The late season downfall continued for the #9 Maine men’s ice hockey team on Friday night. Chris Theodore scored a game winning goal with 8:14 left in the third period, lifting the Vermont Catamounts to a 2-1 Hockey East win over the Black Bears at Gutterson Fieldhouse in Burlington, Vermont.
Maine had a 32-19 shots advantage in the game, but was still down 1-0 after two periods thanks to a first period goal by lsak Walther for Vermont. The Black Bears broke through on the powerplay at 9:35 of the third, as Harrison Scott tallied on a play started by goaltender Albin Boija. Boija was credited with an assist and it was 1-1. The game winner by Theodore was set up by a great individual play by Ryan Miotto for the Catamounts. Miotto got a pass from Will Zapernick, and broke across the Maine blue line left to right. Miotto was tripped as he skated near the right faceoff circle, but at the last moment was able to get a pass off that was backhanded into the net by Theodore to the right of Boija.
Boija made 17 saves in the loss for Maine. The Black Bears, who are now 3-6 in their last nine games, went 1-3 on the powerplay. Zapernick, Miotto, Thomas Sinclair, and Ralfs Bergmanis had one assist each for Vermont. Gabe Carriere stopped 31 shots, as the Catamounts improve to 13-15-3 and 7-11-3 in Hockey East. Maine (19-10-2, 11-9-1) looks to salvage at least a weekend split of the two game series in their final regular season road game on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Recap by Chris Lessner
