UM success centers on consistency

The University of Maine men’s hockey team will attempt to do something this weekend it failed to do last year: win a playoff game.

The Black Bears, who have significantly exceeded expectations with their 26-7-3 record, enter their Hockey East quarterfinal series against Merrimack College with a different mindset than a year ago.

The Bears were 6-5-1 in their last 12 regular-season games in 2002-2003, 4-5-1 over their final 10. They are 9-1-2 over their last 12 and 7-1-2 over their final 10 this season.

Maine is 6-2 against teams currently ranked in the top 10 in the weekly USCHO national poll. The Bears have already sewn up their sixth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament and only a travesty would prevent them from staying in the east and playing in an eastern regional in either Manchester, N.H., or Albany, N.Y.

Maine has held its opponents to two goals or less in 29 of its 36 games to date and continues to lead the nation in goals-against average at 1.61.

Goalies Jimmy Howard and Frank Doyle have combined for a school-record 10 shutouts.

The importance of having a one-two punch in goal was exhibited last weekend when Boston College was forced to play freshman backup Joe Pearce in place of the injured Matti Kaltiainen.

Pearce played admirably in a hostile environment but did give up some soft goals and was outplayed by Maine’s more experienced tandem in the Bears’ sweep.

What has been remarkable is Maine’s consistency. They haven’t lost back-to-back games since Dec. 27-28.

Half of their games have been decided by two goals or less and they are 10-5-3 in those games. Maine does not have a player among the top 20 scorers in the country but has received at least one game-winning goal from 16 different players.

The biggest concern, as it has been from day one, is whether the Bears can score enough goals against good competition in the postseason to make a run at the national championship.

Prestin Ryan is the only defenseman who consistently jumps into the offense and it would be helpful if the other blue-liners would join the rush to create options for the forwards.

However, they need to be judicious.

Maine has done a tremendous job limiting three-on-twos, two-on-ones and breakaways.

They want that trend to continue. They don’t want to force offense at the risk of turning the puck over, leading to odd-man rushes against them.

But when the opportunity presents itself, they should get involved.

UMaine having banner year

The hockey team’s 26-7-3 record is among several impressive accomplishments produced by the institution’s fall and winter sports programs.

The men’s football, soccer, basketball and hockey teams have compiled a 60-29-7 record to date, 37-18-6 in league play.

The women’s field hockey, soccer, volleyball, basketball and ice hockey teams are 76-50-7 overall, 41-23-3 in league play.

Their combined records are 136-79-14 overall, 78-41-3 in league play.

By comparison, last year the four men’s programs went 52-40-7 overall, 30-23-4 in league play and the five women’s teams went 68-54-5 overall, 30-23-3 in league competition.

That was a combined mark of 120-94-12 overall, 60-46-7 in league play.

Maine certainly has some geographic drawbacks but the coaches and players are overcoming them.

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