This team is slowly but surely understanding just how good they could potentially be.  The problem is, by the time they learn just what they’re capable of with a full effort and better execution the season will be over.  UMass played good, but not great, through the first two periods last night, doing well defensively but really being unable to challenge Maine goaltender Dan Sullivan with any real quality chances.  Some excellent goaltending on the part of Paul Dainton helped keep UMass in the game and only down a goal going to the third period.  That’s when things flipped.  UMass suddenly found their offense and scored three quick goals to get back in the game but their defense and goaltending failed them at that point and Maine was able to squeak out a win.  Last night marks the 6th one goal loss in UMass’ last 7 games.  If UMass had just had some of the fire they showed in the last 10 minutes in the rest of the game however, it might’ve been very different.

There were some great individual performances last night.  Adam Phillips continues to come up with big goals, his wrister got the torrid scoring going in the last part of the third.  It came off a great pass from behind the net from Marc Concannon, who frankly I was surprised to see out there after blocking a Maine shot with his lower leg earlier in the game and going to the bench.  It was good to see Mike Pereira put in a goal, coming just 7 seconds after Danny Hobbs’, after going the entire month of February without one.  UMass did a good job of staying out of the penalty box, taking just 3 penalties total.  Conor Allen is really starting to play some good hockey and might have had the highlight of the night when he levelled a Maine player skating with his head down through the neutral zone.  It would be a huge benefit to the team to see him continue to play physically like that.  He was also asked to step up on the power play and when Dainton was pulled at the end of the game with Joel Hanley out for the year.

This team is more than capable of winning regularly against good teams.  The last 7 games has taught us that.  But playing less than a complete game every night is killing them.  Maine was ripe for the taking last night but it took a full 50 minutes for UMass to be able to get passes on sticks and to really challenge Dan Sullivan in the Maine net.  They cannot wait around to desperation time to turn it on.  This teams needs to play hard when it’s 0-0, not wait until they’re down 0-3.  The final seconds of the season are ticking down.  It would be great to see the team do what the coaching staff and fans can see they’re capable of.  Win.

Fear The Triangle Player of the Game – Chase Langeraap
Langeraap only had an assist last night, Danny Hobbs putting home one of his rebounds, but I thought he was the best player on the ice for the entire game.  He was active on offense, putting a total of 6 shots on net to lead the team.  He played physical and did well on defense as well, taking the puck away from the Black Bear players on a number of occasions.  Hopefully we see a repeat performance tonight when he and the other seniors are honored.

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With Providence losing last night that means that UMass will make the playoffs if the Friars lose or tie or UMass wins or ties.  7th place is still within reach with Vermont tying Lowell.  A Catamount loss and a UMass win will put UMass into a tie with UVM, with the Minutemen the owners of the tie breaker.  The Hockey East regular season title is on the line when Boston College and UNH meet in Durham tonight.  A BC win or tie gives them the title.  BU still has a chance to finish ahead of the Wildcats in the standings.

Unfortunately it sounds like Brian Keane has played his last game for UMass after getting hurt in practice this week.  When Concannon went down after blocking that shot I thought we could potentially be honoring three seniors in street clothes tonight.  Luckily he came back in the game later.

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Dick Baker says the back door to the playoffs is still open for the Minutemen.  I really hope it doesn’t come to that and the team gets a win on senior night in front of their last home crowd of the season.

Another missed opportunity says the Gazette.

Here’s how the game looked from the Maine point of view.