goalie combination until something stuck. Four goalies have seen time in net with playing time ranging from 159- 546 minutes. Liam Moorfield-Yee (G, '15), who wasn't even on the roster at the beginning of the year, has emerged as the favorite as he has started the last seven Middlebury games in net. Expect to see him between the pipes today.
Players to watch
Colin Downey (D/F, '14) In a season of inconsistent play and injuries for the Polar Bears, the senior from East Sandwich, MA, has stepped up to lead Bowdoin in goals and points (19-16-35).
Louis Belisle (D, '14) The Quebecois assassin has stepped up for the Panthers to lead them in goal scoring this year with 17 tallies, including four in the final three games (all wins) of the season.
Either the most storied program in D-III men's hockey history or the defending NESCAC champs will bow out in the first round of the playoffs. Here's State Radio (fronted by former Middlebury student Chadwick Stokes) and "Fall of the American Empire"
The Panthers enter the game the hotter of the two teams, having gone 3-0-1 down the stretch which included two games against third-seed Williams and a win over second seed Amherst. Bowdoin had a chance to take this #4/#5 match-up to Brunswick, but lost to last place Tufts in the regular season finale to don the Black instead of white jerseys.
The teams last met in the playoffs last March in the NESCAC semifinals at Bowdoin. The Polar Bears won that game, 4-2, for their first win against Middlebury in six playoff attempts. The teams last met at Kenyon Arena in the the season opener with the teams skating to a 2-2 tie. Later in the season, the Polar Bears won in OT,5-4, to take the regular season series.
Key(s) to the game
Goaltending is a key to any game, especially in the playoffs. But the Polar Bears and Panthers have a unique situation compared to the other top teams in the conference. The top three seeds (Trinity, Amherst, Williams) all have starting goaltenders that play the bulk of the time in net. Bowdoin and Middlebury have goalie by committee, though in very different ways.
Bowdoin has a strict rotation between senior Steve Messina (G, '14) and Max Fenkell (G, '15), where one plays one game of the weekend and the other plays the second game. As we learned last year, that strategy goes out the window in the playoffs and it is a game-by-game decision that includes input from a player leadership counsel. The rotation broke a little earlier this year, as Messina played both games of the regular season finale weekend. It will be interesting to see who is in net today.
For the Panthers, Beaney didn't have a rotation this year so much as a mad chemist's strategy of trying every goalie combination until something stuck. Four goalies have seen time in net with playing time ranging from 159- 546 minutes. Liam Moorfield-Yee (G, '15), who wasn't even on the roster at the beginning of the year, has emerged as the favorite as he has started the last seven Middlebury games in net. Expect to see him between the pipes today.
Players to watch
Colin Downey (D/F, '14) In a season of inconsistent play and injuries for the Polar Bears, the senior from East Sandwich, MA, has stepped up to lead Bowdoin in goals and points (19-16-35).
Louis Belisle (D, '14) The Quebecois assassin has stepped up for the Panthers to lead them in goal scoring this year with 17 tallies, including four in the final three games (all wins) of the season.
Either the most storied program in D-III men's hockey history or the defending NESCAC champs will bow out in the first round of the playoffs. Here's State Radio (fronted by former Middlebury student Chadwick Stokes) and "Fall of the American Empire"
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