Friday, March 12, 1993 at Snively Arena, Durham, NH
HOCKEY EAST QUARTERFINAL GAME ONE
#3 Merrimack Warriors (14-19-2) 0 2 1 - 3
#6 New Hampshire Wildcats (17-15-3) 2 1 2 - 5
FIRST PERIOD NH-MC
1. NH1, Kevin Thomson 13 (Glenn Stewart, Mike Sullivan), 0:21. 1-0
2. NH2, Rob Donovan 17 (unassisted), 13:52. 2-0
SECOND PERIOD
3. MC1, Dan Gravelle 17 (Matt Hayes), 3:57. 2-1
4. MC2, Teal Fowler 14 (Dan Hodge), 13:17. PPG 2-2
5. NH3, Thomson 14 (Stewart, Eric Flinton), 19:10. 3-2
THIRD PERIOD
6. NH4, Donovan 18 (Greg Klym, Nick Poole), 11:02. GWG 4-2
7. NH5, Jason Dexter 15 (Flinton, Bob Chebator), 11:59. 5-2
8. MC3, Wayde McMillan 18 (unassisted), 12:58. 5-3
SHOTS ON GOAL: Merrimack 7-15-16 = 38
New Hampshire 17-11-10 = 38
SAVES: MC, Mike Doneghey (L, 13-14-1, 58:42, 38 sh-33 sv).
NH, Brett Abel (W, 14-13-2, 60:00, 38-35).
POWER PLAYS: MC 1 for 3. NH 0 for 2.
PENALTIES: MC 5/10. NH 6/12.
REFEREES: Steve McBride, Drew Taylor. LINESMAN: Andy Hennigar.
ATTENDANCE: 1,826.
THREE STARS: 1. RW Kevin Thomson, UNH (2-0--2).
2. LW Rob Donovan, UNH (2-0--2, GWG).
3. C Teal Fowler, Merrimack (1-0--1).
Captain Kevin Thomson's second goal of the game with 50 seconds left in
the second period broke a 2-2 tie, and UNH added two more goals in 57
seconds of the third to go on to a 5-3 win over Merrimack in the first
game of the Hockey East quarterfinals. Rob Donovan also added two goals
for UNH, including the game-winner.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two, but Merrimack rebounded
to score twice in the second and tie it at 2-2 before Thomson gave UNH
a 3-2 lead after two. The teams battled through a scoreless third until
two quick goals put the game away.
The second game of the series was changed from Saturday night to Sunday
night because of the blizzard that is supposed to hit the East Coast.
GAME
UNH wasted no time at all in getting on the board, scoring just 21 seconds
into the game to break the league tournament record for fastest goal at
the start of a playoff game (previously 44 seconds, Martin Robitaille,
Maine vs Lowell in 1990). Merrimack was caught up ice and Glenn Stewart
got the puck at center ice, walked up the left side and passed across
in front to Thomson for an easy goal. UNH dominated the first period
mainly due to effective forechecking - Merrimack had trouble getting the
puck out of their zone, and UNH often had all five players at the Merrimack
blue line or deeper.
The Wildcats went up 2-0 at 13:52 when Donovan beat Matt Hayes on a line
change and scored on a wrist shot over Doneghey's shoulder. UNH went on
a power play soon after and had good pressure, but didn't score. The
Warriors were skating well once they got to center ice, but UNH did a
nice job of bottling up the forwards in the slot and Brett Abel wasn't
tested much.
After being fortunate to come out of the first down only 2-0, Merrimack
regrouped and played a solid second. Their pressure paid off at 3:57
when off the faceoff, Hayes fired a shot from the right point, and Dan
Gravelle deposited the rebound for his 17th of the year. That broke an
87:40 scoreless streak for Merrimack in HE tourney play, as they were
shut out in last year's quarterfinal at Maine, 7-0.
Penalties to Stewart and Donovan midway through the period gave Merrimack
a 5x3 for 48 seconds, but it was UNH who had the better of the play, as
Thomson worked hard to keep the puck in the Merrimack zone and even had
a scoring threat of his own when he stole the puck in front but shot the
puck over the net. UNH got one man back to make it a 5x4 but continued
its good penalty killing, and it looked like they would escape the
situation. But with just 17 seconds left on the one-man advantage, the
Warriors' one good chance resulted in the tying goal. Dan Hodge stole
a clearing pass at the right point, and his shot was tipped in by Teal
Fowler at 13:17 to make it 2-2.
UNH had a late power play and nearly scored with good puck movement and
several passes that went through the slot but weren't picked up. But
just seven seconds after the power play ended and with 50 seconds left
in the period, UNH went ahead to stay when Stewart carried to the goal
line and then fed Thomson in front for his second of the game.
Merrimack didn't have a good third period record against the Wildcats this
year, having been outscored 12-3 in three games, but to win, they needed
to outscore the 'Cats in the third. They couldn't do it. Merrimack had
some good pressure early on, but Abel made a nice pad save off of John
Barron and a beauty of a glove save off of Mark Goble (who was named to
the All-Rookie Team). Then, with 8:58 left, Donovan scored his second
of the night when his line wouldn't allow Merrimack to clear, worked the
puck around, and Nick Poole fed Donovan in front for the goal. The
Wildcats sensed the way Merrimack's spirits were dampened and took
advantage to score another one 57 seconds later to put it away when
Flinton fed an uncovered Jason Dexter in front.
Merrimack bounced back to make it 5-3 just 59 seconds after Dexter's goal
as Wayde McMillan grabbed a loose puck in front and backhanded it past
Abel, and it looked like we might see yet another Fantastic Finish. But
UNH pulled together and played good defense down the stretch, even when
Merrimack went on a power play with 1:53 left and pulled Doneghey for a
6x4 advantage, and it ended at 5-3 Wildcats.
POSTGAME
The line of Donovan-Klym-Poole was most effective for UNH, as they were
earlier this season at UNH when the Wildcats scored six in the third
period to beat Merrimack 9-4. But Thomson showed the leadership of a
captain with his two big goals, one at the start of the game and the
other at the end of the second. UNH won two of the three periods with
their hustling play, while Merrimack was slow to come out of the blocks
and didn't put together a strong third.
Sunday night, Merrimack will need a win to force a sudden death situation
that would decide the series. UNH can win the series with a win or a
tie. This year, whenever Merrimack has not played well in the first game
of a weekend set, they have always rebounded with a strong performance
in the second game. They will need a consistent effort if they are to
avoid elimination.
---
Mike Machnik [log in to unmask] Color Voice of the Merrimack Warriors
(Any opinions expressed above are strictly those of the poster.) *HMN*
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