Mitch Fossier scored a game winning third period goal, and Jeremy Swayman stopped all 48 shots he faced on Friday night as the #15 Maine Black Bears blanked the #18 Providence College Friars 1-0 on Senior Night at Alfond Arena in Orono in men’s Hockey East action before almost a sell out crowd of 5,050 fans.
Providence at times dominated play, ending up with twice as many shots as Maine. Swayman made several saves that were of the Grade A variety, including two huge stops in the final minute of the second period to keep the game scoreless. Friars goalie Michael Lackey not facing as much action was sharp as well keeping the game scoreless over halfway through the final period. That is when Fossier came up with the goal that sends the Black Bears to a home quarterfinal series next weekend. In a 4 on 4 situation, JD Greenway got to a loose puck behind the Providence net and shoveled a pass to Tim Doherty in the left corner who then quickly got a pass to Fossier in the high slot between the circles. Fossier wound up and took a hard wristshot that beat Lackey stick side at 9:21. PC had a breakaway shortly after the Fossier goal by Greg Printz, but that too was stopped by Swayman. Maine had a powerplay to try to extend the lead with 3:41 left, but couldn’t convert on it. The Friars pulled Lackey with 1:04 left but couldn’t find the equalizer, despite another great chance from Printz on a re-direction in front of the Black Bears goalie in the last 40 seconds.
Greenway and Doherty both got assists on the Fossier game winner for Maine. Both teams went 0-2 on the powerplay. Lackey stopped 23 shots in the loss for Providence, who ends their season 16-12-6 and 10-11-3 in Hockey East. The Friars finish seventh in the conference and will travel to UMass next weekend in the quarterfinals. The Black Bears finish 18-11-5 and 12-9-3. #4 seed Maine will host #5 Connecticut/Boston University in a best of three quarterfinal starting next Friday night. If the Terriers beat Northeastern Saturday evening they will visit Orono. This is just their second win over Providence in the last 25 meetings (2-22-1).
