The Maine Black Bears battled back from a 2-0 second period deficit to tie it, but a late third period goal from Ryan Tverberg led the Connecticut Huskies to a 4-2 win in men’s Hockey East play at Freitas Ice Forum in Storrs, Connecticut on Saturday evening.
Freshman Victor Ostman, who was hurt and left with an apparent injury late in Fridays Maine win, was back in net on Saturday. UConn (9-10-2, 9-10-2 Hockey East) took the lead when Carter Berger scored at 14:43 of the first period. Cassidy Bowes extended that advantage scoring at 9:09 of the second to make it 2-0 Huskies. A crazy ending to that middle period resulted in Maine tying the game. Adam Dawe put the Black Bears on the board at 18:23, and then on the powerplay Dawe scored again with just 0.4 seconds left on the clock to make it 2-2. The goal was very controversial, as the net had come off its moorings when Dawe slid the puck in. However, after review it was revealed a UConn player purposely knocked the net off and since the Huskies hadn’t touched the puck the goal was counted. The game winner by Tverberg came on the powerplay at the 17:44 mark of the third period. The guests had some great chances in the last two minutes to tie it with Ostman pulled for an extra attacker, but Marc Gatcomb wrapped it up with an empty netter with just one second remaining.
Ostman made 43 saves in the Maine loss, as the Bears drop to 3-10-1, 3-10-1 in HE. Dawe with the two goals and Lynden Breen with two assists were the multiple point scorers on the night. Tomas Vomacka made 24 saves as UConn came away with a weekend split. Tverberg had a goal and an assist and Adam Karashik had two assists to lead the Huskies.
