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Saturday, February 14, 2004
An extra sweet win for Maine
By KEVIN THOMAS, Portland Press Herald Writer
Copyright 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
TODAY'S GAME
TODAY'S GAME
Who: Maine vs. Northeastern
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Matthews Arena, Boston
BOSTON -- Power-play frustration. The University of Maine knows all about failing with an extra skater on the ice. So the Black Bears could empathize with the Northeastern Huskies Friday night. Maine killed every penalty in beating Northeastern 3-1 before a sparse group of 2,154 at Matthews Arena.
Maine broke a 1-1 tie in the third period with goals by Jeff Mushaluk and Greg Moore.
The Black Bears, who have had power-play troubles this season, went 1 for 4 with an advantage Friday. Meanwhile, they snuffed six Northeastern power plays, including 92 seconds of a 5-on-3.
"We just didn't generate. We didn't move the puck," said Northeastern Coach Bruce Crowder. "Those are opportunities you got to take advantage of."
As for the 5-on-3, Crowder gave one reason for the Huskies' downfall.
"Good goaltending," he said.
Maine goalie Frank Doyle made 30 saves. His counterpart, Keni Gibson, stopped 31.
"Exceptional job by both goaltenders," said Maine Coach Tim Whitehead. "It was a hard-fought game, and we have to re-focus right away."
The two teams face each other again tonight, and Maine is battling history. The Black Bears have not recorded a sweep in this arena in 11 years. Northeastern, Crowder knows, will be battling Maine's goaltending.
"They say Maine's two best players play the same position," said Crowder, referring to Doyle and co-No. 1 goalie Jimmy Howard. "Now we'll face the other one."
The third-ranked Black Bears improved to 21-6-2, 12-4-1 in Hockey East. They remained four points behind leader Boston College, a 5-2 winner over Massachusetts on Friday.
Northeastern (8-14-5, (2-11-4) remained in last in Hockey East, two points behind Boston University, but the Huskies are improving. They are 8-5-3 in their last 16 games.
In the second period, the Black Bears scored with four seconds left in their third power play. Prestin Ryan wristed the puck in, causing a scrum in the crease. With Dustin Penner lying on top on Gibson, Mike Hamilton drew the puck back and scored in the open net at 5:39.
Northeastern tied it two minutes later. Mike Morris stole the puck from defenseman Mike Lundin at the Maine blue line, and raced in on a 2-on-0 with Jason Guerriero. At the last second, Morris crossed to Guerriero for a gift-wrapped score at 7:45.
At 16:33, with Hamilton already in the penalty box for goalie interference, Derek Damon was whistled for interference, giving the Huskies a 5-on-3 power play for 92 seconds. But the Black Bears packed in, allowing Doyle to make the initial saves, while clearing away loose pucks.
"That was huge," Mushaluk said. "We came in the locker room, knowing we have success in the third period."
In the third period, Mushaluk scored after Damon won control of the puck against the boards and passed back to the blue line. Mushaluk's blast deflected off one of three players - it was ruled a Northeastern defenseman - and sailed over Gibson's shoulder at 3:36.
Five minutes later, Jackson passed from behind the net to Moore in the slot. He one-timed it through Gibson's pads.
Maine killed three penalties in the third period, a bittersweet fact for Whitehead.
"We can't give them that many looks on the power play and expect to come out shining every time," he said.
NOTES: In another Hockey East game, New Hampshire tied UMass-Lowell, 3-3. UNH is five points behind Maine and has played one more game. . . . Alabama-Huntsville, which tied Maine 2-2 last Saturday, lost on Thursday, 8-0 to Niagara. The Chargers won Friday's rematch, 4-2.
Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:
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