Dave Hendrickson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
 
> BU-UML
> ------
> Craig Lindsey as number three star along with compliments from Crowder?
 I
> don't get it.  However, on the third goal, the UML defenseman seemed to
have
> Bates reasonably tied up (though not totally) so Bates did not get a
strong
> shot off yet Lindsey took forever getting side-to-side.  That was the
one
> critical goal that I have the most trouble with.  The final goal Lindsey
> had no chance on.
 
Nothing but agreement from this fan.  That third goal was basically the
game.  Credit Bates with an outstanding play just getting ANY kind of shot
off, but in watching the replay this morning I have to wonder what Lindsay
was doing.  It looked like he just figured that Bates was all tied up and
there would be no shot coming and by the time he decided he'd better get
over to the near side, the puck was already behind him.  Non-chalant is
the word that comes to mind.  After being down now so late in the game,
Lowell seemed to abandon the type of play that kept BU tied up in favor of
more scoring opportunities, and they just never regrouped.
 
The second goal that BU scored was also shaky.  Lowell had just gone up
2-1 and seemed to have BU a bit confused until Bates broke down the right
side and put a seemingly harmless shot right by Lindsay.
 
In fairness to Lindsay, though, he did make some outstanding saves during
the game.  His confidence has seem to have grown during the last few weeks
of the season and, as much as I doubted his abilities earlier this year,
I'm beginning to think he might be a "keeper".  I keep thinking back to
how shaky Dwayne Roloson looked at times during his freshman and sophomore
years.
 
Dave also mentioned penalties.  Right again, Dave!  This absolutely killed
any chance of Lowell coming back.  The last two years Lowell had spent far
too much time in the box and I hope this will be a point of emphasis from
Coach Crowder next season.  He doesn't have the horses to kill of
penalties likehe did a year ago, and even still, a large portion of
Lowell's penalties this season have been just plain stupid.  I was almost
ready, however, to forgive Lowell's human penalty-minute, Paul Botto, for
season long knack for sitting in the sin-bin.  He scored the second Lowell
goal on a nice shot from the slot, a goal that I hoped (at the time) might
be the game winner.
 
Hockey-L'ers may be interested in knowing that the two Lowell
fans/contributors on Hockey-L, myself and Dave Hendrickson, finally got to
meet last night at the Garden.
 
I've got a lot of hope for next year......
 
    - Steve
 
      Go Providence!!!!!