Following a Maine loss last week to B.U., most fans expected Maine to
return to the close checking defensive style that has been their
trademark.
 
Instead they must have read the press clippings about how good the
forwards are, how good Mike Dunham is, and how close #1 is.  The first
period much too loose, the second period was the worst period for Maine
in perhaps the last half dozen years (can you imagine an SRO Maine crowd
absolutely silent as the home team skates off after the second period?),
followed by a good effort in the third period that simply didn't click
well enough.
 
Lowell out-hustled Maine, played with patience and converted
opportunities to *earn* the victory.  One Maine player said it was a
learning experience, yet I suspect the learners were the ones that
savored the victory tonight.