2010 Hockey East Championships | Sports |

UMaine downs BU 5-2

Posted on March 20, 2010, at 12:51 a.m.

BOSTON — The University of Maine men’s hockey team staved off a two-goal third-period comeback by the Boston University Terriers on Friday night and came away with a 5-2 win in the Hockey East Semifinals at the TD Garden in Boston.

The Black Bears advanced to play Boston College on Saturday in the Championship Game where they fell 7-6 in overtime. It was UMaine’s 13th appearance in the championship game and first since winning in 2004. The Black Bears are now 5-8 all-time in Hockey East Championship Games.

“We’re really pleased to extend our season at least one more day,” UMaine coach Tim Whitehead said after Friday’s game.

UMaine extended its semifinal round winning streak against the Terriers to five games. Friday’s game was attended by 12,544 fans.

The Black Bears saw a 3-0 lead heading into the third period shrink to within one goal when BU junior defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk scored early in the frame and sophomore right wing Vinny Saponari converted shorthanded with 3:47 remaining.

UMaine senior right wing David deKastrozza answered Saponari’s goal on the power play 1:43 later when he teed up a slapshot from the left point, and junior center and captain Tanner House put the game away with an empty-net goal 0:12 later.

“They had just scored that second goal and they were kind of getting momentum back on their side,” deKastrozza said. “I just kind of shot the puck, nothing fancy.”

UMaine senior goaltender Dave Wilson celebrated his 25th birthday with his third-straight win. Wilson has allowed two goals or fewer in each of his four postseason starts this month since replacing suspended starting goaltender Scott Darling.

“I was just trying to relax and have fun,” Wilson said.

The Black Bears took an 18-5 advantage in shots-on-goal into the first intermission and went into the dressing room with a 2-0 lead. The teams were equal in shots for the final two periods but UMaine finished with a 37-24 overall tally.

“We wanted to get on them quick, and that’s what we did,” deKastrozza said.

DeKastrozza’s goal came on one of eight UMaine power plays, of which the Black Bears capitalized on two. UMaine killed off four BU power plays, including an extended five-on-three early in the second period.

“It was a real team effort on that kill,” deKastrozza said.

Junior center Robby Dee’s even-strength goal 7:00 into the second period gave UMaine the three-goal cushion heading into the final 20 minutes.

UMaine’s freshman forward line combined to strike at even strength with 5:46 remaining in the first period. Right wing Joey Diamond used crafty stick-work to get around BU sophomore goaltender Kieran Millan and stuffed his backhanded shot inside the left post. Diamond was assisted by center Matt Mangene and right wing Adam Shemansky. Diamond’s previous goal came on Feb. 12 at Alfond Arena, in a 3-2 win against the Terriers.

“I thought that really gave us a little extra lift, seeing a hard-nosed player like that make a skilled play,” Whitehead said.

UMaine’s power play converted on its second chance of the period with just over a minute remaining. Sophomore left wing Brian Flynn’s wrister navigated through dense net-front traffic to find the net.

Shattenkirk got the Terriers on the scoreboard 1:54 into the final period when he finished teammate Nick Bonino’s initial shot before Wilson could pounce on the rebound. The goal came while the teams were skating four-on-four.

Saponari’s late goal was followed by a more than nine-minute delay as it was reviewed by video replay. Wilson fell backward from a push by the net-front pressure and could not swipe Saponari’s shot out of mid-air before it crossed the goal line.

Wilson stuffed BU center Ross Gaudet’s breakaway bid shortly after, and deKastrozza’s goal ensued.

“That turn of events was certainly the game-changer,” Whitehead said.

Millan finished with 32 saves and four goals allowed.

“I was very, very impressed with how hard and how quick and how smart Maine played,” BU coach Jack Parker said. “I was disappointed in our efforts.”

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