Dave Hendrickson's excellent column on the UNH-Lowell game, entitled "Ifs and Buts," talks about the hard-luck aspects of Lowell's 2001-2002 season and it's HE quarterfinal loss to UNH.

Here's three more "ifs and buts" to consider:

--What if UNH's second goal had been waived off because of goaltender interference?  UNH's Kevin Truelson scored the goal on a rebound that sat 15 feet in front of the net for several seconds as a UNH player fanned on a shot and one or two Lowell players missed clearing attempts.  In the meantime, a UNH player slid into the net and knocked Lowell goalie Cam McCormick on his kiester. McCormick was unable to stop Truelson's shot because he was flat on his back.  The TV replays didn't show why the UNH player ran into McCormick--whether he just lost control or whether a Lowell player knocked him into the net, but the UNH player clearly made no attempt to avoid hitting the goalie.

--What if the UNH player who brought the puck into the Lowell zone prior to Saviano's go-ahead (3-2) goal had been whistled for a hand pass?  The hand pass didn't directly result in the goal, but it did get the puck deep into the offensive zone.  The referee may not have seen it, but it was not a marginal call--the UNH player had fallen on the puck just inside the blue line, covered it with his hand, and pushed it about 20-25 feet into the zone.

--What if UNH's fourth goal had been waived off for goalie interference.  Lowell goalie Jimi St. John couldn't stop it because UNH's Sean Collins hit his right skate from behind, causing him to pivot to the outside as the shot was coming in.

As Dave said, a lot of ifs and buts.....