MAINE 7 UMass-Amherst 0
 
The Unversity of Maine simply pounded UMass-Amherst tonight 7-0.  Brad
Purdie had two goals and two assists, and Jeff Tory had 3 more assists to
pad his team lead.
 
Maine started the scoring at 4:45 of the first period as Scott Parmentier
connected from Purdie and White.  Maine held the 1-0 lead till the 12:47
mark when Purdie scored from Mansoff and Tory.
 
Maine came out in the second period, and put the game away with goals at
1:15 from Purdie, and at 1:41 Lovell from Shermerhorn, both goals on the
power-play and Maine was flying 4-0, and at that point Blair Allison was
pulled in favor of Blair Marsh.  Tony Tempestilli would add a goal at 13:26,
and after two it was 5-0 Maine.
 
Tim Lovell scored on the power-play at 5:37 of the third, then Shermerorn
scored 20 seconds later, and then the play became chippy, and rough as Maine
cruised in for the victory.
 
The atmosphere was just as I hoped it would be.  The crowd was electric, and
all over the Minutemen.  It was one of the better crowds in my opinion at
the Alfond this year.
 
Maine is now playing some of their best hockey of the year.  The offense has
woke up, and the defense very tight.  Maine has outscored their opponents
20-3 since losing to UMass three games ago.  That is an offensive average of
nearly 7 goals a game.  Maine has had the great defense all year, but only
now is the offense starting to come around, and couldn't be at a better
time!  Maine now moves within three games of clinching the Hockey East
regular season title.  Maine was 3-10 on the power-play, UMass had 8 chances
but did not convert.
 
Maine stuffed UMass all night.  UMass only managed 13 shots for the game, a
testament to Maine's defense.  Maine was taking UMass in the center zone,
and UMass just never set anything up in the Maine zone all night, even on
power-play, the puck just seemed to go around the outside, and several
times, Maine's penalty kill just toyed with UMass by playing pass in their
own zone, and making UMass run around like madmen.
 
Not really much else to say.  A very solid victory for Maine, in which they
played fantastic defense, and took advantage of their chances on offense.
That spells trouble for any Black Bear opponents.  Maine will host Merrimack
tomorrow.  Box score to follow.
 
 
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Deron  Treadwell - [log in to unmask]
The University of Maine (25-2-6)  GO BLUE!!
The "Magic" Point Total is 15 and counting!
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