Maine 7, Boston University 2 (HE)
Saturday, February 22, 1997, at Alfond Arena (Orono, Maine)
Score By Periods Shots on Goal Pen - Min Power Play
BU 0 - 1 - 1 -- 2 12 - 8 - 5 -- 25 13 - 26 1 - 6
ME 1 - 4 - 2 -- 7 4 - 18 - 17 -- 39 11 - 22 3 - 8
Records:
Boston University (18-8-6, 14-4-4 HE)
Maine (23-10-1, 15-7-1 HE)
SCORING
First Period
ME-1 David Cullen (4) (Libby, Kariya) PPG 10:21
Second Period
ME-2 Jason Mansoff (10) (unassisted) 5:25
ME-3 David Cullen (5) (Shermerhorn, Kariya) GWG/PPG 6:22
ME-4 Jim Leger (1) (Larose) 10:08
BU-1 Chris Drury (35) (Johnson, Sylvia) PPG 11:44
ME-5 Shawn Mansoff (8) (Stewart) SHG 12:16
Third Period
ME-6 Jason Mansoff (11) (Cullen, Gustafsson) PPG 10:40
ME-7 Trevor Roenick (15) (White) 18:43
BU-2 Dan Lacouture (9) (Coleman, Pierce) 19:45
Goaltenders Saves by Period
BU - Tom Noble (60:00) 3 - 14 - 15 -- 32 (7 GA)
ME - Alfie Michaud (56:12) 12 - 7 - 2 -- 21 (1 GA)
Javier Gorriti (3:38) x - x - 2 -- 2 (1 GA)
OFFICIALS: Referee Frank Cole; Assistant referees Bill Doiron, Brian
Sullivan
ATTENDANCE: 5,543 (New Alfond Arena record for hockey)
ORONO, Maine -- Sophomore defenseman David Cullen, who was named Hockey East
Player of the Week, scored a pair of goals including the game winner as
Maine knocked off #4 Boston University 7-2 Saturday Feb. 22.
FIRST PERIOD:
The first period Saturday was nothing like the first period on Friday night
as BU came out storming Maine. They would outshoot the Bears 12-4, but the
key to the period was Alfie Michaud.
Michaud stopped all 12 shots in the period including a great save on Hockey
East goal scoring leader Chris Drury early in the period. Drury broke in
alone on Michaud, only to be stoned as Michaud forced him to his right and
then closed off the net.
Despite being dominated, Maine got their second power play of the game and
Maine took advantage of the situation. Cullen took the shot from the right
point that went five hole on Noble to give Maine the only score of the
period, and the lead at 1-0.
It had to be frustrating for BU as they played their best period of the
weekend, but couldn't solve Michaud and couldn't stay out of the box enough.
Maine's power play is working at 32 percent during Hockey East games, and 30
percent overall. For BU to win they needed to stay out of the box and
unfortunately for them that did not happen.
Of Michaud's 12 saves, eight were high percentage scoring opportunities.
SECOND PERIOD:
In the second period, the Black Bears turned this game around and for all
purposes put it away.
Maine wasn't happy with their play in the first. They felt that they didn't
play the disiplined game of hockey, and played a style more comfortable for
BU. In the first, Maine took five penalties for 10 minutes while BU took
the same.
Maine pushed the lead to 2-0 at the 5:25 mark of the period when Jason
Mansoff kept the puck in at the left point, then turned and ripped one
upstairs on Noble for his 10th goal of the season.
As was the case all weekend, BU further complicated matters for themselves
by taking a penalty following a Maine goal. This time it was Chris Drury
who got pulled off for interference only 14 seconds after the Maine goal.
With the Maine power play working as well as it is, this was a cardinal sin.
Cullen got his second of the game, and the eventual game winner when he
through one on net from the right point with Steve Kariya in front. No BU
player was near Kariya, and BU goalie Tom Noble said in the
_Bangor_Daily_News_ that Kariya actually scored the goal, but it was
credited to Cullen. Kariya was camped out in front and seems to at the very
least distract Noble. Cullen's goal was his fifth of the year and came at
6:22 and made it 3-0 Maine.
