John_Fuller
New member
Re: UML @ Maine 11/11 & 11/12
Wow, what an incredible weekend. Little did I think Lowell had a chance after the second Maine goal.
The first ten minutes of the game were fairly competitive, but Maine had clear control of the game for the next thirty minutes. They pretty much dominated every physical battle, were hitting River Hawks with ease and getting to loose pucks. Lowell by no means played badly, but Maine was the better team for the first two periods.
Ironically, I don't put the first goal on any of the players. I place complete blame for Maine's first goal on the coaching staff. For about a two-minute stretch Maine was dominating and had fantastic puck-possession. They were generating oodles of offensive chances in the Lowell zone and the crowd (who was quiet by Maine standards to start) got into the game. Shortly thereafter, Lowell iced the puck with the same line on the ice. They were completely gassed and keeling over. I instantly had the time-out sign and mentioned that the team needed the time-out to settle down (from a crowd noise perspective) and to swap the lines. One observation was that it was too early. My response was give our history what's more important, a time-out or giving up the first goal of the to Maine in Alfond. Four seconds later, the puck's in the back of the net, the crowd is nuts, and definitely dismissed any viable chance of obtaining points. The funny part was that in the second period, Maine was faced with a similar situation and did utilize their time-out to swap the line.
While the second period was just about entirely controlled by Maine, Lowell did have some chances but did not actively go to the net. Like the previous night, Lowell tried to get into this cutesy passing scheme to break up a physical trap that Maine set up, collapsing down in front of their net. There were crazy scrambles in front of Sullivan but no Lowell player could break through and were beat to loose pucks consistently by their Maine counterparts. Without Doug Carr's immense and ridiculous save on a Maine player with about three minutes left in the period, I don't think there is a comeback.
I still can't believe what happened in the third. Lowell came out much better generating a nice opportunity in the first minute. Then Maine started to take those undisciplined penalties which Lowell took full advantage. Wetmore's first goal was highlight reel quality off of Hegarty's interference. I'm still trying to figure out the thought process with the eight person line change that Maine was called for too-many men, followed up with a panicking Mangene losing his stick that directly led to two Lowell goals within a minute. Because Lowell did not use their time-out, they were able to use it before the 5x3. Some may argue that's why you don't use your time-out that early, but I consider the fact that Lowell was even in that position was an early Christmas present by Maine. Lowell had control of the two PP's. Perfect execution on Wetmore's second and Wilson's goal was of Mike Lange quality but I've never seen people walk out of Alfond with 11:00 to play in a one-goal game. Boo-birds from the Alford crowd was also something new.
When rat ba$tard Joey Diamond scored on an inevitable power play after Lowell got three in a row, the game was tied and I thought overtime was virtually certain. However, one thing that instantly popped into my head is that both teams did use their time-outs and did have an impact on the game. When Furlong got beat and committed a penalty on a driving Maine forward, I thought we were in trouble. I'd love to see where Jacob Rutt's thought process was but nullifying that penalty with an inexcusable boarding of Ferreira was simply mind-boggling and unbelievable at the same time. The hit was almost a full four seconds after the whistle and couldn't believe my eyes. That was the textbook example of a "dumb penalty".
When Ruhwedel put home the game-winner with just over a half-minute left, I thought we were going to need a police escort out of the barn. I honestly wonder if Whitehead was quickly whisked away by UMaine police because those Maine fans were looking for blood. The atmosphere felt like a funeral and I've never seen Maine fans so despondent and distraught. In some ways it was chilling; if there were pitch-forks available, I'd wonder if a few of the fans wanted Whitehead. The overwhelming response from the Black Bear faithful are looking to ride Whitehead out of town on the first Concord Coach they can find.
In summary, a historic weekend that capped off a dominant win again BU. I don't know how they can top this next weekend.
Wow, what an incredible weekend. Little did I think Lowell had a chance after the second Maine goal.
The first ten minutes of the game were fairly competitive, but Maine had clear control of the game for the next thirty minutes. They pretty much dominated every physical battle, were hitting River Hawks with ease and getting to loose pucks. Lowell by no means played badly, but Maine was the better team for the first two periods.
Ironically, I don't put the first goal on any of the players. I place complete blame for Maine's first goal on the coaching staff. For about a two-minute stretch Maine was dominating and had fantastic puck-possession. They were generating oodles of offensive chances in the Lowell zone and the crowd (who was quiet by Maine standards to start) got into the game. Shortly thereafter, Lowell iced the puck with the same line on the ice. They were completely gassed and keeling over. I instantly had the time-out sign and mentioned that the team needed the time-out to settle down (from a crowd noise perspective) and to swap the lines. One observation was that it was too early. My response was give our history what's more important, a time-out or giving up the first goal of the to Maine in Alfond. Four seconds later, the puck's in the back of the net, the crowd is nuts, and definitely dismissed any viable chance of obtaining points. The funny part was that in the second period, Maine was faced with a similar situation and did utilize their time-out to swap the line.
While the second period was just about entirely controlled by Maine, Lowell did have some chances but did not actively go to the net. Like the previous night, Lowell tried to get into this cutesy passing scheme to break up a physical trap that Maine set up, collapsing down in front of their net. There were crazy scrambles in front of Sullivan but no Lowell player could break through and were beat to loose pucks consistently by their Maine counterparts. Without Doug Carr's immense and ridiculous save on a Maine player with about three minutes left in the period, I don't think there is a comeback.
I still can't believe what happened in the third. Lowell came out much better generating a nice opportunity in the first minute. Then Maine started to take those undisciplined penalties which Lowell took full advantage. Wetmore's first goal was highlight reel quality off of Hegarty's interference. I'm still trying to figure out the thought process with the eight person line change that Maine was called for too-many men, followed up with a panicking Mangene losing his stick that directly led to two Lowell goals within a minute. Because Lowell did not use their time-out, they were able to use it before the 5x3. Some may argue that's why you don't use your time-out that early, but I consider the fact that Lowell was even in that position was an early Christmas present by Maine. Lowell had control of the two PP's. Perfect execution on Wetmore's second and Wilson's goal was of Mike Lange quality but I've never seen people walk out of Alfond with 11:00 to play in a one-goal game. Boo-birds from the Alford crowd was also something new.
When rat ba$tard Joey Diamond scored on an inevitable power play after Lowell got three in a row, the game was tied and I thought overtime was virtually certain. However, one thing that instantly popped into my head is that both teams did use their time-outs and did have an impact on the game. When Furlong got beat and committed a penalty on a driving Maine forward, I thought we were in trouble. I'd love to see where Jacob Rutt's thought process was but nullifying that penalty with an inexcusable boarding of Ferreira was simply mind-boggling and unbelievable at the same time. The hit was almost a full four seconds after the whistle and couldn't believe my eyes. That was the textbook example of a "dumb penalty".
When Ruhwedel put home the game-winner with just over a half-minute left, I thought we were going to need a police escort out of the barn. I honestly wonder if Whitehead was quickly whisked away by UMaine police because those Maine fans were looking for blood. The atmosphere felt like a funeral and I've never seen Maine fans so despondent and distraught. In some ways it was chilling; if there were pitch-forks available, I'd wonder if a few of the fans wanted Whitehead. The overwhelming response from the Black Bear faithful are looking to ride Whitehead out of town on the first Concord Coach they can find.
In summary, a historic weekend that capped off a dominant win again BU. I don't know how they can top this next weekend.
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Have to keep in mind that this is a family show. 