Man do I feel old ...
Hanson calls an old-style game, not letting the linesmen call anything.
With that you miss a lot, and he did. Unfortunately, BU understands
that and Whitehead and players seem to ignore it.
IMHO, Whitehead was wrong in blowing up on Hanson ... no matter what
happened. The players were (repeatedly!) wrong in retaliating and
instigating. Yes, Leveille was viciously hit several times, but he
deserved all his penalties, and "asked" for at least his last one
Saturday. I would have given him 2 and 10. Purcell and Hamilton would
also have DQs (maybe game misconduct for Hamilton) if I was Hanson.
Both Maine 10-minute misconducts were justified. If you skate at the
official while yelling and arms flapping after he gives you 2 minutes,
you've got to expect a response. Maine whined, retaliated and was not
nearly good enough to win the Saturday game. (Friday, Maine played a
great game ... except in goal).
As has happened more than a couple times this year, Maine allowed many
more odd-man rushes than they created.
All that said, BU did a great job of interfering with the goalie,
cross-checking, holding the body and stick, and knocking the net away
just as things got interesting ... without getting penalized. Blame
Hockey East for the officiating ... Hanson was what he always is.
I thought BU players MacArthur and Morrow (aren't they and Sullivan in
their 7th year?) played like All-Americans.
Let's see ... BU comes to the Alfond and the Maine coach is the one to
make the childish, disrespectful actions. BU changes their fore check
near the end of the Friday 1st period, intercepts a poor clearing pass
and scores. Clearly, Maine has little to be proud of this weekend. :-(
Maine was good at one thing: no one was talking about what really
happened wrt Sill & Czuba.
My opinions only, some meant just to provoke discussion.
cheers, wayne
Deron Treadwell wrote:
> So BU comes to Orono and sweeps Maine at home for the first time since
> 1986.. wow!
>
> My wife suggested that perhaps we should have refrained from upgrading
> the lighting, but then again we were having trouble winning at home
> before then.
>
> I see from the Maine Sunday Telegram article this morning
> (http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/sports/college/hockey/070114umhock.html)
> that there was a confrontation between Whitehead and the officiating
> crew after the game prompting Whitehead to quip: "I was there to try
> and help him get his head through the door," said Whitehead. "I was
> just trying to be helpful."
>
> I didn't get to see the officiating at Saturday's game, (shooting the
> puck after the whistle says hello), but I did see the game on TV Friday
> and it certainly wasn't the officals fault that Bishop played terrible
> and couldn't stop a soccer ball.
>
> It is hard to figure this team out. Once again we seem to be on a
> rollercoaster ride where inconsistency rules the days. (unbeaten
> streak, then lose 3, unbeaten streak, get swept at home).
>
> Of more concern is that Maine does not yet have a win against any of
> the top teams in Hockey East and are 0-5-1 in those games (UNH 0-1, BC
> 0-1, Vermont 0-1, BU 0-2-1). The next four games (at Providence, home
> vs. Northeastern) are critical because the next six games after that..
> UNH, Vermont and BC.
>
> How was the work ethic on Saturday? It is truly amazing that BU was
> able to shut out Maine, at home the night after beating them. On
> Friday, Maine certainly did not put forth a 60 minute effort overall
> and if the news articles are to be believed this morning, Maine did not
> "bring it" and then totally lost their composure. Are they wrong?
>
> -Deron
>
|