I share some of Dan's concerns regarding protecting 3 goal leads.
Actually thought the defense tightened up better as the Merrimack
game went along, but did not generate as many scoring chances as I
would have liked. Best way to prevent shots on your goalie is by
playing in the offensive end.
While I only was able to listen to parts of the Dartmouth game this
call out and quote by Tim in the BDN is telling
(From game story)
Maine protected the lead impressively, outshooting Dartmouth 10-4 in
the third period and generating 12 high-percentage scoring
opportunities to Dartmouth's three.
"We responded really well in the third period," said Whitehead.
"It was a good win. It was a hard-fought game. We were consistently
physical, which we needed to be against a tough team like Dartmouth,
yet I felt we were disciplined," Whitehead added.
Personally I'd like to see Maine have more of a killer instinct at
the end of these games. Dartmouth had no business getting 2 shots on
goal in last 10 seconds when the face-off was just inside the Maine
blue line. Have to find someone to win a bloody face off when we
need it! Win a face-off win the game.
Still chalking these up as learning experiences and hoping this years
team has a better aptitude than last year. Maine may have found
another player in Hamilton who has picked up a goal and assist in the
last two games! Looking forward to seeing more of him.
Unfortunate for Jimmy with the knee, BDN reports could keep him from
going to juniors. Let's hope it is minor and just requires rest,
which he and the team will get until after Christmas!
Who would have thought that this team would have 12 wins at this point?????
Here's to more of the same in 2004!!!!!
DAN,
Thanks for the McBride reference. McBride certainly was the ref we
loved to hate. His name now brings a smile to my face, same can not
be said of PIO , but one day maybe that will change!
Finally, if anyone has in their possession a roster of Maine's 77-78
team I would like a copy. I am putting together a numerical listing
of every player to wear a Maine jersey and need only that year, and
oddly enough my senior year of 82-83. The Maine media Guide that
year did not list the players numerically and I had a couple of ?
marks.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Bob Fitta '83
>Gang, we are forgetting how the disallowed goal was given its' prominence.
>
>Maine (as I saw in news reports) sat too easily on a three-goal lead and let
>the Green back into the game late. It was strikingly similar to what I saw
>in person at the one Merrimack game.
>
>At North Andover, Maine failed to check on defence very much in the second
>and third periods, and if it were not for Howard's skills in net,
>particularly on second-shot rebound saves, Merrimack could easily have
>knotted that game up, also. As it was, 3-1 against the Warriors was not a
>"safe" lead by any means.
>
>Honestly, I saw Maine sit too easily on the lead with three early goals one
>other time this year in person, and that was where fans wore white, had
>those damn noise sticks, and I had to drive further into the state of New
>Hampshire than I would like....we lost THAT game against an arguably better
>team than either the Green or Merrimack.
>
>This is NOT a trend I like to report about, but it is a trend with Maine
>this year nonetheless. Hopefully, this tendency will be addressed in the
>break and not come up in the second half of the current campaign.
>
>Finally, I cringed whenever I saw McBride (a/k/a McBlind) hit the ice
>wearing the orange armband and striped shirt.
--
Bob Fitta
Director of Advertising
Harvard Magazine
http://www.harvard-magazine.com
ph (617) 496-6631 fax (617) 495-0324
|
