The Maine men’s ice hockey team got three big powerplay goals in the second period Saturday night and a career night from their starting goaltender, holding on for a 4-3 upset victory over the #2 UMass Minutemen in Hockey East action at the Alfond Arena in Orono. It is the first win for Maine over a top 5 ranked team since an overtime win over then #3 Quinnipiac at home back on October 14, 2016.
After a very strong outing with the same UMass team Friday night in a tough 4-2 loss, the Black Bears scored first on Saturday. Emil Westerlund scored at 7:31 to make it 1-0, but later was answered by John Leonard of UMass at 16:03 to even things up. Leonard also had a look on a penalty shot earlier in the opening period but was stopped by Maine goalie Jeremy Swayman.
The Black Bears took advantage of a five minute major and game misconduct penalty to Jake Gaudet of the Minutemen whistled at the 5:52 mark of the second period. Maine would score and take the lead that they wouldn’t relinquish when Alexis Binner got his second of the year right off the ensuing faceoff after the penalty at 5:59. Just 3:29 later on the same powerplay, Eduards Tralmaks made it 3-1 Maine. The Bears made it three straight powerplay goals when Brady Keeper tipped home a shot at 13:56, and Maine was in full control 4-1.
UMass (19-5, 11-3 Hockey East) wouldn’t go away easy or quiet however. Jacob Pritchard slapped home a powerplay goal at 7:29 of the third, and then Mitchell Chaffee scored shorthanded just 1:54 later to cut it to a one goal game. Maine would hold on however despite alot of shots on Swayman who had to make key stops down the stretch. In the last 1:30 UMass had a powerplay and pulled their goalie for a 6 on 4 advantage, but the Minutemen couldn’t come up with the equalizer. Swayman made 17 saves in the third period alone to preserve the win.
Swayman made a total of 53 saves in the biggest win of the season so far for Maine, a career high for the sophomore netminder. On the weekend he made 91 saves in two games. Matt Murray made 30 saves in the loss for UMass, who ended up outshooting the Bears 56-34. Keeper had an assist to go along with his goal, and Mitch Fossier had two assists on the night and now has 21 on the season. The Black Bears scored three powerplay goals in a game for the first time this season, as they were 3-4 with the man advantage and the Minutemen were 1-4.
Maine is now 9-11-3, 5-6-3 HE and will head to Durham, NH next Friday and Saturday for a two game weekend series with the rival UNH Wildcats. Both contests are slated for 7 pm faceoffs.
