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This story can be found online at:
http://www.pressherald.com/sports/college/hockey/040320umainehockey.shtml

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                        Saturday, March 20, 2004

                                                    Howard proves enough


                            By  KEVIN THOMAS, Portland Press Herald Writer

                          Copyright  2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.



  TODAY'S GAME


      TODAY'S GAME

  Who: UMaine vs. UMass

    When: 7 p.m. today

    Where: FleetCenter, Boston

    TV: NESN





 BOSTON  --  Freshman Mike Hamilton has been in and out of the University of Maine hockey lineup. "We saw a lot of good flashes from him," Maine Coach Tim Whitehead said.

     Whitehead saw one more Friday night.

     Hamilton's one-timer past the estimable Sean Fields with 12:51 left was enough as the Black Bears beat Boston University 1-0 in the Hockey East semifinals at the FleetCenter.

     Maine goalie Jimmy Howard continued his hot streak with a 21-save shutout.

     Second-ranked Maine (29-7-3) moved into the final at 7 tonight against Massachusetts, which rallied to beat New Hampshire, 5-2. Maine is looking for its first Hockey East title since 2000.

     Boston University (12-17-9) saw its underdog run end.

     The Terriers were riding the shoulders of Fields, who helped BU upset top-seeded Boston College in the quarterfinals. Fields made 31 saves Friday.

     "The biggest thing was to get the puck to the net and take (Fields') eyes away," Hamilton said.

     But Fields wasn't screened on Hamilton's winner.

     Maine dumped the puck behind the net. Dustin Penner applied an effective check, freeing the puck to Jon Jankus, who sent it to Hamilton in the right circle.

     Hamilton immediately shot, sending the puck over Fields' blocker.

     "I heard him screaming for the puck," Fields said. "He got it off pretty fast and he put it where he had to."

     The goal culminated Maine's fast start in the third period. The Black Bears kept generating chances.

     "The game was played the way we wanted until the third period," BU Coach Jack Parker said. "They picked it up a notch. We didn't."

     BU dominated early. Maine couldn't get control in BU's zone for the first five minutes.

     Howard stopped Bryan Miller's breakaway with his pads at 3:40, then stood tall on back-to-back BU power plays (five-on-three for 13 seconds).

     At the end of the second power play, Howard stopped a blast, but the puck bounced to his left where BU's leading scorer, Frantisek Skladany, stood at the back door.

     Skladany one-timed the rebound but Howard kicked out his left leg - like the flipper in a pinball game - and stopped it.

     "He stretched out his leg longer than we thought he could," Whitehead said. "It was a great save. (Howard) has such great anticipation."

     Howard never came close to faltering for his third shutout in his last four games and sixth this year. It also marked the 10th straight game Howard hasn't allowed an even-strength goal.

     "He's a real technically sound goalie. Very poised," Parker said.

     Fields was countering Howard's performance. Late in the second period he stopped a Colin Shields blast, then stoned Greg Moore on the rebound.

     But Whitehead liked what he saw. "We started grabbing the momentum," he said.

     Maine came out flying in the third, setting up the score by Hamilton, a freshman from British Columbia. It was his fifth goal in a season in which he's been up and down.

     "We have such a strong team," Hamilton said, "that if you get in the lineup, you have to play well or someone will take your spot."

     Whitehead said Hamilton had trouble with consistency "but he has a lot of upside. He's strong. He can skate and he can shoot the puck. He reminds us of Lucas Lawson (an all-league forward last year)."

     After Hamilton's score, BU put on the pressure. Fields came off at 18:27, but Maine held on.

     "Our guys cleared out the front of the net and I saw all the shots," Howard said.

     Howard's six shutouts this year and nine career are school records.

     MASSACHUSETTS 5, NEW HAMPSHIRE 2: Mike Warner scored two third-period goals and his brother, Tim Warner, made 27 saves as Massachusetts (19-11-6) came back from a two-goal deficit to beat New Hampshire (20-14-6) in the Hockey East semifinals at Boston.

     Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

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