ORONO — Chicago-based jazz singer Rebecca Sullivan belted out the national anthem before Saturday’s University of Maine-University of New Hampshire Hockey East game on Seniors Night at the Alfond Arena.
Two hours and 19 minutes later, everyone was singing the praises of her brother, Maine sophomore goalie Dan Sullivan.
Sullivan made 32 saves, including 19 of the Grade-A (high-percentage) variety, and sophomore defenseman Brice O’Connor scored the game’s only goal 10:13 into the first period as Maine edged New Hampshire to earn the fourth seed and home ice for a best-of-three Hockey East quarterfinal series against fifth seed Merrimack College beginning Friday night.
Maine finished the regular season at 20-11-3, its first 20-win season since 2006-2007. Maine was 15-10-2 in Hockey East.
UNH wound up 14-17-3 and 11-14-2, respectively. The sixth-seeded Wildcats will visit third seed Boston University for a quarterfinal series.
“(Sullivan) played great. He was a difference-maker. Both goalies played real well,” said UNH senior right wing and assistant captain Steve Moses.
O’Connor’s second career goal was a floater that nestled in the far corner past the blocker of freshman goalie Casey DeSmith.
Nick Pryor passed the puck to O’Connor at the right point and O’Connor’s wrist shot deflected off a UNH stick and knuckled into the far corner past DeSmith.
“I just tried to get the puck on net. That’s what we’ve been talking about all season long,” said O’Connor. “Nick made a nice (defenseman-to-defensman) pass and I just tried to get it off. It hit off their defenseman’s stick, went up in the air and found the back of the net. I didn’t think this would be the type of goal that would decide it but we’ll take it.”
“I didn’t pick it up until the last second and then it was too late, unfortunately,” said DeSmith. “It got lost in the stands and took a funny bounce off our forward’s stick.”
That was the only goal Sullivan was to need as he was immense.
“He played fantastic. He was a huge part of the win,” said DeSmith, who turned in an impressive 28-save performance himself including 14 Grade-A’s.
UNH carried the play in the first period but Sullivan made 10 Grade-A (high-percentage) saves to keep them at bay.
With three minutes left in the period, Trevor van Riemsdyk’s shot from the right point deflected across to Matt Willows in the middle of the slot but Sullivan flashed out his right skate to kick out Willows’ wrister.
Sullivan was the story again in the second period although it was a much more even period.
He came up with his best save of the game with 1:30 left in the period when Kevin McCarey trailed a two-on-two rush, received the puck and then slipped it through to an unattended Mike Borisenok, who sliced from left to right across the top of the crease.
Borisneok appeared to have some net available but Sullivan extended his left pad and made a tremendous stop.
“I didn’t commit when he first faked a shot so when he dragged it all the way across, I still had my edges and was able to push off (and get across). If I had gone down, he would have had an open net. I just got a piece of it,” said Sullivan
“He was pretty committed to the (near post) so I took it across the crease and tried to stuff it in but he had his pad there,” said Borisenok.
Sullivan made four Grade-A saves among his 11 in the third period to preserve the win.
It was a special night for Sullivan beginning with his sister’s rendition of the anthem.
“It was great to see her sing. She sounded so good,” said Sullivan. “It was an unbelievable experience to come out here in front of these great fans and have her sing. It was having your cake and eating it, too.
“I felt great out there. I was totally in the moment,” added Sullivan. “I was glad we were able to give our six seniors what they deserve. They’re unbelievable guys. I look up to every one of them. It was great I was able to contribute to the win for them.”
Maine’s six seniors, who were honored before and after the game, are Spencer Abbott, Brian Flynn, Ryan Hegarty, Will O’Neill, Theo Andersson and Josh Seeley.
Hot Damn! Dan Sullivan!
His sister can sing too!
Yeah, she was really good!!
This was the first game I saw in person this year, and I have to say that those two teams are pretty much even steven. I thought UNH was the better team in the first period despite Maine’s lead, but the last two periods were a total draw. Dan Sullivan was the difference, without a doubt. He made one save in the second that was NHL calibre. Great job getting this win.
I think Maine came out in the third trying to get that 2nd goal, because who would of known one goal would of held up this night….and we just hung on tight for those last 10 minutes…which we all knew UNH would come out with everything they had and we pulled it off! : )
Thank you Black Bears……great job by Sullivan…..outstanding that we can use our quarterfinal tickets this year……
60 solid minutes for Sullivan. He was the difference today. If he can find that kind of consistency next weekend it could be the start of something great for the post season. UNH didn’t capitalize on some great chances but that is how it goes. It was our night to get the bounces for sure. Big series at the Alfond next weekend. Go Maine!
Congrats Blue on a great game, and probably the biggest game in the past 4 years, and to find a way to win…I was right behind the goal when they scored and I dont see how any one saw it coming over UNH goalies shoulder…but a goal is a goal and were HOME for next week! Super game Sullivan and the “D”. Lets take Merrimack out next weekend like they did to us last year at there home! : )
Congrats Maine on another huge win and for holding that lead even when the refs were not giving you any breaks.
Awesome job Sully! Now would be a great time to break your own consecutive shutout streak!
Now let’s show Merrimack what playoff hockey is like in our barn!!! Go Blue!!
Playoff Hockey in some degree…both Goaltenders,Sullivan & DeSmith both shined this afternoon.
i know they won and im being critical..but dont you think the top line and seniors would have played better than that with so much on the line.. sullivan is the reason they will be playing at home next weekend…i expected more out of flynn,abbott,diamond,mangene.
I understand where ur coming from, but in the playoffs we need the depth to step it up because everyone in this league has a great first line, good second….depth will win overall…so its good to see another line step up and win it for us. : )
All the naysayers like Nostra-jerk go bye-bye when we win. Go Blue, let’s sweep Merrimack!
no, you’re wrong.
NOstra is a FAN of Maine hockey and wants to see the TEAM win.
they won.
what should he complain about after a win?
should he remind you that it was a home win against a sub-.500 team and MAINE hockey should pummell an opponent at home, especially when it has the top scoring line in the country?
Good to get this win in a game that really counted. However, I would not get too excited to the extent that we forget there is still a serious coaching/recruiting issue up in Orono. One game, or even an NCAA appearance, does not change that. As I have said numerous times, short of a Frozen Four appearance, Whitehead needs to go after this season and even if this team makes it that far, which seems highly unlikely, I would not extend him after his contract runs out after the 2013-2014 season. Simply put, there are much more talented coaches out there who can get Maine into the NCAAs EVERY season, not just once every 5 years.