The Black Bears have won nine games in a row, seven by one goal.
By Randy Whitehouse
Staff Writer

University of Maine coach Tim Whitehead believes in momentum, but he’ll happily trade it for a few good nights sleep.

Of the Frozen Four finalists – Maine, Boston College, Minnesota-Duluth, and Denver – none has more momentum than the Black Bears, owners of a nine-game winning streak. But given the wild ride they’ve been on the last two weeks, and given that the ride has taken them from Orono to Boston to Albany and back to Boston again, Whitehead welcomes the 11-day break his team will enjoy before the national semifinals April 8.

Maine’s second Frozen Four in three years can wait.

“I think the break will be very good for us,” he said. “We’ve played a lot of hockey. We’ve had a lot of travel, too.”

The Black Bears (32-7-3) spent Saturday night in Albany, presumably without any of the rude awakenings they received a couple of times early Saturday morning from the hotel fire alarm.

Sunday, the team returned to Orono to learn that they’ll be meeting conference rival Boston College (29-8-4) in Thursday’s national semifinal.

Maine is 2-1-0 against No. 4 BC this year, losing to the Eagles, 4-1, at Chestnut Hill on Nov. 7 before sweeping a pair at Alfond Arena on the final weekend of the regular season, 3-0 and 4-3.

The 4-3 win on March 6 began the Bears’ current streak of seven straight one-goal games, which they extended in Albany with a dramatic 5-4 comeback win over Harvard in the East Region semifinal and a 2-1 overtime victory over Wisconsin in the regional final. Maine is now 14-4 in one-goal games, including 3-0 in overtime.

“We just seem pretty comfortable in (one-goal games),” Whitehead said. “I think a lot of that comes from the goal out. Jimmy (Howard) and Frank (Doyle) are very composed. Most importantly, though, I think it’s our seniors. They’ve been through a lot of things. They’re comfortable in these situations and they lead by example.”

Maine fans might feel a little more comfortable if the Black Bears can solve their power play woes before the Frozen Four. Maine is now 2-for-31 with the man advantage in the postseason after going 1-for-13 in Albany.

“Imagine if we get the power play going, we’ll be pretty good,” Whitehead said. “It has been a little frustrating, for the players, too. I know they’re probably tired of (assistant coach) Campbell (Blair) and I barking at them to shoot the puck and keep it simple and move it quick. We’re pretty good in practice, but when it gets to a game for some reason we’re just a smidgen off.”.

“We’ve got to get the power play going if we want to give ourselves a little bit of an edge at the FleetCenter, because when it comes down to this time of the season, that can make a big difference,” senior forward Colin Shields said. “Jimmy and Frank have just been incredible for us. They’ve kept the goals against really low. For us as forwards and even the defense chipping in, it’s up to us to try and generate some offense and chip away at the other team’s goalie.”

Shields is one of six Black Bears to play in their last Frozen Four appearance in 2002. That team overcame a tough start to the season and a disappointing loss to New Hampshire in the Hockey East championship to get to the national championship game, where it lost to Minnesota.

“The last time we went there, it was kind of a dream season the way things went,” Shields said. “I think we were like .500 10 or 12 games into the year and then we end up playing in the national championship game. I think with the enthusiasm and the work ethic we have, this is a great reward for us.”

“It’s a great opportunity for our guys,” Whitehead said. “I think the past is the past and we’ve got to move on. More than anything, we really appreciate how tough it is to get there, having been there and then we didn’t get back last year. What we keep focusing on is if we get into the tournament year after year after year, eventually, we’re going to win another one.”

rwhitehouse@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link