ORONO- Maxim Masse scored a game winning powerplay goal in the second period on Friday night, as UMass held on to defeat Maine 2-1 in a men’s Hockey East game at Alfond Arena. It was the home league opener for the Black Bears, who are now winless in three conference games.
The Minutemen jumped out a lead they wouldn’t give back, when Jack Galanek scored off a turnover by Max Scott in his own zone at 3:09 of the first period. Maine owned the shots on net all evening, but didn’t have many Grade A opportunities until the third. Meanwhile, UMass would get that powerplay tally from Masse in the second to take a 2-0 advantage into the final 20 minutes. In the first eight minutes of the final period, the hosts had two shots hit off the post and had four near misses but still was unable to get on the scoreboard. The Black Bears finally caught a break with just over three minutes left. At the end of a Minutemen powerplay, Larry Keenan broke his stick on a shot in the offensive attacking zone. Thomas Pichette picked up the loose puck and found a streaking Jaden Lipinski who just came out of the penalty box, and Lipinski scored on a breakaway at 16:57. Maine would pull goaltender Albin Boija with 1:55 left, and after some time in the attacking zone themselves, it looked like the game would be over when Jack Musa scored into an empty net with 56 seconds remaining. The Black Bears called for a replay review though, and it was ruled no goal due to a high sticking infraction. Boija would be pulled again, but Maine couldn’t get anything going in the final seconds as they lose their third straight game despite outshooting UMass 47-22 (17-3 in the third period).
Musa and Egor Barabanov each had an assist in the win for UMass. Ethan Eskit made 46 saves, as the Minutemen improve to 5-4-1 and 2-0-0 in Hockey East. Boija stopped 20 shots for Maine. The Black Bears fall to 4-5 and 0-3 in league play. It is their worst start in Hockey East since the 2022-2023 season when they didn’t win any over the first six games (0-5-1). The teams conclude the two game series on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
Photo from Anthony DelMonaco (UMaine Athletics)