Less than four minutes later, Cory Larose fed the puck up ice to Jim Leger
who flew down the left wing. Leger, who later claimed to have closed his
eyes, wound up and let one go from the right faceoff dot beating Noble for
his first collegiate goal at 10:08 to extend the Maine lead to 4-0.
With Shawn Mansoff in the box just seconds later, Chris Drury finally got a
goal. Clearly the best player on the ice all weekend, Drury has had several
great scoring chances stopped by Michaud on the weekend put one past the
freshman netminder when he broke into the zone on the power play and went
backhand for the goal to cut the lead to 4-1 at the 11:44.
Mansoff would attone for his penalty and put a dagger in the heart of the
Terriers. With Shawn Wansborough serving a double minor for roughing and
Peter Donatelli serving just the one minor -- putting BU on the power play
-- Bobby Stewart sent Mansoff into the BU zone all alone. Mansoff partially
fanned on the shot but was still able to beat Noble for the short-handed
goal (his first of his career) and the 5-1 lead.
Maine clearly outplayed the Terriers not only with the four goals, but the
18-8 shot advantage.. most of those coming in the latter 3/4 of the period.
THIRD PERIOD:
Despite leading 5-1 going into the third, Maine fans couldn't have felt too
comfortable. BU has been known to score early and often, and with a lot of
emotion and points in the standings for BU you could not be sure of the outcome.
Maine would not put the outcome in doubt. They would hold BU to just 4
shots in the entire period, while putting 17 shots of their own on Noble and
scoring a couple more goals.
After a slower beginning, Maine finally went on the power play near the
halfway point of the period when Jon Coleman, who was not expected to dress,
was called for tripping. Jason Mansoff delighted in his second goal and
11th of the year when he just put the puck on the net that appeared to
deflect off a BU defenseman and past Noble to make it 6-1.
An odd occurance at 11:42 of the period. Peter Donatelli, clearly
frustrated by the lopsided score and tight defense grabbed the puck and
literally threw it into the Maine zone prompting referee Frank Cole to give
him a seat in the box for a two-minute minor for "throwing the puck."
With 3:48 left in the period, Javier Gorriti came on in mop up duty of
Michaud. Michaud, who wasn't tested nearly as often in the second and third
period, made 21 saves and allowed only one goal. On the weekend, Michaud
stopped 41 shots and allowed just one goal against the #4 team in the nation
and one of the top offenses in the country.
Maine and BU would trade garbage goals. Trevor Roenick broke into the BU
zone, fanned once from the slot and had time to recollect himself and shoot
again this time roofing it for the goal at 18:43.
Dan LaCouture closed out the scoring as the broke in deked and scored with
15 seconds left. Maine wins 7-2.
COMMENTS:
First and foremost the crowd must be acknowledged. 5,543 fans turned out at
the Alfond Saturday night setting a new Alfond Arena record for hockey.
That's right, no hockey game at the Alfond Arena has had more people in it.
Maine has not placed an attendence figure on the top five list since 1993,
another sign the program is turning the corner.
Alfie Michaud is the real hero of this game. If Michaud doesn't play as
well, BU scores a few goals and they historically are like a bunch of sharks
-- when they smell blood they go after it. Michaud plays a great first
period, Maine steals a 1-0 lead and goes on to the big win.
David Cullen extended his point streak to 10 games. Cullen has four goals
and 12 assists for 16 points in that span. Over his first 24 games Cullen
was only 1-11--12. Walsh has really utilized Cullen's skills and he has
come on fast. he'll be a key player in the program in year's to come and
may end up as an All-Hockey East selection at defense.
Maine swept the season series from BU (3-0). Maine had not beat BU since
December of 1994, 6-5 at Alfond Arena. Maine tied the next night and lost
to BU in the title game that year, before losing two of three last year.
Boston University (18-8-6, 14-4-4 HE) will play home against Merrimack Feb.
28 and against UNH on March 1. BU currently is not guarenteed a NCAA
Tournament slot after their losses to Maine, but if they win the Hockey East
Regular Season title or Hockey East Tournament they will receive an
automatic bid.
Maine (23-10-1, 15-7-1 HE) will close out their season against UMass on
March 1. With a win, Maine will end the season with a six game win streak,
and will be one of only two teams to end the year on a winning note.
---
Deron Treadwell ([log in to unmask])
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