Josh Nadeau had two goals, including the game winner with 4:11 remaining on Saturday night to lift the #8 Maine Black Bears to a hard fought 3-2 non-conference men’s hockey win over Bentley University in a game played before a sellout crowd of 6,291 at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.
It was a tough battle for Maine, as Bentley came into the contest with the fifth best scoring defense in the nation (2.12 goals against per game). After a scoreless first period, Josh Nadeau got his first goal of the night to break the deadlock at 11:50 of the second period of an assist from Lyden Breen and Bradly Nadeau. The Falcons had plenty of opportunities to tie it in that middle stanza, as less than two minutes after the first goal Josh Latta was turned away down low by Black Bears goalie Victor Ostman. Stephen Castagna with 1:49 remaining, after a big hit by Donovan Villeneuve-Houle on the other end of the ice, had a partial breakaway and on the rush down the right wing hit the post to the right of Ostman. Nik Armstrong-Kinkade also had a great look in the final seconds, only to have his shot blocked by Nolan Renwick.
Bentley would finally find the scoreboard and tie it up when Ryan Upson got to a loose puck in the crease and knocked it past Ostman at 10:07 of the third period. Maine nearly took the lead back 1:45 later when Villeneuve-Houle fired one on net, and Falcons goalie Connor Hasley kicked out a rebound but Harrison Scott despite a diving attempt couldn’t get a stick on it. The guests shocked the CIA crowd when they jumped in front 2-1 at 12:37 on a tally by Kellan Hjartarson. The Black Bears weren’t behind very long, 11 seconds to be exact, as Brandon Chabrier faked a shot from the left faceoff circle and then put it on net that Hasley stopped but right onto the stick of Cole Hanson who buried the rebound from the low slot to even things again at 2-2. After Bentley had an odd man 3 on 2 rush that they couldn’t convert on that included a save by Ostman, the puck came loose to Josh Nadeau who streaked up the ice and let go a wrist shot high that went over the shoulder of Hasley and into the back of the net from the right faceoff circle for the game winner at 15:49. Despite pulling the goalie late for an extra attacker, the Falcons were unable to find the equalizer as they did earlier as the Black Bears held on for their fourth straight victory.
Josh Nadeau led the way in points in the win with his two goals, while Hanson had his tying goal in the third period and Sully Scholle, Chabrier, Breen, and Bradly Nadeau had one assist each. Ostman made 29 saves as Maine improves to 10-3-1. Josh Nadeau is now tied for the team lead in goals with 10 with his brother Bradly. Hasley made 32 stops in the loss for Bentley University. The Falcons out of the Atlantic Hockey Association drop to 8-10 on the season. Both teams went 0-2 on the powerplay. Maine is now off on Christmas break, and will return to action at the Ledyard Bank Classic at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire on Friday, December 29 at 4 p.m. when they take on #19 RIT in the first round. The other teams in the field include the Big Green of Dartmouth and Lake Superior State.
Recap by Chris Lessner
The Maine Black Bears men’s hockey team in action during a win over Boston College at the Alfond Arena in Orono on November 10. Maine won their fourth straight game on Saturday night with a hard fought 3-2 win over Bentley University before a soldout crowd at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland. Photo by Anthony DelMonaco
