Steve Kariya scored with 12 seconds remaining, but it wasn't enough as the UNH
Wildcats defeated Maine tonight 6-3 at the Whittemore Center in Durham.  This
one had everything from John Sadowski's penalty-shot goal to Rob Gagnon
picking up a major and a game misconduct on a marginal hitting from behind.
And it took two guys to get the fish on to the ice.
 
It looked like it was going to be a long night for the Wildcats in the first.
UNH was extremely flat and they allowed Maine to dictate play throughout the
period.  Maine jumped out to an early lead on a shot that Brian Larochelle
went down on when the puck went up.  Later in the period, Larochelle had one
trickle off his pad, around his shoulder and in.  Maine led 2-0 at the end of
one.
 
But in the second it was all UNH.  UNH came out flying and quickly evened the
score to the delight of the 6100+ on hand.  Maine goalie Alfie Michaud lost
his stick behind the net and then got his skate stuck on the outside of the
net while UNH pressed.  He didn't have the opportunity to get settled before
the tying goal was in.  It wasn't pretty, but they don't ask how, just how
many.  ;)  UNH nabbed another one and then Sadowski picked up the fourth goal
of the night on the penalty shot.  UNH scored again when a streaking Tom Nolan
took a pass on the Maine blue line that originated from the UNH slot and went
right down the middle and put it away as the Maine defense stopped to watch.
UNH scored 5 unanswered goals in the second to take the 5-2 lead.
 
It was more of the same in the third, but UNH knew they had this one won.  UNH
killed off the major to Gagnon and Reg Cardinal never missed a shift.  The
most exciting part of the third period was when Maine Coach Greg Cronin had a
fit when the ref gave a Maine stick to the UNH bench. Steve Kariya scored with
12 seconds remaining to bring Maine within 3.
 
Larochelle left the game with a cut on his hand and was replaced by some guy
we've never seen before.  Anyone know the deal on Eric Soltys, UNH's backup
netminder?
 
This wasn't an entirely bad game for Maine fans.  Both Shermerhorn and
Wansborough made themselves known -- each picking up 10 minute misconducts.
And a cheap shot by Roenick late in the game caused Tom Nolan to leave the
game with an apparent knee injury.  Maine dominated play in the first and
controlled the puck with sticks that were always on the ice.  Unfortunately,
they played the man in the third and the puck didn't seem to matter.
 
Maine does have some talent and showed they could control both the tempo and
play in the first but when UNH gets rolling, they move fast and rack 'em up
quickly.  Also interesting is the shot total:  26 UNH 19 Maine.
 
UNH moves to 6-2-0, 5-0-0 in Hockey East.  The two teams face off again
tomorrow night at the Whittemore Center.
 
H
 
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