Cedric Lacroix scored on a rebound with 3:31 left in third period Friday night, to help send the Maine Black Bears past the UNH Wildcats 4-1 in game one of a best of three opening round Hockey East series at Alfond Arena in Orono.
The two teams swapped goals over the first two periods. Liam Blackburn scored on the powerplay for UNH in the first period to make it 1-0. Maine evened the score on a goal by Brendan Robbins 3:13 into the second.
The Lacroix game winner came on a great play by Mitch Fossier. Fossier broke down the right wing boards, and with one hand on the stick pushed a shot on UNH goalie Danny Tirone. Tirone made the save, but couldn’t collect the puck cleanly on the rebound. Lacroix picked it up and swept it into the back of the net. Tim Doherty and Lacroix both added empty net goals with less than two minutes left to sew up the win.
Maine was 0-2 on the powerplay, while UNH was 1-3. Jeremy Swayman picked up the win in the Black Bear net. The Bears outshot the Wildcats 49-27. The Wildcats record drops to 10-19-6.
Maine (17-14-4) will go for the playoff series sweep Saturday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
