I read through Deron's fourth paragraph and repeat what I've said for a few years now.  This team / program is not as motivated as they should be.  They are not playing like a national contender, or league contender for that matter.  Not disrespect to Coach, but Walsh was the best motivator there was in the game.  Maybe we ae spoiled by that, but it's not the same.  The boys are notand have not played the do or die type of play expected in this program.  At this point I'd be surprised to see tham at Banknorth Garden.......

My .02.


>From: Deron Treadwell <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Sun Feb 05 10:03:47 CST 2006
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: UNH Series

>I was more relived than anything that Maine won on Friday.  They had to
>win that game with UNH so short on players.  It might not have been as
>dominant as I'd like, but a win is a win.
>
>Perhaps it was a bit much to hope for a sweep, but I would have liked
>to see a better performance Saturday.  UNH was motivated and took it to
>Maine -- but is anyone surprised by that?  Greg Moore is quoted in
>today's Maine Sunday Telegram:
>
>"We didn't come out ready," Moore said. "Yeah, they had some guys
>fresh, but that's no excuse for us not coming out and playing as hard
>as we can."
>
>(I wish I had a dollar for every time a Maine player or coach made a
>comment about not being ready.)
>
>Again I ask the question:  why should anyone be surprised that UNH
>would play MUCH better on Saturday with some of their best players in
>the lineup?  (Also, what is up with Moore suggesting Maine was not
>playing as hard as they could?)
>
>UNH was jumping on Saturday, but Maine should have been more ready for
>that.  They were home and in front of their own crowd, yet they were on
>cruise control until a 10 minute stretch of the third period.  It sort
>of just cemented the disappointment for me that had they come out with
>that kind of intensity it could have been a different game. 
>Inconsisent again.
>
>Anyway, I'm now sold on the fact that Maine will need to win Hockey
>East in order to make the NCAA Tournament.  (Maine tied for 20th in
>Pairwise)  What is interesting is that there are three points
>separating third place from sixth place in Hockey East, so home ice is
>still within reach which will be very important when you consider you
>might be playing Providence, Vermont or UNH in that quarterfinal game. 
>The games don't get any smaller as Maine goes to Vermont.  Two wins
>there would be huge.  It's all about the Hockey East Tournament now.
>
>Nice to see Mike Hamilton get onto the scoresheet and Greg Moore was
>good again.
>
>Deron