ORONO, Maine — Hockey goalies love challenges, and University of Maine senior goalie Matt Morris will encounter one this weekend when the surging Black Bears take on high-scoring archrival New Hampshire in a Hockey East home-and-home series.
UNH is ninth among the nation’s 60 Division I teams in scoring, averaging 3.62 goals per game, has the nation’s top two scorers in Andrew Poturalski (11 goals, 14 assists) and Tyler Kelleher (6 & 17).
Maine (4-8-3 overall, 2-4 HE) puts its four-game winning streak on the line beginning 7:30 p.m. Friday at Alfond Arena. The teams head to Durham, New Hampshire, for Saturday’s 7 p.m. game at the Whittemore Center.
Morris has been a vital component in Maine’s winning streak, posting a 1.98 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage. The redshirt junior said he is playing the best hockey of his college career.
“And the team is playing well in front of me. For me personally, I’m just trying to take things one day at a time,” said Morris.
Morris played in six games as a freshman but was a medical redshirt his sophomore year because he had two hip surgeries. He returned last season and split the goaltending with Sean Romeo. Their inexperience led to inconsistency, however.
Morris said the fact he was completely healthy last summer played a big part in his development, along with the experience he gained last season when he appeared in 20 games.
“I got some game experience last year. I didn’t really have much going into the season. So now I’m a little more comfortable and confident,” said Morris.
Morris began the season in a three-way battle for the goaltending job with sophomore Romeo and freshman Rob McGovern.
McGovern eventually won the job but was injured in a 6-0 loss to UMass Lowell during which he allowed four goals on eight shots in the first period.
Morris made 23 saves on 25 shots over the final two periods, and that led up to his last four starts.
The 5-foot-10, 205-pound native of Ridgewood, New Jersey, said the hip surgeries have made a big difference.
“Now that I’m healed, my lateral movement has been much better, and I’ve felt a little crisper on the ice,” said Morris, who is 4-2-1 with a 2.52 GAA and a .930 save percentage overall this season.
He also has simplified his game, which has helped him avoid giving up “soft” goals that plagued him earlier in his career.
“I’ve been focusing on the basics. Sometimes when you’re focusing on that back door [pass] or the rebound chance, that’s when you can give up a soft one because you’re leaning a little bit or you’re still moving instead of getting your feet set,” said Morris.
“When I’ve had success, my angles have been on, I’ve had the proper depth, and I haven’t been over-thinking the play,” he said.
“He’s is such a competitive, athletic goalie. When he has his confidence, he’s hard to beat. He’s our backbone and, hopefully, he can keep it going,” said junior defenseman Dan Renouf.
Morris is looking forward to the weekend.
“It’s the biggest rivalry in Hockey East. It’s fun to be a part of it. I’ve got to make sure I’m ready to go,” said Morris.