Team stats

Across the board, Maine is backing up their strong record with some of the best team stats in the nation. In just about every important team stat category, Maine has been exceptional. The Black Bears throw some of the most shots on goal in the country, having yet to be outshot in any contest this season.

They score in bunches, allow very few pucks to reach their own net, and even less into the goal. They overwhelm teams and leave very little open at the back. When they are loose at the back, it is usually by their own doing, a result of poor puck management and mental errors.

Boija the backbone

Their statistical solidity at the back is in large part thanks to the unbelievable performances in net by Albin Boija.

Any championship hockey team relies heavily on the man in the crease to carry their team to glory. Just look at last year's National Champions, Denver. Matt Davis almost single-handedly took the Pioneers by the scruff of their neck to the Promised Land with heroic goaltending performances. He allowed only three goals in the four NCAA tournament games, including shutting out the high-octane BC offense dripping in future NHL talent in the Championship Game.

Before the season began, Barr stressed that his team’s goaltending needed to be one of their strongest attributes if Maine was to have championship aspirations.

He’s gotten that and then some, with Boija quickly turning into one of the best goaltenders in the entire country and Maine’s MVP to date.

The sophomore rarely gets beaten by a first-effort shot, almost never letting in a cheap goal. If he can see the puck, he just about always saves it, freezing the puck or sending it into safety with impeccable rebound control.

“He makes the saves he needed to” has become a regular quote in Barr’s post-game press conferences.

Boija’s calm demeanor has provided a reassuring and steady presence at Maine’s backend, which has been anything but at times this season, digging his team out of plenty of holes when things get shaky in front of him.

The defense

With full confidence that their goaltender will make the save from any shots he can see and track, Maine’s defense is more than comfortable staying clear of the shooting lanes when the shot is coming from the perimeter. This allows Boija to make the save, leaving them to focus their efforts on boxing out opponents and tying up sticks rather than desperately jumping in front of the shot and taking their own goaltender’s eyes away.

This season, the Black Bear defensemen have been excellent in not allowing second or third-opportunity shooting attempts by clearing the puck or even just tipping it with a stick blade out of harm's way.

This net-front defense, sometimes last-ditch, has been what Maine’s blueliners have been best at. Generally speaking, the Black Bears' defensemen have shown the best account of themselves when the opposition has the puck. At times, however, when they have the puck on their tape and are looking to break out of their defensive zone and through center ice, physical blunders and mental errors have reared their ugly heads.

Opposing teams have had the most success forcing black Bear turnovers when they’ve been able to put Maine’s defensemen under heavy forechecking pressure, as well as staying structured in the right areas at center ice.

The two Boston teams caused Maine fits with an aggressive forecheck, while teams like Stonehill also made it difficult for the Black Bears to get the puck up ice through a stubborn neutral zone trap.

Once Maine can break the opponent’s defensive line and get the puck deep into their offensive zone, the Black Bears buzz at their best through their heavy and tenacious grinding game against the board.

Getting into these positions, though, has been the challenge and the problem is as much mental as it is physical.

Maine looks their best and most fluid when their defensemen have the confidence and ability to skate the puck to gain the red line rather than try and thread a pinpoint pass that risks being picked off.

Special teams

One of the biggest improvements has been Maine’s special teams success, especially the power play, which has led the charge this season. Currently scoring at a rate of 28.2% (3rd best in the country), up from 22% last year, the Black Bears man-advantage has become one of their most significant strengths.

At the beginning of the year, only the first power play unit performed to par, spearheaded by the double-headed monster of Thomas Freel and Harrison Scott. Freel has 7 PP goals to his name, the most in the nation, while Scott has 5, part of his team-leading 10 goals. Freel’s unwavering dominance in front of the net has been a sight to behold, while Scott has been able to score many of his power-play goals from shots further away from the net due to the traffic Freel and company set in front of the opposing goaltenders.

