At 01:43 AM 1/4/97 -0500, Rob Grover wrote:
 
> I'm not sure what happened, but the announcers(WLKW, 790 AM) stated that the
>arena was fairly smoky.  I don't know if that had any effect on the game-
>probably not.
 
Perhaps someone else has a more accurate account, but my understanding from
WZON radio was that the consession people seriously burned some popcorn,
causing lots of smoke.  The announcers questioned why there was no smoke
alarm, which means it must have been somewhat bad.
 
>The game started fairly quickly with a good scoring chance by Larose(Maine)
>on a feed from Libby about 3 minutes into the first.  Play went back and
>forth as both Maine and PC had some chances early on.  I kept hearing
>Dillabough, Cameron and Greene(?) for PC- they seemed to be all over the
>place.  Libby(Maine) was apparently hitting really hard every chance he got.
> Play sounded good over the radio, but the announcers said both teams seemed
>flat for the entire first period.
 
Much of the play was in the neutral zone, but remember that both Providence
and Maine are defensive orientated teams.  Over the past three seasons,
Maine/Providence games have been less than offensively orientated.
 
>Maine stepped it up a notch or two in the second and came out with scoring
>chances right away.  Roenick got stoned by Dennis after a feed from Guite at
 
This was actually a feed from Gustafsson.  Gustafsson fed Roenick who was
camped out in front of Dennis, and Dennis just shocked him with a great
save.  Roenick tried to go five-hole.
 
>later made a great save on a PC breakaway to keep PC scoreless.  Maine
>continued to play well, while PC seemed to be just going through the motions.
 
Maine did play a good second period, but keep in mind that it isn't so much
that Providence is going through the motions as that they were down 4-0, and
unable to play the style of hockey that brings them success.  The key to
beating a trapping team is to score early, and build a good lead.  That
forces the trapping team out of their element so-to-speak.
 
> Only great plays by Dennis kept the game from getting really ugly.
 
Dennis was hot-and-cold all night.  He made some great saves, like the one
on Roenick, and stopped two huge odd man rushes during the second.  He also
let in some soft goals.
 
> Wansborough scored at 9:22 on a feed from Kariya.  Wansborough used his
>strength to force his way in front of the net and Kariya somehow threaded him
>the puck.  Shortly thereafter,  the game got strange- it was like different
>teams on the ice.
 
This was a good play by Wansborough.  Kariya's pass was caught in
Wansborough's skates, but he was able to kick the puck to his stick and
convert the goal.
 
>Hopefully Deron will help me out with some of this- it's my first attempt at
>a game recap.  How'd I do?
 
I'd say pretty good!
---
Deron Treadwell ([log in to unmask])
 
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