Here's a couple Eastern viewed outlooks for you all: PROVIDENCE COLLEGE FRIARS (21-14-3) The Providence College Friars will take the Golden Gophers from Minnesota Saturday in the NCAA West Regional. Providence earned the right to play Minnesota by winning their second Hockey East Tournament with a 3-2 win over Maine last Saturday. Providence went 4-0 in the tournament, only allowing opponents 2.5 goals a game. Included in that is defending national champion Boston University. PC beat the Terriers 5-4 in the Hockey East Semi-finals. Providence held leads of 4-1 and 5-2 in this game before the potent Terriers made a furious comeback. There is a history between Providence and Minnesota in the NCAA's. In 1991 the two teams met in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. This was the last year of the best-of-three campus format where the host Gophers won the series 2-1 with wins in games 2 and 3. Providence opened the series with a 4-3 win. Minnesota responded by winning convincingly 8-4 and 8-3 to move on where Maine eliminated them 2 games to none. This was also the last time the Friars made the NCAA Tournament. Providence also competed in the 1985 and 1989 NCAA Tournament. Providence lost in the NCAA Championship game in 1985 to RPI 2-1. In 1989 Providence eliminated Northern Michigan 2 games to 1 before being ousted by Maine in a 2OT final third game, also one of the better games in the NCAA Tournament history. Minnesota and Providence did not have any common opponents this year, so teams will have to feel each other out right from the start. While Minnesota is the #3 seed in the region, the #6 Friars could give the Gophers all they can handle. Providence has made two great playoff runs the last two years, both years making the Hockey East Championship game, and winning this year. Both years the Friars took out the #1 team in the league. Last year it was Maine, whom Providence smoked 7-3 and this year BU. The key to Providence advancing to face Michigan is to get out to a lead. Anyone who has seen Providence enough will tell you that when they get out to a lead it is difficult for a team to win, especially teams like Maine and BU who use skating to create offense. As Mike said (and he's right on here) if the game is boring, chances are it is very good for Providence. Ask how many non-PC fans felt the Hockey East Championship game was one of the least exciting in recent memory. Providence goalie Dan Dennis' play very much mirrors his team in front of him. When the Friars are at their best both defensively and offensively Dennis is also very much on his game. Dennis plays his worst when the defense breaks down in front and the teams are being able to get a lot of shots. Providence's defense does not allow many second-chances when they are on, and they also allow Dennis to see the shots coming. Dennis very rarely plays poorly when Providence gets out to lead, and is on their game defensively. I don't know enough about Minnesota, but I sure hope they are not overlooking Providence. There will be NO skating room for Minnesota, especially if the game stays close. Every time a Gopher comes to the red line he'll have two players in his jersey while the other three look to block the passing lanes. Minnesota will need to get out a good lead (2 to 3 goals) to be able to loosen up the center zone play from the Friars. Minnesota must not get frustrated or turn the puck over in the neutral zone because Providence has a growing number of players who have shown they can bury the puck. If Minnesota takes penalties, they will be in trouble, just ask Maine. Providence scored all three goals on the power play to win the Hockey East Championship. Remember, Providence is only 21-14-3, but they have been banged up most of the second half of the year. They led Hockey East during the first part of the season. Since they've been healthy, they've shown how dangerous they are. Mike mentioned some of the best players, Joe Hulbig, Stefan Brannare, and Mike Omicioli. Hulbig was the Hockey East Tournament MVP, but Omicioli impressed me the most. He's not big, but very crafty and good with the puck. Providence also has some good d-men, and some big forwards to clog the slot and make it hard for the Minnesota goaltenders to see the shots coming from the point. Providence also plays very well along the boards, and this is part of the Lake State System (as it's been labeled by some) that former Jeff Jackson assistant Paul Pooley has brought to Providence. Providence will keep play along the