Since the weather cooled down, Maine’s second PP unit has begun to find its footing with Josh Nadeau’s shooting stick getting into gear. Earlier in the season, Nadeau played on the power play in the bumper position, right in the middle of the slot. As such, he was surrounded by opposition sticks, having to one-time his shots on the net quickly without any space to play with. But as the season wore on, Nadeau began to find himself up top more often, quarterbacking the power play from the blue line. This allowed him more space and time to take a pass, survey his options, and take a couple of strides toward the net before firing a shot.

Nadeau is less of a natural goalscorer than is his brother Bradly, whose lethal one-timers wreaked havoc across Hockey East last season. Josh is much more built in the playmaker mold, choosing to slow the game down with the puck on his tape in order to set up a play rather than ripping off quick, immediate, and instinctual shots towards the net.

Shot location of goals scored

Last season, one of the biggest aspects of the game with which Maine struggled, especially against big and heavy defensive structures, was getting to the front and establishing themselves there in the dirty areas.

This season, it has been one of their strengths.

Whether it is from a rapid odd-man rush or a slow and methodical cycling of the puck, Maine is driving to the net with purpose and without fear, causing mayhem in the opposition crease.

Last year, it seemed as though the Black Bears tended to try to score by setting each other up with quick lateral passes for shots by the faceoff circles. This season, Maine’s offense is playing much more directly, trusting that when they get pucks on net, they have the fortitude to grab a greasy area goal.

Individual stats

A note on a couple of the categories listed in individual statistics.

TOI refers to the average time on ice an individual player plays in a game. Defensemen tend to log more minutes than forwards, and players who are given the responsibility on the special teams tend to play more during a game than those who don’t.

TOI can also give us a sense at how much the coaching staff trusts a certain player to be on the ice in the game’s biggest moments. Coaches will want their best, most trustworthy individuals on the ice late in the game or when the game hangs in the balance. It is no surprise that David Breazeale, a captain, leads the team in average ice time per game, followed shortly by fellow d-men Frank Djurasevic and Brandon Holt, while Scott has the most ice time for any forward.

CHIP (College Hockey Individual Point value) is a new analytical metric that attempts to place a single number on a player’s overall value. Created by College Hockey News, it works similarly to WAR in baseball, encompassing a large number of stats into just one number.

The higher the CHIP value, the greater the impact the player has on the game.

CHIP value takes into account things like time on ice, shot location, and strength of schedule in order to come up with a single holistic value.

It is no surprise that Harrison Scott and the immense and far-reaching impact he has on every aspect of the game for Maine, far and away, leads the team in CHIP value.

That said, CHIP value is not a perfect science and pales in comparison to some of the analytics used in the NHL.

Nonetheless, CHIP in combination with other stats still tells us a lot about how an individual player is performing throughout the season. And along with individual stats, it is interesting to look at how different line combinations have shifted and developed as the coaching staff have tinkered with the lines, searching for the combinations that will get the best out of each individual and the trios as a whole.

Harrison Scott — There isn’t much to say about Harrison Scott that hasn’t already been said countless times over the course of the season. He always seems to be everywhere at once and it’s hard to recount a single poor game or bad shift from him. It’s wild to think that before last season, he was a complete unknown and has suddenly become not only Maine’s best skater but one of the most elite high-end talents in all of college hockey. His sheer work ethic and energy is a sight to behold.

Thomas Freel — The king of the power play, Scott’s partner in crime, Freel can do much more than just stand in front of the net and bang home goals until the cows come home. Freel is a terrific two-way forward who rarely puts a foot wrong and is tough as nails. He’s the type of player that you love when he’s on your team and hate when he’s not, always mixing it up after the whistle. The duo of Freel and Scott has got to be one of the most dynamic pairs in the game. Their chemistry continues to grow, and the results of that are clear.

Taylor Makar — Makar has been a revelation in his first year at Maine. Already close to doubling his points total from last season at UMass, Makar is the type of player that you can plug into any situation with confidence. His chemistry with Nolan Renwick and Ross Mitton, especially at the beginning of the year, was outstanding, and the points that line produced rivaled only that of the New Brunswick line last season. Since then, they have cooled off, eventually leading to Barr moving Josh Nadeau with Makar and Renwick, which has worked out well for both.

