Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
After an unbeaten November, the University of Maine men’s hockey team lost back-to-back games to begin the new month, but got back on track Sunday afternoon with a victory over Merrimack College.
The Black Bears finally ended up on the right side of a 3-2 decision after losing the previous two contests by the same score.
The game featured a rematch of the talented freshmen goaltenders who split the points in the second game of the season series just over a week ago. Darling made 27 saves to earn his sixth win and the eighth for UMaine, who improves to 8-5-1 (5-4-1 Hockey East). Joe Cannata stopped 20 of 23 shots for Merrimack, who drops to (4-8-3, 2-7-2 Hockey East). The Black Bears take the season series from the Warriors, earning a 2-0-1 record in the three early season games.
Two power play goals in the first three minutes of the opening period from freshman forward Gustav Nyquist and sophomore forward Tanner House gave the Black Bears an early 2-0 advantage.
Merrimack scored the lone goal of the second period, as junior forward Rob Ricci beat Darling with his team-leading fifth goal at the 11:59 mark to narrow the lead to 2-1.
Junior defenseman Brett Carriere scored his second goal of the season 13:39 into the third period to increase the UMaine lead back to two until the frantic waning minutes.
Already with a 4-on-3 power play, Merrimack pulled Cannata for a fifth skater, and sophomore defenseman Adam Ross took advantage, bringing the game back within a goal.
The Warriors blocked multiple attempts by the Black Bears to score with the empty net, but could not complete the comeback.
UMaine senior center Chris Hahn and freshman defenseman Will O’Neill each recorded assists on the first two goals, while sophomores Robby Dee and Mike Banwell set up Carriere on the third.
The Black Bears wrapped up the season series with Northeastern University on Friday night, falling 3-2 in overtime at Matthews Arena in Boston for their second straight loss. A two-goal effort by Northeastern defenseman Louis Liotti completed the three game sweep for the Huskies, who took both games in the opening weekend at Alfond Arena.
It was the first time the Black Bears have been swept by Northeastern since 1984-85, the first year of existence for Hockey East. The conference-leading Huskies improve to 11-3-2 (8-2-1 Hockey East) with the win.
UMaine mounted a two goal comeback to send Friday’s game into overtime before Liotti broke the tie 2:29 into the extra frame. Junior netminder Brad Thiessen stopped 31 of 33 shots for the Huskies. The Hockey East Goaltender of the Month in November has started every game for Northeastern and allowed just three UMaine goals in the three games.
Liotti’s first goal of the game and the season came midway through the second period, capitalizing on a five minute major penalty committed by UMaine freshman defenseman Will O’Neill to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead. It was the first power play goal allowed by the Black Bears since Nov. 14 against Providence College.
UMaine freshman goalie Scott Darling was challenged 24 times in regulation and prevented Northeastern from increasing the lead while the Black Bears scored back-to-back goals before the second intermission. Freshman forward Brian Flynn scored his fourth goal of the season and second in consecutive games, and defenseman Matt Duffy lit the lamp for the first time in his senior campaign.
Flynn’s even-strength goal at the 14:48 mark was assisted by sophomore forward Keif Orsini and freshman defenseman Ryan Hegarty, who picked up his first collegiate point.
Duffy’s goal in the final minute of the period came after the Huskies committed a pair of penalties, including a five minute major, to give the Black Bears a 5-on-3 advantage. Freshmen Gustav Nyquist and Josh Van Dyk each picked up their sixth assist of the season, setting up Duffy, who snapped a streak of 22 scoreless power plays for the Black Bears.
The two top goaltenders in Hockey East preserved the tie through the third period before Liotti scored on the Huskies second attempt in overtime. UMaine did not manage a shot on Thiessen in the extra frame. Darling, November’s Hockey East Rookie of the Month, picked up his third loss and fell to 5-3-1.
The Black Bears return to Alfond Arena this weekend to host Union College for a pair of games Friday and Saturday, both starting at 7 p.m.
Bangor Daily News