The University of Maine men’s hockey team took a brief trip to Storrs, Connecticut on Friday, Feb. 21 in a single-game series against the University of Connecticut.
Maine opened the matchup playing very fluidly, with players completing their passes and moving down the ice with great speed. UConn responded by playing with a “shoot-first, think later” offense and to their credit, it worked. Early in the first period, first-year Kaden Shahan, one of the Huskies’ forwards, was able to snipe a goal into the net off the rebound.
UConn boasts an impressive 10-3-1 record when scoring first (now 11-3-1). The Black Bears, determined to even the score, responded with an aggressive offense of their own. After a couple long shots went wide, Maine was able to get a power play thanks to a boarding penalty. Previously 0-27 over their last eight games when it came to capitalizing on a power play, if this game showed anything it was that statistics don’t mean anything. Capitalizing on an opportunity means everything and fourth-year Nolan Renwick, a forward for the Black Bears, epitomized that with a great goal to even up the score assisted by second-year forward Josh Nadeau.
After tying up the game, the Black Bears seemed to get a boost of energy in their game. They played faster, and more aggressively as they killed a power play for UConn. Goalie Albin Boija, watchful of Huskies trying to take advantage of a rebound, and defensive players not letting UConn get set up seemed to be the perfect combination to stuff UConn’s offense no matter how much they shot against the second-year goalie.
At the start of the second period, this trend continued. Maine’s “Arctic Wall” protected the net while Boija was without his stick for almost a full minute. During that time, not a single Huskie was able to get a shot off, the Black Bears didn’t mind sacrificing passing accuracy if it meant fortifying a brick wall defense.
After Bojia got his stick back, UConn launched a full frontal offensive strategy. The Huskies decided to force turnovers from the Black Bears and in doing so, second-year forward Jake Richard for the Huskies scored a goal off a turnover early in the second period with help from third-year forward Ryan Tattle.
The Black Bears were determined to win this game, the contest itself throughout was very tightly contested. A little too contested for Black Bear fan’s liking, but it was a great showing of hockey regardless. Another power play opportunity set up Maine for a scoring opportunity. Well, the Black Bears played this power play more like it was a scoring certainty.
After an exhilarating sequence where Maine shot 4-6 consecutive shots in a matter of seconds against Huskies first-year goalie Callum Tung, one went in but was eventually called back due to going in after the whistle was blown. But that didn’t slow the momentum of the power play for Maine, third-year forward Owen Fowler got the tying goal thanks to an assist from second-year forward Sully Scholle.
To enter the third period, Maine increased their shots on goal tenfold from the first period. They responded to UConn’s barrage of shots with an offense that mimicked it. Fighting for the third goal in the game, to grab the full three points to keep pace with Boston College for first in Hockey East standings, Maine navigated the third period with the objective of creating chances. They had a couple good chances late in the third period but none materialized into the go-ahead goal.
During overtime, Maine’s forwards let off a barrage of shots but after a holding penalty the Huskies were set up for a power play opportunity. And just like the start of the game, the Huskies scored a goal from a rebound. Third-year forward Jake Richard found the back of the net once again for UConn, his game winner sealing this contest, but opening a box of questions for the Black Bears.
Hopefully, the Black Bears answer them on the drive back up, as they come back to Orono to prepare for a weekend matchup against the Vermont Catamounts this Friday, Feb. 28, and Saturday, March 1.
