The University of Maine men’s ice hockey team battled the #9 Northeastern Huskies to a pair of hard fought one goal games in the Hockey East quarterfinals. Unfortunately for the Bears, they would come out on the shortend of both games with their season coming to an end with another 2-1 loss at Matthews Arena in Boston Saturday night. The Huskies win the best of three series 2-0.
Northeastern (25-10-1) got the scoring started at 18:09 of the first period on a goal from Biagio Lerario to make it 1-0. Maine trailed at the first intermission despite outshooting Northeastern 11-2. The Huskies jumped on the Black Bears in the second period, scoring just 10 seconds in on a 5 on 3 powerplay when Brandon Hawkins made it 2-0. Jeremy Davies and former Black Bear Liam Pecararo assisted. Maine would fight back getting a powerplay goal from Jacob Schmidt-Svestrup at 8:42 to cut the lead in half. It was the sixth goal for the freshman. The visitors would push for the equalizer in the third period, even getting three powerplay opportunities and pulling goalie Jeremy Swayman for the last 1:35 but came up empty. With the two game playoff sweep, Northeastern also swept the season series over Maine 4-0.
Cayden Primeau in net for Northeastern again came up huge, making 34 saves after a 41 save performance Friday night. Swayman made 15 saves in the Maine goal. Both teams went 1-7 on the powerplay. The Black Bears end their season at 15-17-4. Northeastern advances to the final four of Hockey East when the semifinal games get underway next Friday at TD Garden in Boston.
