Goalie play key for UM in NCAAs

So which University of Maine hockey team will show up for the NCAA Tournament’s Midwest Regional in Ann Arbor, Mich.? The one that beat Boston University, Boston College and New Hampshire on the road? Or the one that lost to Providence, Boston College, and UMass (twice) at home?

There is no way to tell.

A Maine team has never entered the NCAA Tournament coming off a three-week layoff.

What is known is that the Bears are 23-14 in NCAA Tournament play and the current team is 9-4-1 against other NCAA tourney teams, including a 5-3 mark against teams seeded above them in the final PairWise Rankings.

This will be one of their stiffest challenges in regional play.

They will first play a University of Michigan team on its home rink, the Yost Ice Arena, where the CCHA champion Wolverines are 16-2 this season.

If the Bears get past Michigan, they will face Colorado College, which should have an easy time against College Hockey America champ Wayne State (Mich.).

Colorado College, the WCHA regular-season titlist, has been the nation’s top-ranked team for a large portion of the season.

So what will the Bears have to do to advance to their fourth Frozen Four in five years?

. Postseason hockey is ultimately decided by goaltending.

Jimmy Howard and Frank Doyle were nothing short of sensational through the first 26 games. They have both stumbled of late, particularly Howard, who was lifted in both Hockey East quarterfinal losses to UMass after allowing three goals in each.

So who gets Saturday afternoon’s start?

When both were playing well, Howard was a little better. He controlled his rebounds more efficiently, was in better position for second shots, and was a bit more under control. He squared himself to the shooters and used his 225-pound frame to eat up a lot of net.

But Doyle has been sharper lately and the team may have more confidence in him.

That’s why I expect him to get the start.

Both are capable of stealing games in which their teammates get outplayed. They have proven that.

. The team itself must do a better job gapping.

It’s critical.

If there is too much space between the forwards and the defensemen, opposing forwards are able to generate a lot of speed through the neutral zone, which makes it even more difficult on the defense corps.

UMass showed the Bears the importance of gapping as their forwards and defense formed a tight box. If the Maine puck carrier was able to maneuver past a UMass forward, a defenseman would step up and confront him.

Confrontation creates turnovers and UMass generated numerous chances off those turnovers.

. Maine must get great performances from its best players. The Bears can’t afford any sub-par performances. And their skilled forwards must also be tenacious backcheckers.

They must stop and start. If they lose possession, they can’t cruise for a stride or two. They must stop and hustle back.

. The Bears must win the Grade-A areas in front of each net. Defensively, they’ll need to block shots and get their bodies in the shooting lanes. Offensively, they must be relentless in front of the net manned by Michigan freshman Al Montoya. Shoot from everywhere and drive to the net looking for rebounds and garbage goals. Be gritty.

They must force Michigan’s defense to physically remove them from the front of the net.

. Limit turnovers.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231 or 1-800-310-8600. His email address is lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.