This is going to be brief, but Providence avenged their Friday night loss to UML by winning 3-2. IMO they won in rather unimpressive fashion, however. I only heard the shots on goal announced for the first period, but Lowell outshot them 16-6 that period but was losing 1-0. :-( Providence then scored the only goal in the second period, before UML roared back with two goals at the beginning of the third. However, Providence netted the game winner later on on a ppg and held on for the win. I still think the shot differential should be in UML's favor. Quick observations: * Chad Quennville, my favorite Providence player by far, could have been the goat for PC had Lowell tied it up in the flurry of the last 15 seconds. With about 30 seconds left Quennville took off up ice with an open net in front of him. He got over the offensive blue line, had a direct and EASY shot for the open netter, and decided to be cute and "unselfish" and pass to a teammate. The pass went awry and the door was left open for UML to tie it up and potentially win in overtime. It was a bonehead play. * Although territorial play went in Lowell's favor for most of the game, Providence made the most of their chances. All three goals were on rebounds within 10 feet of the net. There's something to be said for being opportunistic. * Last year penalties didn't hurt Lowell as much because they had the best penalty-killing team in the nation. Penalties *did* hurt them this game, though. They don't have the likes of last year's shorthanded squad. If I remember correctly, the game winner was during a penalty to Sbrocca. It was a flagrant hit from behind that was called charging. I've mildly disagreed with Mike about Christian's need to cut down on penalties in general, but this was one stupid and obvious penalty that hurt them badly. * Fankhouser, in his first start of the year in the Lowell nets, didn't see much action the first half of the game. But there was a flurry of about 5 minutes or so when he had to make 4-5 tough stops to keep Lowell in the game. It's hard to know how much to blame him for the rebound goals he gave up without checking the replay. He may have had simply no chance. But he did make some good saves. Although he's seemed the odd man odd in the battle with Lindsey and Fillion, I'd be surprised if he didn't see some more action soon. Perhaps Fillion against Merrimack on Tuesday (since it was Lindsey on Fri and Fankhouser on Sat) and then back with Lindsey against RPI next Saturday. Who knows? * It looked like a Providence player (number 12? I don't have my notes or program with me now) went spreadeagled in the net *hard*. Every male in the audience immediately bent over in extreme pain. Play moved back up ice and the ref, Gravellese I believe, did not blow the play dead until the player flopped around like a fish out of water for what felt like painful hours in a noble attempt to get to the bench. He couldn't even make it ten feet. Then they came out and checked his *knee*. It was at the far end and so what clearly looked to everyone to be an injury to one sensitive part of the anatomy, was in fact an injury to another. They took a very long time getting him off the ice, understandably so, and he went right to the locker room, but he was back within the next shift. * Lowell personnel moves: Christian Sbrocca has been moved off the first power play unit in favor of Neil Donovan. Henderson, the freshman, must still be having problems with the shoulder he injured against BU because he did not play. Jason Cormier, usually the seventh or non-dressing defenseman, played wing on a defensive line with Eric Brown (the first game I've seen Brownie dress) and Ryan Sandholm. Cormier got the second goal for UML, his first career goal in college. Sbrocca got the other one. Bullock had no goals and one assist. DaveH