Northeastern 2, Maine 2
Friday Novemeber 8, 1996 at Alfond Arena (Orono, Maine)
Score By Periods Shots on Goal Pen - Min Power Play
NU 0 - 1 - 1 - 0-- 2 6 - 9 - 12 - 1 -- 28 7 - 14 0 - 2
ME 1 - 1 - 0 - 0-- 2 14 - 6 - 18 - 6 -- 44 4 - 8 2 - 5
Records: Northeastern (1-3-1, 0-2-1 HE)
Maine (4-1-1, 0-0-1 HE)
SCORING
1st Period
ME-1 Jason Mansoff (3) (Kariya, Libby) PPG 1:00
2nd Period
NU-1 Roger Holeczy (4) (UNA) 5:08
ME-2 Jason Mansoff (4) (Kariya, Shermerhorn) PPG 15:03
3rd Period
NU-2 Eric Petersen (2) (Wilkinson, Toews) 17:34
Overtime
No Scoring
Goaltenders Saves by Period
NU - Marc Robitaille (65:00) 13 - 5 - 18 - 6 -- 42
ME - Alfie Michaud (65:00) 6 - 8 - 11 - 1 -- 26
OFFICIALS: Referee Jim Fittzgerald; Asst Referee Mike Tuell, Bill Jones;
ATTENDANCE: 5,043.
RECAP:
ORONO, Maine -- Eric Petersen scored with 2:26 left to pull Northeastern
even at 2-2, while Husky netminder Marc Robitaille stopped 42 of 44 shots as
they tied the Black Bears Friday night.
FIRST PERIOD-
One of the largest factors coming into this game had to be intensity. The
Black Bears have been hard to beat when they've had it. At Lake Superior
State, the Bears had the intensity for more than half of the game and blew
out the Lakers. Against Colgate, Maine turned it on late and put away the
Red Raiders.
But after playing a Division II school where Maine was expected to dominate,
it remained to be seen how Maine would come out Friday as they opened their
Hockey East schedule against Northeastern.
Maine would answer the question early, as they came out all over the Huskies
and had several top quality chances before the 1:00 mark of the period. It
was one of the easy shots that slipped by Robitaille though.
On the power play, Jason Mansoff's shot from the point trickled in and Maine
had grabbed the 1-0 lead with just one minute played in the period. It
looked like Maine might skate Northeastern out of the building, as they
mounted much pressure outshooting the Huskies 14-6 in the period.
Northeastern struggled mightly in the first. They had little to no cohesion
offensively and took many wild and ill-advised shots. They showed the
effects of being a young team in a very hostile arena.
Both teams came at each other hitting hard. Maine has showed through the
first five games of this year that they are a more physical team than recent
years. The Huskies are much bigger than the Bears, but the Bears held their
own all night and levied some great hits of their own.
Maine also proved to be the faster team, and their speed was helping to
setup quality offensive chances.
SECOND PERIOD-
When Maine came out in the second period, the intensity of the first period
was nowhere to be found. Maine's skating speed wasn't showing, Northeastern
was taking the physical edge and carrying the play. Maine didn't do a good
job coming out of their zone, and the forwards struggled at coming back far
enough to help the play start.
All told Maine went to sleep for about 12 minutes in the second, and instead
of putting some distance between themselves and Northeastern, they let them
get even.
During a faceoff in the Maine zone, Roger Holeczy slipped off the dot and
got the puck, walking right in on Alfie Michaud and beating him at 5:08 of
the second period to tie the game at 1-1. Suddenly, Northeastern, who had
been severely outplayed and outworked through 25 minutes was now even and a
new game had begun.
Northeastern freshman Brian Addesa was hurt during the second period, but
skated back to the bench after being down for about five minutes. I'm not
sure if he returned to the game, and his status is unknown.
Slowly, but surely, Maine would start to work themselves back into things.