Josh Nadeau —  Given his slow start to the season, many wondered if he would be able to have the same impact on the game as he did last year alongside his brother. It took a while for Nadeau to find the right line to click with, but it seems as though he is finding himself in a lot better scoring areas next to Nolan Renwick (with whom he jelled so well with at the end of last year) and Taylor Makar. Last season, Josh wasn’t the primary goal scoring threat on his line. Whenever Bradly had the puck, he would force the defense to double up to defend him, leaving Josh with more open space. Early this season, he was his line’s primary threat and was being defended as such. Now alongside Makar, another talent circled in red-marker in the opposition dressing room, Nadeau has prospered, looking like his best self again when simplifying his game,

Nolan Renwick — Finally healthy after his last campaign was marred by injury, Renwick has grabbed this season by the horns. Diligent and trustworthy on both sides of the puck, the senior is having his best year as a Black Bear yet. He has even developed a wicked one-timer from the right faceoff-circle alla Bradly Nadeau, whom he credits for his new weapon.

Ross Mitton — Part of the unstoppable line with Renwick and Makar at the beginning of the season, Mitton’s numbers have since cooled. If he continues to play alongside Scott and Freel, as he did right before the break, it will be interesting to see how that line works in tandem, as all three players are very similar. Physical and with a quick first step, Mitton’s frame excels at holding onto the puck and allowing reinforcements the time to find open ice for a pass. Now, in his fifth season playing college hockey, it’s clear he is full of veteran experience, always making the smart play rather than the over-ambitious one. His father has become a fan favorite.

Lynden Breen — Speaking of fan favorites, the lowlight of this season, perhaps even more so than the sweep at BC, was the awful injury Breen endured at RPI. Making that matter worse was the fact that in the week leading up to the injury, not only was he looking like Maine’s best player but one of the best in the whole country. Having always been a streaky player offensively, even when he wasn’t scoring, his defensive work spoke for itself, especially his innate ability to pickpocket a puck carrier when backchecking. The injury doesn’t sound good and any return to the ice this season will feel immensely positive.

Owen Fowler — Breen’s linemate in late November and early December when they, alongside Charlie Russell, were carrying the team offensively, Fowler has been a pleasant surprise in his first year at Maine since transferring from Lowell, where he missed last season due to a knee injury. He’s been an absolute beast killing penalties this season, shepherding the opposition deep in their own end through his intense energy. Barr referred to him as a waterbug-type player, which seems like the perfect metaphor for Fowler’s endless motor and tenacity.
Charlie Russell — But perhaps the biggest surprise delivered by any of the new Black Bears this season has been the play by Russell. Flying under the radar coming into the year after playing for Clarkson for half a season before going back to juniors, Russell has grown in confidence with every game under his belt. A very assured puck-handler, Russell excels at carrying the puck up ice but also has a knack for winning it back against the boards. His team-leading 12 assists this season pays point to the fact that the Black Bears have found a diamond in the rough with Russell. Moving to center after the injury to Breen, Russell looks like a jack of all trades able to play all over the ice.

Sully Scholle — Scholle has had a snakebitten start to the season, only scoring once so far this year. Showing flashes of his high-end brilliant talent, he hasn’t had a consistent impact on the games until recently. Hopefully, now that he’s playing on his off-wing side where he played his best last season, he will start finding quiet areas of the ice by the left faceoff circle where his quick shot is at its most lethal.

Oskar Komarov — Another newcomer who hasn’t seemed to need any time getting up to speed at the college level, Komarov has led the fourth line to impactful performances in just about every game, sometimes even sparking the rest of the team. An effortless skater, Komarov’s strides look slow, but he is rapid on the forecheck and is terrific at wrestling the puck off an opponent’s stick down-low.

Thomas Pichette — Pichette hasn’t played much this season, but whenever he has, he’s looked more than capable at playing at this level. Going about his business quietly and efficiently, he showcases the high-quality strength in forward depth at Barr’s disposal. Whenever he touches the ice, he makes a positive impact, and you can’t ask much more from a rotated fourth-line freshman. Being able to play on the wing and at center makes him a valuable commodity.

