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