NCAA Semi-final, Thursday March 30, 1995, 1pm (according to tickets)
Providence Civic Center, Providence, RI.
 
#2 East University of Maine (31-5-6)
#1 West University of Michigan (30-7-1)
 
It's going to be a great weekend of hockey in Providence, and to start it
off will be a terrific match-up between Michigan and Maine, the two teams
who battled all year for #1 in the polls.
 
This game will pit the nations best offense in Michigan, against the nations
best defense in Maine.  Michigan incidently is 2nd in the nation in defense,
so don't expect them to be weak in that end.
 
According to earlier posts this year, Michigan's defense has seemingly
improved quite a bit this season.  I remember some discussion involving
Michigan's defense, and the poster was ripping it.  But to be holding
opponents under 3 goals a game is great accomplishment.  The Maine papers
have given Michigan the "privaledge" of being compared to the great Maine
team of 1993 that beat Michigan 4-3 in OT in the Semi-finals that year,
which was also the last time these two teams played one another.  Michigan
has some great scorers in Brendan Morrison (23-52--75), Mike Knuble
(37-22--59), and Kevin Hilton (19-31--50) but all four lines are considered
dangerous and can score on any given shift.  Freshman Marty Turco minds the
nets, and he is not too shabby himself as he earned CCHA Rookie of the Year
honors with a 2.78 GAA and a .891 save percentage.  This is the fifth
straight tournament for Michigan, and also their fifth straigh 30 win season.
 
For Maine, they bring an untested team into the Phinal Phour.  They are led
by a balanced attack of defensemen and forwards with 4 players over 40
points, and 4 more over 30 points, Maine's production comes from all sides.
Defensemen Jeff Tory leads Maine (12-40--52) as they only have one player
(Hockey East Player of the Year, Chris Imes) who skated in the 1993
Championship game.  Sophomore forward Tim Lovell (22-25--47) is second on
the team, followed by Maine's leading goal scorer junior winger Brad Purdie
(28-18--46), and Sophomore Dan Shermerhorn (23-18--41).  Ironman Blair
Allison minds the nets for Maine.  He has every decision for Maine this
year, and holds a 2.64 GAA, with a .886 Save percentage.  His play will be
key for Maine.  He has played well of late allowing only two goals in his
last two games and sporting a .950 Save percentage.  The loss to Providence
in the Hockey East Semi-finals seems to have served as a wake-up call for
the Bears, as they have played with a renewed commitment to what got them
here, defense, and as the saying goes, Defense wins Championships.
 
MAINE/MICHIGAN COMPARISON:
 
               MAINE   MICHIGAN
Power-Play      28%      29%
Penalty-kill    86%      84%
Goals/game      4.64     5.70
GAA             2.57     2.76
1 Goal Games    9-2      5-4
2 Goal Games    7-2      3-1
Longest W Streak  6        5
Powerplay Goals  75       65
Shorthand Goals  12       14
Shutouts          2        4
 
The key to this game lies in the defense of both clubs.  Both these teams
are young, Maine has more experience in the tighter games, and that may help
them, but if Maine doesn't contain Michigan early, it will be all over.
 
Incidently, when Maine leads after one period they are 22-0-4.  I'm not sure
another team can top that, so it is imperative for Maine to  grab the early
lead, and play Maine hockey if they have a chance to win.
 
I'm off the Providence tonight, we are in SEC 206 Row T Seat 18, stop by if
you're there and tell me your from hockey-l, I'll be in the white Maine
jersey!  GO BLUE!
 
 
 
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Deron  [log in to unmask]
University of Maine (31-5-6)
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS.. GO BLUE!
Bring the Hardware back to Maine!!
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