Nicholas Niemo — Having not played this season until the last weekend before the break, Niemo didn’t look rusty at all in his first game, scoring a goal in the process. Since the goal, Niemo has clearly been playing with full confidence. A skilled player with a wicked shot, he represents an ample scoring threat for the fourth line.

Anthony Calafiore — Calafiore provides a reliant spark when he’s on the fourth line. A pest who is constantly getting under the opponent’s skint, Calafiore plays fearlessly  despite being undersized and can drive toward the net with the best of them.

Brandon Holt — Maine’s best point-producing defenseman in recent memory, Holt has had a breakout season during his junior campaign. With the second-highest CHIP value on the team and a whopping 11 points, he is an offensive threat but has perhaps been even better defensively, brilliant at absorbing an oncoming rush and squeezing a puck carrier off the puck. Quarterbacking the first unit PP, Holt has been missed during an injury that has taken him off the ice in the past few weeks. One of the most underrated players in Hockey East, it sounds like Holt should be healthy again come the return from the holiday break.

David Breazeale — Maine’s co-captain, has had an odd season. He’s had moments of magic, like his overtime winner against Quinnipiac, but has also looked shaky and not like himself, especially with the puck on his stick. The senior, who was Barr’s first recruit, joined the team as a walk-on and has ever since found a way to raise his level every time it was thought that he had found his ceiling, so don’t count him out. Barr clearly trusts Breazeale immensely, considering he leads the team in average ice time per game.

Brandon Chabrier — Chabrier has also had an odd start to the season. At this point last season, he had 5 goals and 15 points. This year, he has no goals and only 5 points, but at the same time, he leads all defensemen in +/- with +12, tied for the team lead. He’s flown under the radar so far.

Luke Antonacci — Another defenseman who hasn’t  yet had a considerable impact, positive or negative, this season, Antonacci has seen less ice time than he has in previous years. Often being used as the extra skater, Antonacci has never been much of an offensive weapon which may be Barr’s reasoning  for using him less this season. But though he’s very small for a defenseman, on the plus side Antonacci is the definition of quiet efficiency. He is the only Maine player with a negative CHIP value.

Jack Dalton — The only Maine player with a negative +/-, Dalton has had an up and down season in his first full year as a Black Bear. Sometimes looking overwhelmed in the big moments with the puck on his tape in his own end, Dalton has started to produce offensively, earning his first five career points in quick succession before break.

Liam Lesakowski — Lesakowski is the subject of great debate among Black Bear Nation as many hold their breaths while he has the puck around Maine’s net. Yet his 6’5” 220 lbs frame is a valuable commodity on the backend and the fact that he has significantly reduced his penalty minutes this season is a great sign that he is maturing. It’s easy to forget that he is just a sophomore and should only continue to grow in the right direction.

Increased strength in scoring depth

To date the Black Bears have scored a similar number of goals as they did through sixteen games last season when powered by the Nadeau Show, . but that stat masks a more important development. Sure, they’ve lost Bradly’s bunches of goals and the sparkling chemistry he had with brother Josh, but Maine has more than made up for that setback with a significantly increased depth of forward-scoring riches. No Black Bear can match last year’s totals with Josh’s 24 points and Bradly’s 23 points through 16 games — although Scott currently has 20, but Maine is getting their points from a much wider array of  team members. Last season, at this point in the campaign, the Black Bears only had 8 players with more than 5 points. This year, they have 12. Last season, Maine had 6 players with greater than 10 points. This year, they have 9.

 This shift may not seem at first glance  like an advance in light years, but the on-ice impact has been noticeable. Maine now has three high-quality scoring lines instead of being reliant on just two. And with a fourth line that is improving as well, Maine’s depth in forward strength can now be counted as one of their strong suits. The ability to roll four high-quality lines one after the other means the Black Bears are now poised to dive into this campaign’s second half with a solid foundation.