Just so I know what's going on. What's "props." I guess I'm too old to
be hip to all the abbs used in today's hep language. I'm also too old to
care whether anyone knows that or not.
I am NOT laying blame at the feet of the goaltenders, because as you
point out, Deron, this is a TEAM funk. We have YOUNG
goaltenders/defensemen. We have INEXPERIENCED goaltenders/defensemen.
Thus, we have INCONSISTENT goaltending/defense. Anyone who expected
anything different has their head in the clouds. Anyone comparing this
goaltending duo to Dunham and Snow are living in Never-Never Land.
If we're expecting a third national championship with a third Kariya,
and I am, we have to expect some inconsistent play. Knowing how they
played at the beginning of the year, we know they are capable of doing
that. But everything must be right. Goaltending and defense were
concerns before the season began. They are again.
I'm betting they'll put it all together again for the playoffs.
GO BLUE!

Deron Treadwell wrote:

>I'm going to try and be brief (yeah right) tonight because I don't have
>much energy left after watching Maine lay down for another opponent
>tonight (4-2 loss at UMass in case you missed the game on television).
>
>I don't know what to say other than Maine has big time problems right
>now.  It is almost hard to recognize them.  I told a friend that it was
>almost like watching UNH in one of their famous February collapses, but
>at 2-4-2 in their last 8 Maine is in a free fall now.
>
>What is scary is that you can't say that there are many signs that
>point to them coming out of it.  I don't think as a team they played
>consistently hard tonight.  UMass WANTED the game more than Maine did.
>They out worked and out hustled Maine all night and it showed on the
>scoreboard.
>
>People talk about Maine's speed and talent, but I think one of the most
>telling parts of tonights game was the first 4-on-4 situation in either
>the late second or third period.  Maine, on the larger ice sheet, could
>not even get the puck out of their own end.  Why?  Because they were
>outworked.  UMass had heart, Maine did not.
>
>All night UMass beat Maine up, forchecked them to death and really
>controlled the game.  Except for a about 10-12 minutes of the second
>period, I thought UMass carried the play.
>
>Maine continues to be outplayed physically by a significant margin.
>
>UMass dominated the faceoff circle.  It must have been close to 2-to-1
>advantage.
>
>Maine continues to take stupid penalities and turn the puck over
>needlessly.
>
>Maine continues to LACK the leadership on and off the ice that they
>have had in the past.  I think Cliff Loya is trying, but he needs help.
> I could tell by his play that he cared.  Also big props to Gray
>Shaneberger for gutting it out tonight and playing hard.
>
>I've seen teams struggle before at Maine and go through dry spells.  Or
>as Shawn used to say, "no puck luck".  This is different and it just
>feels different.  I don't know if the problem starts with Whitehead not
>being able to motivate or what, but where is the team that won 20 games
>by January?  Where are the fundamentals?
>
>The play of 2002 will get Maine into the NCAA Tournament, but they
>might not even make it out of the Hockey East Quarterfinals the way
>they are playing right now.  There is no end in sight.  They can't
>score and they can't play defense and what is most worrisome is it
>doesn't seem to improve.  Same things week after week.
>
>If I were Whitehead I'd be watching Frank Doyle carefully tomorrow, if
>he plays well again I'd plan to start him both nights next week and let
>Howard watch next weekend.  Yeah, he's not getting a lot of help, but
>he's not on top of his game right now either.  Just like when Howard
>was hot I said play him, when you are cold you've got to go to the guy
>who gives you the best chance to win.
>
>Sigh.
>
>All is not lost (aside from our hair and fingernails), once they turn
>it around they could go on a run.  Here's hoping for a turnaround
>Saturday!!!
>
>-Deron
>
>
>
>