I believe that Maine's biggest problem is capitalizing on the
opportunities that they create.  They usually have more chances in a
game to score than the other team does.  They always seem to misfire at
the net.  What could be a shot into an open net usually goes over the
glass.
 
Even though Maine seems to generate more chances, I think that size
and speed may be a problem.  No player here now seems to have the
explosiveness that Kariya possesed.  Maine can't burst by people into
the offensive zone to create a breakaway or a two-on-one that seems to
be happening against Maine this year quite a bit.  Maine may create more
scoring chances, but other teams are creating better chances with better
speed and strength.
 
Last night, Maine's D also had a hard time keeping Ferris State out of
their zone.  The defense does a good job of clogging up the middle, but
I would like to see them stand some players up at the blue line.  The
fact that opposing players are walking into the zone is no help and
creates opportunites for opposing teams that should not exist.  Maine
played a really good game last night.  Maybe two of the disallowed
goals should have counted.  But the fact is that Maine was beaten to
the puck and outmuscled for it.  Maine's strong point has been passing,
if they could shoot as well as they pass, who knows how much speed and
strength would matter.
 
Ben
UMaine-1993 (not '94, at least not yet) NCAA HOCKEY NATIONAL CHAMPS