Four goal third period lifts Maine men’s hockey over UMass-Lowell

Published by %s
January 19, 2024

Donovan Villeneuve-Houle had two goals including a go-ahead powerplay tally in the third period, and Josh Nadeau also scored the eventual game winner later in the final stanza on Friday night as the #8 Maine Black Bears skated to a 5-3 men’s Hockey East win over the UMass-Lowell Riverhawks at Alfond Arena in Orono.

It was another slow start for Maine, as for the third straight game they allowed the first goal. UMass-Lowell got that goal from Owen Cole at 2:56 of the first period. Bradly Nadeau later in the stanza was whistled for goaltender interference at 10:41. On that Riverhawks powerplay, Lynden Breen got possession of a puck along the boards in his own zone and led a two on one breakout with Villeneuve-Houle. Breen waited and dropped a pass for Villeneuve-Houle in the right faceoff circle who fired it home for the shorthanded marker at 11:29 to even the score 1-1. That is where it would stand until the third period.

Despite UMass-Lowell having the better Grade A opportunities throughout the second period and into the third, it was another goal by Villeneuve-Houle that put Maine in front for good with 10:50 left to play. After a bench minor for too many men on the ice on the Riverhawks, Breen found Villeneuve-Houle in the right faceoff circle. Villeneuve-Houle skated into the low slot, and went forehand to backhand firing it into the back of the net on the powerplay. Just 53 seconds later, David Breazeale got a pass from Cole Hanson and fired in a wristshot from just inside the left faceoff circle to make it 3-1. Josh Nadeau scored what turned out to be the game winner at 16:42. UML cut it back to 4-2 on a goal by TJ Schweighardt at 18:28, before an empty netter by Harrison Scott for the Black Bears at 19:14. The Riverhawks didn’t quit, trying to gain some momentum back for game two of the series on Saturday as Mark Cooper scored the last goal of the night at 19:56.

Along with the two goals from Villeneuve-Houle, Brandon Holt and Breen also had two points each as they both notched two assists in the Maine win. Victor Ostman made 29 saves in net. They would go 1-4 on the powerplay, in improving to 15-4-2 and 7-3-1 in Hockey East. Nine different players got on the scoresheet in the loss for UMass-Lowell, but none with multiple points. Luke Pavicich stopped 30 shots in the cage. The Riverhawks went 0-4 with the extra man, as their record drops to 7-13-2 and 3-7-1 in conference play. The finale of the two game series is set for Saturday night with faceoff at 7 p.m.

Recap by Chris Lessner/Photos all courtesy of Anthony DelMonaco/Videos by Maine Ice Hockey on Twitter

Donovan Villeneuve-Houle makes a move that he would eventually score on for the go-ahead goal that put Maine in front for good in the third period in a 5-3 victory over UMass-Lowell on Friday night at Alfond Arena

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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