Maine shocks #4 BC at Chestnut Hill

January 24, 2020

 

Tim Doherty scored his second goal of the game in overtime Friday night leading the Maine Black Bears to a 4-3 upset win over the #4 Boston College Eagles in men’s Hockey East action at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

Boston College started the first period strong and looked as if they may roll over Maine. Mike Hardman opened the scoring at 14:22, followed by an Alex Newhook powerplay goal 2:33 later to make it 2-0 Eagles. The Black Bears though would come out storming in the second period. Doherty scored his first of the night 27 seconds in to cut the lead in half. AJ Drobot made it 2-2 taking a beautiful cross ice pass from Mitchell Fossier and one timing it home from the right faceoff circle at 4:45. Fossier gave Maine the lead 3-2 on the powerplay at 16:40, when he knocked one into the net out front off a feed from Adam Dawe.

The home team dominated the third period outshooting Maine 19-6, but the Black Bears held the lead until very late with the help of goaltender Jeremy Swayman. Maine tried to double the lead when Boston College was called for a major penalty with 10:22 left. The Black Bears though couldn’t cash in on the five minute man advantage. The Eagles then had a powerplay with 4:27 left to try to tie it, but also came up empty. Cam Spicer took another penalty at 18:12 to give BC another chance, in which they pulled their goalie for a 6 on 4 opportunity. Five seconds into the powerplay, Logan Hutsko beat Swayman with a slapper on a faceoff to send the game to overtime. The game winner in the extra session was scored when Eduards Tralmaks won a fight for the puck behind the BC net, and centered one out front to Doherty just below the left faceoff circle who was in the right place and backhanded it into the net at 2:26 to end it.

Swayman made 37 saves in the Maine win, as the Black Bears improve to 11-9-4, 5-7-2 Hockey East. Doherty (2 goals, 1 assist) and Fossier (1 G, 2 A) led the visitors with three points each. Spencer Knight made 21 saves in the loss for Boston College, who fall to 15-6, 9-4. Newhook had a goal and an assist, and Matt Boldy added two assists. It was only the second loss for the Eagles in their past 15 games (13-2). It was also their fourth straight loss to the Black Bears. Maine was 1-3 and BC was 2-5 on the powerplay. The two teams meet again Saturday night at 8 p.m.