The drought continues.
Junior goalie Thatcher Demko made 30 saves in posting his third consecutive shutout and sixth in his last seven games to lead the Boston College Eagles to a 2-0 victory over the anemic University of Maine Black Bears Sunday at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
He made 30 saves in Friday night’s 3-0 win over Maine.
Boston College, the nation’s No. 3-ranked team, received a first-period goal from Ryan Fitzgerald and a power-play goal from Miles Wood with 6:07 left in the game to deal UMaine its sixth straight loss.
UMaine freshman goalie Rob McGovern finished with 32 saves before having to serve a penalty after a six-player altercation with 3:45 left stemming from a Wood slash on McGovern.
Penalties on goalies are served by teammates unless the goalie receives a game disqualification or game misconduct.
McGovern received a misconduct along with a roughing minor. Matt Morris made one save over the final 3:45.
UMaine’s Nolan Vesey received a five-minute spearing major, which results in a one-game suspension.
Boston College improved to 8-1, 3-0 in Hockey East, while UMaine fell to 0-6-3 and 0-2.
UMaine has been shut out four times this season and has scored one goal or less seven times. The Black Bears are mired in a scoreless streak of 133 minutes and 52 seconds.
UMaine has scored 10 goals in its nine games.
“We’ve been shut out four times, so it’s pretty clear what our challenges are,” said UMaine coach Red Gendron. “We’re creating chances, but we aren’t finishing. Part of that involves the goalie on the other side playing real well, too.
“We had a couple of point-blank attempts, but we missed the net. At other times, we could have screened the goalie, but we didn’t. Then there were times we could have gotten the puck to the net but, instead, we tried to force a pass,” Gendron added. “We can’t afford to fritter away any opportunities. Any time you throw the puck at the net, there’s a chance something good will happen.”
“We battled them hard,” said UMaine captain Steven Swavely. “We made sure we hit them. We wanted to frustrate them.
“But the bottom line is we have to bury the puck,” Swavely added. “Hats off to Demko. He made saves when he had to.”
Fitzgerald scored what proved to be the game-winner at the 11:53 mark of the first period when his screened shot from the bottom of the right circle beat McGovern.
Wood made it 2-0 when he swept home the rebound of a Colin White shot.
Just seconds later, Demko dove headfirst across the net to make a highlight-reel stop off Will Merchant’s rebound attempt.
“He made a real good save,” said Merchant.