Mass Lowell 4, at Boston College 3
Maine 3, at Merrimack 3 (MC wins sudden death shootout, 2-1)
at New Hampshire 6, Mass Amherst 3
Providence 3, at Northeastern 3 (NU wins shootout, 2-0)
 
A momentous evening at Merrimack, as the Warriors gained their first
ever points in HE play against Maine to break a 20-game losing streak
against the Black Bears.  More details to come, but highlights were:
 
* Maine took a 2-0 lead in the second before MC scored 3 goals in 6:42
to take a 3-2 lead into the third.  Barry Clukey banged in a rebound
from in front to tie it at 3-3 with 9:38 left.
 
* The game featured the first ever sudden death shootout in HE
history, with Merrimack winning on its 6th shot.  Jamie Thompson's
goal in the 3rd round gave Maine the 1-0 lead, but Merrimack's Mark
Goble scored on his team's 5th shot to even it up and force the sudden
death format.  Going back to the first set of shooters, Clukey was
stopped by Martin Legault, but then Rob Beck beat Blair Allison for
the shootout win.  I think the only way the rink could have been
louder would have been if Merrimack had held on to win outright.
 
* A new HE record was set for fewest team penalty minutes in a game as
Maine took NO penalties all night.  With Merrimack taking only 2
minors, the record for fewest total PIM in a game (4) was equaled.
Merrimack and UNH had set the record several years ago, with each team
being called for 1 minor in that game.
 
* The small number of penalties played into Merrimack's hands since
their penalty killing has been poor while Maine has excelled on the
man advantage.  Maine did score one PPG (on 2 chances).
 
* It really was a superb game to be at.  Both teams played extremely
well from the goaltender on out, and it was a very clean but
hard-hitting and exciting game.  Merrimack remained without its top
two defensemen, as Mark Cornforth has just returned to the ice and
will not play again until after Christmas, and Dan Hodge will also
return in the second semester.  But the play of the D in front of
Legault was tremendous, as was Maine's play in front of Allison.
 
* Legault has now stopped 14 of 16 shots in shootouts for a SO save%
of .875.
 
* By tying, Merrimack ran its record in overtime over the last 3 years
to an incredible 8-0-7.  Merrimack is 3-0-2 in its last 5 games,
including ties with Maine and Northeastern, after starting out 1-8-1.
The Warriors have allowed 23 goals in their last 8 games for a team
GAA of 2.88.  In their last 5, it is 2.20.
 
From the Merrimack standpoint, it was disappointing not to get the win
after holding a 3-2 lead through half of the third.  The program has
come a long way, to reach the point where a tie with an 11-0-4 team
can be somewhat disappointing.  But they could also have lost, and it
meant a lot to get the 3 points and remain in 5th place.  The teams
will battle again Sat night in a game that will be shown live on NESN.
 
Finally, I hope some HOCKEY-Lers in Maine got to listen to the
radio broadcast.  It was a lot of fun to work with Joe Carr, who is
also on HOCKEY-L.  This was the first chance I have had to really
listen to Joe's work - firsthand :-) - and he does a wonderful job.  I
was honored to have the chance to work with him.  Tomorrow night
should be just as much fun and hopefully, the game will be as good -
but with a slightly different result. :-)
---                                                                   ---
Mike Machnik                                            [log in to unmask]
Cabletron Systems, Inc.                                    *HMM* 11/13/93
         Temporary Color Voice of the Maine Black Bears :-)