ORONO- The University of Maine hockey team had the #1 team in the country on the ropes on Tuesday night, but the Quinnipiac Bobcats proved why they are the nation’s best by scoring a pair of goals in the third period to salvage a 3-3 tie at Alfond Arena.
Quinnipiac would strike first as Tanner MacMaster scored on a wrap around play from behind the Maine net just over 6 minutes in to make it 1-0 in favor of the visitors. Maine had the response though as Steven Swavely scored at 10:26 and then Nolan Vesey gave the Bears the lead just 1:18 later to make it 2-1.
Brendan Robbins ignited the Alfond crowd before most made it back to their seats with a goal just 34 seconds into the second and Maine was up 3-1. Maine continued to carry the play with the better Grade A opportunities throughout the second period.
Quinnipiac began their comeback with just 6:01 left in the third period as Sam Anas scored to cut the Maine lead to 3-2. Late in the game, with a Maine player already in the box, Blaine Byron was whistled for another penalty. Quinnipiac pulled their goalie giving them a 6 on 3 advantage for a short time. That would eventually lead to a 6 on 4 powerplay goal by Thomas Aldworth to even the score and send the game to overtime.
Neither team was able to get any real quality scoring chances in the extra 5 minute session and the teams would settle for the tie. Rob McGovern made 33 saves in the Maine net while Michael Garteig had 32 for Quinnipiac. Anas finished with a goal and also had an assist for Quinnipiac who goes to 19-1-4 on the season. Robbins had a goal and also an assist for Maine and Dane Gibson had 2 assists as well.
Maine was 0 for 6 on the powerplay and Quinnipiac went 1 for 4, converting the last one into the tying goal to send the game to the extra period.
Maine is now 5-13-6 on the season and will prepare for a home and home conference series with Boston University this Friday and Saturday. Game 1 will be at the Alfond Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
