>His +/- in games Maine has LOST THIS SEASON= -15
>His +/- in games Maine has WON THIS SEASON= +27

Individual play is tough to measure in hockey.  I'm sure you realize
when a team wins, its players will in general be on the plus side of +-
...  and vice versa.  This will probably be exaggerated for offensive
minded defensemen ...  because they'll be trying to help the struggling
offense when behind.  That help will work only if they're very, very
good ...  or lucky.

IMHO, plus-minus measures the success of the team and his skating
partners perhaps more than an individual.

I suspect if you look at many stats from the 1st half and 2nd half,
you'd find huge differences.  Play in the corners, odd-men breaks given
up, Grade A saves, save percentage, face-offs won, time in the offensive
zone, etc., etc.

Same team.  Differing results.  Tough to explain.

Maybe we've seen two seasons already ...  and the team and staff will
figure out how to make the NCAA tournament a completely different third
season?  With more than 2 weeks (and school vacation during much of that
time), you'd think there's a chance ..  a chance to get well-rested ..
a chance to regain confidence in themselves and their teammates ..  a
chance for the juniors and seniors to work together ..  a chance to
forget the disappointments back in that 2nd season (and I mean theirs,
not ours).

cheers, wayne

Wayne T. Smith
[log in to unmask]                          Old Town Landing
The College Hockey lists: Hockey-L and Hockey3 at http://lists.Maine.edu/