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
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