UMaine ready to play Bears to battle speedy Gophers

ORONO – University of Maine hockey coach Shawn Walsh was watching a videotape Wednesday afternoon as he prepared to board the bus for the Centrum in Worcester, Mass., for his team’s NCAA Eastern Regional Tournament first-round game against Minnesota Friday night at 8:30.

“I love this time of year. It’s the best. I get up at 6:30 in the morning and I’m in the office by seven. I can’t stay away. I’m too excited,” said Walsh, who has guided 11 of his 17 Maine teams into the NCAA Tournament.

Since the inception of Hockey East in 1984-85, Maine has the league’s best NCAA Tournament record (19-12) and the most national championships (2). The Bears are tied with Boston University for the most NCAA appearances and the most Frozen Four berths with seven.

But that is background information which won’t mean anything on Friday night.

Walsh knows what to expect from a talented and speedy Gophers team that will be playing in its first NCAA Tournament since 1997.

“We’ve got to be great defensively and execute our game plan. We’ve got to be on the puck [quickly] and not give them space. We have to have great transition from offense to defense. If it is a penalty-filled game, we’ll have very little chance [of winning]. If the referee lets us play [and doesn’t call a ton of penalties], we’ll have a real good chance,” said Walsh.

He knows the offensive-minded Gophers, tied for third in the country in scoring offense at 4.07 goals per game, also have the nation’s second best power play. That could mean serious problems for his team even though his Bears are the 10th best penalty killers in college hockey.

Walsh said his Bears must receive some offensive production from sophomore center Marty Kariya and junior left wing Niko Dimitrakos.

“Although they aren’t on the same line, the combination of the two of them has to give us something offensively,” said Walsh.

Senior defenseman and co-captain A.J. Begg said he and his mates “must be ready for their speed” and their offensive focus.

“Their defensemen are offensive players, too, so we’ll have to keep an eye on them,” added Begg.

Maine junior goalie Matt Yeats said he is ready for the test.

“I’m in a relaxed frame of mind. I’m ready to play,” said Yeats, who has seen the Gophers on videotape and knows what to expect.

“They like to shoot from everywhere and they’ll throw the puck in front of the net. They get guys going to the net looking for tips and stuff like that. And they’re real good around the net. It will be a big challenge,” said Yeats.

Here is what the Bears must do to advance to a Saturday night meeting with Boston College:

1. Maine’s defensemen have to gap properly. They must step up on the Gopher forwards before they can get a full head of steam. Maine’s defense corps is fairly mobile but will have all kinds of problems if it lets Minnesota puck-carriers accept the puck with a full head of steam and some space in which to make a play or generate more speed.

2. Maine’s forwards can’t get fancy in the high slot in the offensive zone and turn the puck over. The Bear defensemen could get caught flat-footed and the result would be a three-on-two or a two-on-one opportunity for the Gophers.

3. Yeats must play extremely well. He has been playing some of his best hockey lately but he has still been victimized by “soft” goals. There is no room in the NCAA Tournament for soft goals. They always haunt you.

4. Shoot the puck, don’t overhandle it, and keep the shots low unless you see an open top corner. Drive to the net for rebounds. Most goalies at this level give up rebounds but shooting into his chest isn’t going to yield many. And release the shots quickly.

5. Send a message early in the game with some crunching checks. The Gophers don’t have NCAA Tournament experience; Maine has plenty of it. The Bears might be able to catch the Gophers adjusting to the new experience and pop a few early goals on them.