It is becoming a headline after every game of late. Albin Boija was huge in net, with several timely saves including stopping two breakaways in the second period, and Taylor Makar scored at the 2:15 mark of overtime on Saturday night as #5 Maine took four of a possible six conference points on the weekend with a 1-0 win over #7 Providence College at Schneider Arena in men’s Hockey East action. The Black Bears also killed off two major five minute powerplays, including one with just over seven minutes left in the third period.
Providence got their first major powerplay 5:46 into the first period when Nicholas Niemo received a game misconduct for kneeing, but the Friars could only manage one shot on goal and the Black Bears blocked several shots to keep it scoreless. The hosts had two golden opportunities to break though in the second on a pair of breakaways, with the first one coming shorthanded by Logan Will on the tailend of a second Maine powerplay. Boija though stretched out to make a left pad save, and did the same on Aleksi Kivioja about three minutes later. The sophomore came up with at least three Grade A stops in the middle period, as the two teams remained at a stalemate.
Maine had more sustained pressure around goaltender Philip Svedeback for parts of the third period, finally able to pinch in Providence and use their forecheck to create some chances. The Friars then asked for a review on a possible major penalty on Black Bears defenseman Jack Dalton. There was no call on the original play, but after the official review Dalton was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for crosschecking with contact to the head with 7:08 remaining. Maine did a tremendous job again being shorthanded for five minutes, keeping PC mostly to the outside with their chances. Boija did have to stop five shots, but all were routine as the game would go to overtime. Providence had a couple good looks on Boija near the front of the net early in overtime, but as he had done all night Boija turned them away. The game winning play came after the Black Bears won a battle for a loose puck along the left wing boards. Nolan Renwick got to it, and shoveled a pass to an open Makar in the high slot. Makar took one stride and sent a wristshot over the shoulder of Svedeback stick side just inside the right post to end it, his third tally of the series. It was also the seventh goal in the last five games for the senior, and his 13th of the season.
Renwick picked up an assist on the winner by Makar, and Boija had 28 saves in the Maine win. The Black Bears continue to struggle on the powerplay (0-4), as they are now 0 for their last 22 and 2-31 since the calendar turned over to 2025. Svedeback made 19 stops for Providence, as they went 0-3 on their powerplay including the two five minute majors which was a key factor in their defeat. The Friars fall to 16-7-5 and 6-6-5 in Hockey East. Maine improves to 18-5-4 and 10-3-4 in the conference, and will return home to host rival UNH next weekend at Alfond Arena. Face-off times are scheduled for 7 p.m. both Friday and Saturday. The Black Bears (36 points) are now just two points behind Boston College (38) for first place in the league with seven regular season games remaining.
Recap written by Chris Lessner/Video highlights courtesy of MaineIceHockey on X
