Here's two points about today's Maine win for all the Maine-bashers reading
this list (you know who you are):
 
1.  Maine got all the calls this afternoon.  The home team got jobbed on
more than one call.
2.  Wansborough (again) barely kept his emotions in check for the game.  He
needs to be reminded the "C" does NOT stand for "complain" or "chippy"
 
HOWEVER, sports fans --
 
Could a full house (with students in attendance) be any more quiet than the
New Hampshire crowd today ?  Could they do any better than two cheers, one
using the word "suck" which is low class, the other confirming the home
fans can't spell the name of their own state ?
 
What did the home team expect to see from Maine ?  Did the initial goal
take that much out of the home team that they had to resort to
dump-and-chase for the remainder of the contest (except for one Governor's
Cup-like rush in the third period which Alfie deflected nicely) ?  A team
which flew in the two games I saw in Nov.  looked like they had cement in
their skates today.   I had to remind myself that the home team did NOT
play on Saturday, and they beat NU on Friday night.
 
While the calls really went Maine's way most of the day, the fact the home
team did not capitalize should set one to wonder how the team can achieve
the consistency to move more than a few games in the tournament toward a
FleeceCenter slot in April.    Gee, sounds familiar with that team, eh,
fans  ?  Second period shots were 26 for Maine to 9 for the opponent !!
 
Maine executed the NZ trap to perfection.  Imagine if they can execute this
way on smaller non-Olympic rinks.   Methinks the Maine draw in the HE
playoffs may be key to the automatic berth which is the only way they can
realistically expect an invite to this year's big tournament.  Imagine if
they could get hold position for a 4-5 draw and not meet BU or today's
opponent in the initial round; hoping of course that someone else could
knock one of those two off ?
 
Umile got outcoached, also.  Someone would have to explain how he failed to
revise the game plan, or better motivate his team after the first goal, and
his being shown a completely different defensive look by Maine than he had
seen in the last visit to the Whittemore ?
 
Matile, usually a stellar netminder in other games, let in a real softie in
the second Maine goal.  He really hung in there after taking one square off
the mask today, waving off trainers after a generous injury whistle stopped
the game.
 
BTW, I'm watching the Ducks v. Chicago, and former Maine broadcaster Gary
Thorne avoided the usual cliche for a penalty shot failing to call it "the
most exciting play in sports".  We can graduate great playcallers, too.
Whereas, if Barry Melrose "sees more hockey games than anyone else in the
world", why is he such a moron ?  Cujo coming to the Flyers, meaning what
about Garth (another Maine product) ?  But I digress...
 
Maine is setting itself an example which could prove helpful come the
tournament.
 
Who wants me to post this to HOCKEY-L ?
 
M-A-I-N-E  -- we can spell.  New Hampshire -- you sucked.  Who were the
dead fish today ?
 
 
Dan Doucette -  we'll see who plays at the FleeceCenter...