A word or two on last nights playoff game at Brown's Meehan Areana
between Brown and Yale -
This was a playoff game from start to finish. Three (or four) goals
would be scored - one even strength, one on a power-play and the third
shorthanded. Brown came out and stormed the Yale net for close to
the first 5 minutes of the game. Letourneau, in net for Yale,
stonewalled the Bear attack and Yale rebounded to feed Brown some of
it's own medicine for the last half of the first period but Brown
goalie, Finch, was equal to the task. The best chance was a Yale
shot that broke through Finch's pads and was just cleared by the
Brown defense before it rolled into the net. Score after the first
period, 0-0.
In the second period, the up and down action continued as both teams
had good chances all stymied by great goaltending. The Elis finally
broke on top as Bowse took a feed from Gruber and walked out from
the boards before lifting a shot off the crossbar at 09:11. Brown
came right back at 03:48 with a power play goal by Hanley. Yale
appeared to score again but the goal was called back by McDonough
who said the puck was batted down with a high stick. IMO - it was
a goal, the puck was batted down with a stick but the stick was never
above anyone's shoulder - a moot point since Yale won anyway, but
this could have been a critical call. Score at the end of 2, 1-1.
The third period, no let up here on either side. Both goalers again
seemed unbeatable until 08:06 with Brown on one of what seemed to me
like too many power plays, Blaser and Ferguson of Yale combined to
steal the puck at center ice and Ferguson broke away on Finch, beating
him with a low shot to the stick side for a shorthanded goal. Brown
attacked fiercely but couldn't get the equalizer as Yale held on for
a 2-1 victory. Final saves, Finch - 28, Letourneau - 23.
I want to congratulate the Brown team on their Ivy League Championship
and commend them for a fine season. Last night's game, as the two
previous games between these teams, could have gone either way with
both teams skating well.
I have to put in a word here about SOME of the Brown spectators - whom
I find it hard to call fans. Where did these people come from?
Did they fail to take the exit off I-95 to Foxboro Stadium and instead
of end-zone seats at a Patriots game ended up at Meehan? This topic
has been discussed in this forum before, but I have to comment on the
vulgar, mindless, and obnoxious "cheers" heard at the game last night.
I sat next to a Brown fan and his young son who after the second
period actually felt obligated to apologize to me for the behavior of
these so-called fans. Who wants to bring their family to a college
hockey game and be subjected to this kind of X-rated and down-right
vicious slander? I don't call this kind of behavior "supporting the
home team". In fact, in talking to some of the Brown players after
the game even they said it was embarassing. A few of these "fans"
continued their classless act for a few minutes after the game had
ended, even as players from both teams shook hands and lingered on
the ice speaking to friends and former teammates now on the opposite
team. The game was over - life continued, but some people never
grow up.
Look out Clarkson - Yale is on a roll! (two in a row!!! 8-))
Go dogs!!! /walt
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