boards as long as it takes, and these are the battles that will be key in this game. I have every confidence that Providence can put this game on a more even plane with their defense, so play along the boards will be so very key to who wins and who goes home. UMASS-LOWELL RIVER HAWKS (25-9-4) UMass-Lowell had a poor Hockey East Tournament losing an emotional game to Maine in the semi-finals 5-2, then a banged-up squad gave up 4 first period goals en route to losing 7-3 to Boston University in the Consolation game. UMass-Lowell (4th seed in West) will play Michigan State University (5th seed) in the West Regional Saturday. The game is being held in East Lansing giving the Spartans a clear home ice advantage despite the lower seed. This occurred in 1994 where Lowell defeated Michigan State 4-3 and moved on the face Minnesota. The winner of Saturday's game will face off against #1 ranked Colorado College on Sunday. Others have covered Lowell pretty well, but I've seen them on tape or live 8 separate times this year so I feel pretty familiar with Lowell as well. Lowell has their most success when they play a physical game. Lowell has a knack for being able to get teams to change their style of play to match the River Hawks physical play. This generally opens the games wide open, in which Lowell excels greatly in. Lowell has 2 wins over Boston University this year, including an 8-6 win at BU in late January. There are a couple common opponents between the two teams. Michigan State played both Boston College and Maine going 1-1 in those games. The Spartans beat BC 5-2 in the first game of the year, and lost to Maine 4-3. Both games were in the Great Western Freezeout Tournament in Southern California this past October. Much has changed for the Spartans since then who lead the CCHA for most of the second half of the year. Lowell was 3-3-1 in seven games against those two opponents. Lowell went 2-1 against BC losing the first game 6-5, then winning the last two 8-3 and 6-4. Lowell was 1-2-1 vs. Maine. Maine won the first game 6-1, they tied 3-3, then Lowell beat Maine in Orono 7-5 then lost in the Hockey East Semi-finals to the Black Bears 5-2. Bob Norton of NESN has said about Lowell that they may have the best overall three lines in college hockey, and that their fourth line may be the best defensive line in the country. Whether you agree with Norton or not, what is apparent is that this team has balance. Lowell's balance is a lot like the 1995 Maine team that went to the championship game, except they are more dangerous. Players like Christian Sbrocca, Brendan Concannon, Jeff Daw, Neil Donvan, etc are all threats, and from lines 1-3 they can score. Teams have trouble with Lowell when they let up. Lowell is well coached (Bruce Crowder, Hockey East Coach of the Year), and that means they generally play hard throughout the game. If a team playing Lowell is weak defensively on any of their top three lines, Lowell will be able to exploit that. Martin Fillion is generally solid in net, but he was pulled in the Hockey East Consolation game, and looked shaking in the third period of Maine's 5-2 win. Fillion is a key for UML. He needs to play the solid game he's played over the last half of the year. Fillion does let in a weak goal every now and then, but also gets hot at times and shows that he will be a great goaltender as he progresses. Another key is UML's confidence. Mike talked about this in his NU/UML recaps during the Hockey East Quarterfinal. Throughout the second half of this year Lowell has believed that they can beat anyone, and they have. To win at Walter Brown and Alfond in the same year is excellent. The senior leadership, coupled with the coaching has really been the difference in this team. However, is that confidence intact after two big losses in the Hockey East Tournament? If Lowell beats MSU, they have a chance at Colorado College with their depth and discipline. It also would be a great confidence boost for Lowell. However to get by MSU will not be easy, especially if the confidence is not there. With two defensemen banged up (David Mayes - out w/ broken back, Chris Libett will play hurt) and the fact the game is being played in East Lansing a MSU win could hardly be called an upset. --- Deron Treadwell - [log in to unmask] University of Maine - GO HOCKEY EAST! KEEP THE HARDWARE HOME! Owner/Administrator: Maine Hockey Discussion List UMaine Hockey on the web: http://maine.maine.edu/~dtread41/mehockey.html --- HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.