With an offense that is averaging close to four goals per game, Union's power play should be lethal.

Instead, the Dutchmen's power play is barely at pop-gun status.

Sure, Union got a power-play goal in six opportunities Friday against Brown in the ECAC Hockey opener for both teams at Messa Rink. But the Dutchmen were a minus-1, thanks to giving up two short-handed goals in the second period.

If it wasn't for Mike Schreiber's two goals, I would probably be commenting about how Union played another bad game against Brown. Instead, the Dutchmen were able to get a 3-3 tie.

Union is just 5-for-30 on the power play (16.7 percent). It had just six shots on goal on its six power plays. That is poor, and Dutchmen coach Nate Leaman knows it.

"We just didn't execute real well," Leaman said. "We didn't execute what we were practicing this week. I don't think it's [being] too cute. I think guys were seeing opening that weren't there, and they were making bad decisions. We just have to keep it real simple."

The short-handed goals were preventable, and could have been stopped by goalie Corey Milan. On the first one, at 58 seconds of the second period, Aaron Volpatti blocked a Greg Coburn shot at the left point. He picked up puck just outside the Union zone, skated down the right wing on a breakaway and cut to the net. He flipped a soft shot over Milan's glove.

Kelly Zajac scored on the power play at 1:45 of the second. A few seconds later, Union got another power play when Volpatti went off for elbowing.

But a turnover at the Union blue line turned into another short-handed goal, this time by Harry Zolnierczyk at 2:54. He put the puck between Milan's pads.

"We've just got to keep it simple when things aren't going the way we want them to go," said forward Adam Presizniuk, who had two assists. "We've just got to get pucks to the net. That's what we were doing when we scored a couple of power-play goals earlier this season."

The Dutchmen better start doing that, beginning tomorrow night when what should be an angry Yale team comes to Messa after its 5-2 loss to RPI on Friday. It's time for Union to show some firepower.
Impressed with Brown
I ran into Mark Bardack, vice-president of communications at Ed Lewi Associates, after the first period. Bardack is a Brown alum, and a passionate supporter of the hockey team.

For the first time in years, he was smiling about his team. Gone was the defensive mind-set that was employed by former coach Roger Grillo. New coach Brendan Whittet is bringing an up-tempo game to the Bears.

So, the following quote is for you, Mark. I asked Whittet about his offensive philosophies.

"We stress it every day," Whittet said. "Honestly, we're trying to change, not change for change sake, but I want the guys to be aggressive, and I want them to be accountable. For us to generate offense, we're going to have throw a lot of rubber at the net, we're going to have to throw bodies and we're going to have to 'D' active. It's a conscious effort for us to try to be aggressive in what we do in our style of play, with accountability. We're trying to generate [offense]."
Benched players could be back
Leaman said he expects forwards Stephane Boileau and Brian Yanovitch to be back in the lineup for the game against Yale.

Boileau and Yanovitch were benched after taking poor penalties that led to power-play goals against RPI.
Three stars
My three stars of the game:
1) Mike Schreiber, Union — career-high two goals, and ties a career high with three points.
2) Harry Zolnierczyk, Brown — had short-handed goal and an assist.
3) Adam Presizniuk, Union — two assists, including one on Schreiber's game-tying goal.

That's it from Messa Rink. I'll be back tomorrow night with coverage of the Union-Yale game, which will be televised on Time Warner Cable channel 3. Look for me above The Gazette sign in the press box.

Good Night! Good Hockey!