Ryan Smith scored an overtime goal and Jeremy Swayman made 34 saves on Friday night, as the Maine Black Bears scored a 2-1 overtime victory over Vermont in Hockey East men’s action at Gutterson Fieldhouse in Burlington, Vermont in front of a crowd of 3,555.
Brendan Robbins, who has had some tough puck luck so far this season, finally netted his first goal of the season at 4:11 of the opening period to make it 1-0 Maine. Connor O’Neill got things even for the Catamounts at 16:53 of the opening stanza to make it 1-1. Things would stay tied throughout the remainder of regulation, with both goalies making several Grade A saves to send things to overtime.
The game winner came on a nice play behind the Vermont net, when Chase Pearson sent a pass out front in the slot to Smith who one timed the pass behind Vermont goalie Lekkas Stefanos stick side at 1:54 of the extra session.
Lekkas made 22 saves in the loss for Vermont, who falls to 4-7-0, 1-6-0 in Hockey East. Maine was 0-3 on the powerplay, while UVM was 0-4. Pearson, Mitch Fossier, Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup, and Tim Doherty all recorded an assist each on the night for the Bears.
Maine is now 5-7-1, 3-3-1 and will finish off the two game series in Burlington Saturday with a 5 pm puck drop.
