BOSTON, MASS- Matt Benning scored 4:41 into overtime as the Northeastern Huskies overcame a two goal deficit to defeat the Maine Black Bears 3-2 in game one of a Hockey East best of three play-in game Friday night at Matthews Arena.
Cam Brown scored his seventh goal of the season late in the first period on the powerplay to give Maine a 1-0 at 17:51. Just 17 seconds later Andrew Tegeler got his fourth to make it 2-0 Black Bears despite being outshot in the opening period 13-7.
John Stevens finally got the Huskies on the board at 14:39 of the second to cut the Maine lead in half at 2-1. Kevin Roy would tie the game on the powerplay in the third period, the goal at 2:54 and his sixth goal of the year would make it 2-2. The game would then head for overtime.
Maine carried the play early in the overtime outshooting the Huskies 3-0 over the first four minutes. But the first shot of overtime on net from Northeastern would end the game. After a battle to keep the puck in the Maine zone, Northeastern forward Zach Aston-Reece would scoop up the puck and head towards the net. Aston-Reece would drop the puck to Benning, who had joined the rush. Benning would one time the pass off the left post and in behind Maine netminder Rob McGovern to end the game.
McGovern ended with 29 saves on the night as Northeastern outshot Maine 32-21. Ryan Ruck stopped 19 of 21 Maine shots to backstop the victory. The win is the eighth consecutive for the Huskies who also won their first home playoff game since March 15, 2009.
Maine and Northeastern will face off for game two of their play-in series tomorrow night at 7 p.m. Maine is in a must win situation to force a game three and keep their season alive.
