RE: Reality Check for Maine over BU...
 
It was painful but satisfying to hear (radio) Maine having
so much trouble with
BU on Friday night (Maine 4-3 win), consistently being beaten to the
puck and getting caught with 3-on-2s (and even 4-on-2s and 5-on-2s!!)
because their forwards were stuck up ice.  I sensed this team was
a very good one, but I also had a gut feeling that they
couldn't continue beating up on teams the way they had been.
 
Why? Because...
1.  they have outstanding goaltending, most likely the best in the
country...
2.  they have an outstanding defensive corps, right up there with
the best in the country...
3.  they have an outstanding group of offensive forwards, right up
there with the best in the country (I'm repeating myself), but...
 
(and a h...l(k) of a huge BUTTTTTT...)
 
it's not clear that these same forwards
have found the collective heart and/or understanding needed
to play defense... YET!  But when they find it, look out!
 
Last year I was watching a NESN telecast and the color man was ripping
into Scott Pellerin (Scott Pellerin!!)
for being lazy on defense in one of the BC games...
I said to myself, "so what, his offense is his defense...".  Shows you
what little I knew (and still don't know)
about college hockey.  At the same time I couldn't
figure out why such a powerful Maine team was having problems with an
essentially freshman BC team.  Just couldn't see the nose in front of
my face I guess...
 
I just picked up a NY Post, in which a writer was
crucifying Mark Messier for ignoring his
defensive game in the midst of a 5 game Ranger slide (excuse the pro
references).  The writer pointed out that Gretsky teams can ignore
defense, but that Messier's not on a Gretsky team anymore...  Interesting
that I should read this the night after the Maine/BU game...
 
Anyone who heard the weekend WABI (Bangor Maine)
radio broadcasts recognized Bruce Major as the color man
(he of the behind the goal BC/Scott LeGrand
killing in the HE finals a few years ago).
He was great.  I learned a great deal about what
ails this team (see above), while still coming away with the feeling
that Maine will indeed have to beat itself in order NOT to come out
number 1 this year...
 
Ah, those growing pains... it's like the joke about the 500 pound baby
boy... he can sleep anywhere he wants...
 
Go Blue!
Larry Latour
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