First career goal by Calafiore is a game winner as Maine men’s hockey beats Providence

Published by %s
February 10, 2024

ORONO- Freshman forward Anthony Calafiore scored a game winning second period goal on Friday night, his first collegiate tally, in leading the #7 Maine Black Bears to a 2-1 win over #10 Providence College in men’s Hockey East action before the eighth sellout crowd of the season at Alfond Arena.

Neither team scored in the first period, despite each having a powerplay opportunity. Maine defenseman Brandon Holt had a shot from the right point with 4:59 left that wasn’t immediately covered by Philip Svedeback, but Harrison Scott wasn’t able to get to the rebound before the Providence goaltender covered it up. 1:52 later, Josh Nadeau had another chance for the Black Bears but hit the post. The hosts outshot the Friars in the opening 20 minutes 11-7.

Maine got their second powerplay 4:16 into the second period, and the Nadeau brothers connected to open the scoring. Just 33 seconds into the extra man, after Providence defenseman Taige Harding couldn’t get the puck out of his own zone, Bradly Nadeau kept it in just inside the blue line and found his brother Josh near the left faceoff circle. Josh Nadeau took a couple strides to the bottom of the circle, and fired a shot from a bad angle over the shoulder gloveside just inside the far post past Svedeback at 4:49 to make it 1-0 Black Bears. Calafiore was the recipient of a great pass to notch the game winner at 10:28. Cole Hanson started the play by skating down the left wing and into the zone. Hanson sent a cross ice pass to Grayson Arnott on the far side near the right faceoff circle. Arnott took a stride like he may shoot it, but at the last moment sent it back out in front to Calafiore who was in the right place at the right time for a tap-in goal for a 2-0 lead. The Friars got their only tally of the night by Luke Krys at 12:49, and nearly tied it about three minutes later when a shot by Cam McDonald went off the post behind Maine freshman goalie Albin Boija.

Providence pushed hard for the equalizer in the third, pinning Maine in for most of the final period. The Friars had their fourth powerplay of the night with 13:29 left, and had good pressure with three shots on net but still remained down a goal. A shot by Krys later in the stanza hit the post, the third post of the night hit by PC. The play and save of the game would help the Black Bears escape with the win. Liam Lesakowski lost an edge at his own blue line, and Tanner Adams picked up the loose puck and went in alone on Boija. Adams tried to deek forehand to backhand, but Boija sprawled across for the pad save with 8:02 remaining. Providence would pull Svedeback with just over 1:00 to go still searching for that tying goal, but they would not find it as Maine improved to 9-0-2 at the Alfond this season and more importantly picked up three Hockey East points to give them some breathing room in a battle for third place in the league standings.

Along with the single goals from Josh Nadeau and Calafiore, Maine got an assist each from Bradly Nadeau, Hanson, Ben Poisson, and Arnott. Boija made 27 saves, getting the nod in the cage for a second straight game. The Black Bears went 1-3 on the powerplay in improving to 18-5-2 and 10-4-1 in Hockey East. They now have a five point lead over Providence for that third spot. Craig Needham and Liam Valente had one assist each for the Friars, and Svedeback stopped 21 shots. PC went 0-4 on the extra man in dropping to 15-9-2 and 8-6-2. The teams meet again on Saturday night at 7 p.m. to finish off the two game series.

Recap and videos by Chris Lessner/Photos courtesy of Anthony DelMonaco/Highlight videos courtesy of Maine Ice Hockey on Twitter

Maine forward Anthony Calafiore (#28) celebrates his game winning goal as the Black Bears topped Providence College 2-1 Friday night, February 9 at Alfond Arena

Maine forward Josh Nadeau looks for a spot to shoot on Providence goaltender Philip Svedeback during the second period Friday night, February 9. Nadeau would score on the play, and the Bears won the game 2-1

Maine freshman goalie Albin Boija makes a spawling save to rob Providence forward Tanner Adams on a breakaway in the third period Friday night, February 9 at Alfond Arena in Orono. The Black Bears won 2-1

Maine freshman goaltender Albin Boija postgame after a 2-1 win over Providence College 2/9/24
Maine head coach Ben Barr after a 2-1 win over Providence Friday 2/9/24

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