Hockey East Quarterfinal Game #3
#9 University of Mass.-Amherst at #1 University of Maine
8pm Alfond Arena, Orono, Maine
T.V. NESN 8pm Live Coverage
 
Well, isn't this interesting, three Hockey East games, and Three
upsets.  The next game, UMass and Maine.  One of the worst teams in
the country, against one of the best.  Should be easy right?  If Maine
knows what is good for them, they will not take the Minutemen lightly.
 
Maine has overpowered the Minutemen in 3 games this year 16-6, but
mixed in there is a 4-2 victory for UMass down in Amherst after Maine
had beat them 7-2 the night before.  A couple weeks later UMass made
their first trip to Alfond Arena, where they will be tonight, and got
trashed 7-0.  Don't expect a similar result tonight.
 
The key to this game is early.  UMass has absoultely nothing to lose,
they will come out and play their hearts out, because no one expected
them to even win the play-in game, let alone have a shot at knocking
out the #1 seed in the tournament.  They beat Maine back in in the
regular season by building a 4-0 lead in the first 30 minutes, and then
rode goalie Brian Regan to the victory.
 
Maine must come out, and play as hard as they can.  Maine is 2-2 in their
last 4 games, and did not look good really till the 3rd period of last
Friday's UNH game, where they seemed to get back on track.  Maine could
be frustrated, and a fast start is important or Maine could be watching
the Hockey East Semi's on NESN.  In both games that Maine won, they did
in fact build a lead quickly.  Some have told me that Maine's recent
lapse is because they have been uninspired because Hockey East was all
but wrapped up after the PC win over BU, but tonight is a test no doubt
about it.  The game might end up a blow-out, but it will only be that
way if Maine does their job, and does it the best that they can.
 
So in short, some people think that Shawn Walsh should be Coach of the
Year in Hockey East, it will certainly be interesting to find out if
he can be sucessfull in getting his team motivated and ready to play
this game, and NOT to look too far ahead to a game in the Garden.
---
Deron [log in to unmask]
University of Maine 1995 Hockey East RS Champs!