Once Northeastern tied the score, they were able to get back into their
1-2-2 trap and frustrate the Bears, who only managed 6 shots on goal in the
entire second period. One of those shots would give the Bears the lead back.
It was Jason Mansoff again, and again on the power play. Mansoff took the
shot from just inside the blue line and it found its way through a maze of
players an into the back of the net for a 2-1 lead at 15:03 of the second.
Overall it was not a good period for Maine. They were passive for the first
half at least, and less agressive and physical then in the first. The
passing was poor, and they were not generating much speed up ice. The ice
was also growing worse and worse as time went on.
THIRD PERIOD-
"It was one of those games" for Maine, and the third period would showcase
that. Maine would put 18 shots on Marc Robitaille, but the freshman
netminder stopped them all. More important are the numerous open nets that
Black Bears missed.
Maine was holding a 2-1 lead and putting lots of pressure on the Huskies,
including a 30 second 5-on-3 advantage. The way Maine was playing
offensively it looked like it was only a matter of time until they scored
and put the game away. But Northeastern held tough, and the longer you let
a team hang around the more trouble you get into.
That trouble came to a head with just 2:26 left with Petersen's goal. Alfie
Michaud was down, and out after a scramble in front of the net when Petersen
banged a loose puck through his pads and into the net to tie the score at 2-2.
The ice continued to get worse and worse as the period went on, and that
clearly had to help Northeastern's trapping defense. The warm temperatures,
and melting ice created a fog on the Alfond ice so dense that it was
difficult, if not impossible, to see the feet of the players on the other
end of the ice. Very eerie sight to say the least.
OVERTIME-
Maine certainly didn't set back and play for the tie, as they came out
agressive in the overtime and forced the play for the entire five minutes,
outshooting NU 6-1 in the extra session.
Robitaille was there when he had to be, and Maine missed some of their own
opportunities as well. It was a frustrating end, to a frustrating evening
for the Black Bears as they were unable to score and the game ended 2-2.
POSTGAME-
For anyone who saw the game, there was no question who the best team was
Friday night. Maine dominated the play for about 46-48 minutes, but the
passive play to begin the second might have been the difference. Instead of
keeping up the pressure and forcing NU back on their heels the Bears let the
opponent dictate the play and tie the game. Maine was able to end the
period in the lead, but they were also fortunate not to have given up more
goals then they did. It was not a good period for Maine.
On the other hand, the third period was. Maine created many more quality
chances then the 18 shots on goal show, but they were not able to finish.
Maine has not scored a 5-on-5 goal in six periods now, and that is crucial.
The bad ice played a factor, but can't be used as an excuse for not scoring
more than 2 goals on 44 shots. As the ice got worse, Northeastern was able
to slow the Bears down, but in the third when the ice was at its worse Maine
was still blitzing the net.
Marc Robitaille played well for Northeastern. He struggled last week
against UNH but came back strong and drew praise from NU coach Bruce Crowder
in this morning's paper. Robitaille must have another similar game Saturday
night, because many times he was the only thing that saved the Huskies.
Shawn Mansoff had a poor game on defense for Maine. He didn't have any
glaring errors that directly led to goals, but he seemed to have constant
trouble in his own end getting the play started. This is where Maine is
most weak, the 5th and 6th defensemen as they wait till two new recruits
join the team next semester. The coaching staff is high on Tate and Garrow.
The other Mansoff, Jason, played another huge game for Maine. I expected
Mansoff to take over the role of Jeff Tory, and he has done a good job.
Mansoff may not be as offensively gifted as Tory, but he's a better defender
than the departed. Jason Mansoff seems to grow more comfortable handling
the puck offensively each game.
Maine's top line is Dan Shermerhorn centering, Reg Cardinal and Bobby
Stewart. This line is dominating when on the ice and all three are hard
workers. Other Maine forwards that played well Friday included Steve Kariya
(two assists), Cory Larose and Scott Parmentier (who returned from injury).
The same two teams meet again Saturday.
---
Deron Treadwell ([log in to unmask])
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