Since Kurt Stutt has already posted a box and RPI-oriented observations, I'll
just add a couple that are UMass-Lowell oriented.
 
*  There must be something magical about being put on the UML fourth line.
   Earlier this year Coach Crowder was unhappy with the play of Greg Bullock
   and banished him to the fourth line plus power play (I believe the quote
   was, "I'm not happy with his play so he's going to the fourth line.  But he
   will play on the power play.  I'm not stupid.") against BU.  Bullock
   promptly went out and got two goals and three assists in *each* game against
   BU for a ten point weekend and was named HE Player of the Week.
 
   Sbrocca was put on the fourth line for this game with Eric Brown and Jason
   Cormier (a defenseman until this year) as a result of his shoulder injury
   that forced him out of Tuesday's game against Merrimack.  Sbrocca scored
   two goals and was the number one star of the game.  Probably with his two
   linemates Sbrocca figured that his usual playmaking skills were going to be
   wasted and he better try to score himself.  :-)
 
   A locker room full of forwards was observed after the game volunteering for
   fourth line duty.  ;-)
 
   One matter of significant concern, however, is that Sbrocca said after the
   game that his shoulder was hurting him as badly as it has since the injury.
   That's not good news heading into the Alaska Fairbanks tourney.
 
*  I would agree with Kurt about Bullock in the first period.  I was amazed
   that RPI wasn't paying any extra attention to him at all.  They seemed to be
   treating him as just another forward.  And UML got a ton of opportunities
   as a result.  Granted UML is not a conference opponent, but tapes of HE
   games must have been available to the RPI staff and even a look at the stat
   sheet should have alerted them to the need for extra attention.  Bullock
   went into the weekend with more than twice as many points as the next HE
   scorer.
 
*  I'd heard before the game that Crowder had told his two freshmen goalies
   that they'd split the game and whoever played the best would go out to the
   Alaska tournament along with sophmore dufflebag Craig Lindsey.  I passed
   this scoop on to Jason Moy before the game (it was good to see you, Jason)
   and hopefully he used this info to impress his audience with his wealth of
   contacts because at the halfway point Martin Fillion came out and Scott
   Fankhouser went in.  Fillion had not given up a goal.  ALthough I'm not
   sure that I agree with Kurt about Fillion looking shaky on his few chances,
   I definitely agree that Fillion didn't face a whole lot of pressure.  After
   Fankhouser came in UML promptly started playing *much* worse (or RPI just
   started playing much better).  In the end Fillion gave up no goals, but with
   very few chances, while Fankhouser gave up two goals on a lot more chances.
   I think Fillion will be going out west.  First, it wasn't his fault he
   didn't get more action; he stopped everything that came his way.  Second, he
   had held the lead previously in the battle for the number two spot and might
   be considered the "tiebreaker" winner.  Third, Fankhouser gives up too many
   rebounds IMO.  The first RPI goal was a classic example.  It was eventually
   scored by a player right at the crease and Fankhouser had no chance on the
   goal.  But the reason play got to that point is that RPI had a longer shot
   and Fankhouser left a rebound out in the slot.  Clarke, I believe, picked
   the puck up in the slot and fed it to Healey on the doorstep who scored over
   a defenseless Fankhouser.  Was Fankhouser blameless because he had no
   chance on the ultimate goal?  I don't think so since he left the rebound
   out in a very dangerous position.  I'm not making too much out of one goal
   since there were numerous other rebounds and loose pucks that he allowed.
   He has definitely looked good in making big saves in his two games, but he
   has got to avoid the rebounds to cut down on the number of tough saves he
   is faced with.
 
*  UML gave up *another* shorthanded goal.  :-(  THis nearly killed them
   against Merrimack and is happening *far* too often and has to be corrected.
 
*  The more I see of Shannon Bassaraba the more I like.  He had one great play
   on a shorthanded situation that he couldn't quite finish but showed that he
   has a lot of talent.  He is small, so I think he may need to build up his
   strength the next couple years, but I think he's gonna be a good one.
 
*  I haven't seen the latest HE stats, but going into this weekend, UML was
   well represented.  Bullock was first in goals, assists, and total points.
   Jeff Daw was tied with Bullock in goals, and second in total points.  He
   picked up another goal (yet another ppg) and an assist.  Although HE doesn't
   publish leaders in penalty minutes, I'd guess that Ed Campbell is near the
   top in that category too.  :-)
 
DaveH