After being idle this past weekend, the #6 University of Maine men’s hockey team hopes to find some scoring punch this Friday/Sunday when they welcome Northeastern and #20 UMass to Alfond Arena.
Since returning from the Christmas Break on December 29 (4-2 loss in Portland to Bentley University), Maine has not scored more than two goals in their seven games against an opposing goalie. The Black Bears have been fortunate enough to stay at .500 in that time (3-3-1) that included a 2-1 win at home over Denver, and posting 3-1 and 2-1 victories at UMass-Lowell on January 10 and 11. The opening night 3-1 win at Lowell was accompanied by an empty net goal late. The leading point scorer senior forward Harrison Scott was held off the scoresheet in back to back games for the first time this season in a home loss and a tie vs UConn almost two weeks ago. Senior captain Lynden Breen, who has been out with a serious knee injury since November 30 and had to have surgery, is expected to return soon and would definitely bolster the lineup (five goals, four assists in 13 games). Breen had notched a hat trick in a 6-0 win on November 30 over RPI before being injured. Sophomore goaltender Albin Boija however has kept his team in the games despite the lack of goal scoring. The three tallies he allowed vs Bentley and UConn both in 4-2 defeats was the first time he’s allowed three since a 3-0 loss to Boston College on November 10. The native of Sundsvall, Sweden has allowed two or fewer goals in 17 of his 22 starts between the pipes. Starting with this weekend, Maine has 11 games remaining in the regular season (6 home, 5 away). The Black Bears (15-5-3, 7-3-3 Hockey East) currently sit in third place in the conference standings with 26 points, behind Boston College (32) and Boston University (28). The Eagles and Terriers though have played two more games in the league than Maine has.
Northeastern comes into the Alfond on Friday night with a record of 9-11-3 and 4-8-3 in Hockey East. The Huskies and Black Bears played in Boston back on October 25 and 26, with Maine skating to a 4-1 win before settling for a 2-2 tie in game two. Jack Williams (12 goals, 17 assists), Cam Lund (11&15), and Dylan Hryckowian (12&12) have been the leaders for NU. Cameron Whitehead has started all 23 games in net and has a 2.64 goals against average and a save percentage of .914.
The 20th ranked UMass Minutemen (13-10-2, 4-7-2 Hockey East) come calling on Sunday evening to Orono. UMass will enter Friday’s home game with Merrimack on a three game win streak, and have been led by Cole O’Hara (14 goals, 21 assists). Aydar Suniev has registered 27 points (14&13), and Dans Locmelis has 24 points (5&19). Michael Hrabel has started 21 of 25 games in goal for the Minutemen, and has a 2.38 goals against and a .924 save percentage.
Maine will be without Anthony Calafiore this weekend, Charlie Russell is questionable, and Ross Mitton will need to serve a one game suspension on Friday that was handed out by Hockey East for his third period contact to the head major penalty that led to the tying goal by UConn on January 18. Friday’s faceoff time with Northeastern is at 7 p.m., while the weekend finale on Sunday with UMass is scheduled for a 4 p.m. puck drop.
